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Economics
Directors of the Undergraduate Program: Robert E. Lucas, Jr., SS 410,
702-8179; D. Gale Johnson, SS 421, 702-8251
Administrative Assistant: Julie Less, SS 412, 702-8254
Program of Study
The Bachelor of Arts program in economics is intended to equip students with
the basic tools required to understand the operation of a modern economy: the
origin and role of prices and markets, the allocation of goods and services,
and the factors that enter into the determination of income, employment, and
the price level.
Bachelor of Arts Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts concentration in economics requires thirteen courses.
These must include the core curriculum, which consists of Economics 200,
201 (price theory), and 202 and 203 (macroeconomics). Economics 198 and 199 may
be substituted for Economics 200. One course in economic history (Economics
221, 222, 223, or 225) and two courses in econometrics are also required; the
latter requirement is normally met by Statistics 220 and Economics 210. Special
sections of Statistics 220 are offered in the autumn and spring quarters for
economics majors.
Students concentrating in economics must also take three mathematics courses beyond the Common Core requirement. These consist of the third quarter of calculus (Mathematics 133, 153, or 163) and either Mathematics 195-196 or Mathematics 203-204.
In addition to the ten courses described above, students concentrating in economics are required to take three elective courses, two of which must be in economics. The third elective also may be in economics, or it may be chosen from Mathematics 203, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, and 273 (or other courses in mathematics as may be approved by the directors of the undergraduate economics program); Computer Science 105 and 115; or an additional course in statistics (other than Statistics 200). Only one reading course (Economics 298) may be used as an elective (unless the student is in the honors program).
NOTE: Students wishing to substitute other courses for those listed in the previous paragraphs must obtain written permission from one of the directors of the undergraduate economics program.
As college calculus is a prerequisite for the core curriculum (Economics 200-201-202-203), it is strongly recommended that students complete the calculus sequence during their first year in the College. It is further recommended that students complete their remaining mathematics requirements during their second year, and the econometrics requirement in the third year. Only students in the B.A./M.A. program may register for 300-level economics courses that are indicated in the Time Schedules as being closed to undergraduates.
General College calculus sequence (Math 131-132,Grading. A maximum of four grades of Pass is permitted in the thirteen courses required for the concentration in economics; the other nine grades must be quality grades. Only quality grades are acceptable for Economics 200, 201, 202, 203, and 210; and Statistics 220.
Education 151-152, or 161-162)Concentration 1 Math 133, 153, or 163
4 Econ 200-201-202-203
1 economic history (Econ 221, 222, 223, or 225)
2 Stat 220 and Econ 210
2 Math 195-196 or 203-204
3 electives: These must include two
additional courses in economics. The
third course may be chosen from
Math 203, 204, 205, 207, 208,
209, and 273; ComSci 105 and
115; or any course in statistics or
econometrics other than Stat 200.
13 (total)
Honors. Students with grade point averages of at least 3.0 overall and 3.25 in economics are eligible for the honors program. Students who wish to qualify for honors are urged to participate in the Undergraduate Honors Workshop (Economics 297) for a full academic year; Economics 297 may replace up to two elective courses. While participating in that workshop, students will write an honors thesis under faculty guidance; to graduate with honors, students must receive a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis. Students interested in the honors program should contact one of the directors of the undergraduate economics program no later than the second quarter of their third year in the College; they should also have completed their econometrics courses before participation in the Undergraduate Honors Workshop.
Eligibility and Admission. Interested students should consult with one of the directors of the undergraduate economics program during their second year in the College and subsequently meet with one of the directors to determine if the joint B.A./M.A. program is appropriate for them. As careful planning of their programs is essential, students should apply for admission to the program early in their third year in the College. Applicants are required to complete the standard application for admission to graduate study in the Division of the Social Sciences; submission of a transcript and letters of recommendation is also required. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required. If admitted, students have joint residency in the College and the Division of Social Sciences during the last three quarters of the program.
Requirements and Suggested Course Programs. All specific requirements for the B.A. program in economics must be met; in addition, all students in the joint B.A./M.A. program must register as graduate-degree candidates for no less than nine graduate economics courses, no more than three of which may be taken in any given quarter. Normally, these courses are taken after the student has been admitted to the joint B.A./M.A. program. The requirements for the M.A. degree in economics are summarized below:
1. Registration in nine graduate-level courses in economics, which must include Economics 300, 310, and 330. At least five of the nine graduate course grades must be B or better.
2. Two courses in a field described in "Fields of Economics for the M.A. and Ph.D. Degrees" to be found in the brochure Department of Economics, The University of Chicago.
3. Passing one preliminary examination at the M.A. level (or higher). Normally,
this examination will be in the field referred to in item (2), but it also can
be an M.A. Pass on the Ph.D. core examination.
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GARY S. BECKER, University Professor, Departments of Economics and Sociology; Research Associate, Economics Research Center at the National Opinion Research Center
XIAOHONG CHEN, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and the College
IN-KOO CHO, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and the College
MICHAEL CHWE, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and the College
JOHN COCHRANE, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and the College
ROBERT W. FOGEL, Charles R. Walgreen Professor, Department of Economics and Graduate School of Business; Director, Center for Population Economics
DAVID GALENSON, Professor, Department of Economics and the College
LARS PETER HANSEN, Homer J. Livingston Professor, Department of Economics and the College
JAMES J. HECKMAN, Henry Schultz Professor, Department of Economics, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, and the College; Research Associate, Economics Research Center at the National Opinion Research Center
D. GALE JOHNSON, Eliakim Hastings Moore Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Department of Economics and the College
ROBERT E. LUCAS, JR., John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Economics and the College
HOWARD MARGOLIS, Professor, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies and the College
YAIR MUNDLAK, Frederick Henry Prince Professor, Department of Economics
DEREK NEAL, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and the College
TOMAS PHILIPSON, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and the College
SHERWIN ROSEN, Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Professor, Department of Economics and the College; Research Associate, Economics Research Center at the National Opinion Research Center
ALLEN SANDERSON, Senior Lecturer in the College
THOMAS SARGENT, David Rockefeller Professor, Department of Economics and the College
JOSE SCHEINKMAN, Alvin H. Baum Professor, Department of Economics and the College
LARRY A. SJAASTAD, Professor, Department of Economics and the College
NANCY STOKEY, Professor, Department of Economics and the College
LESTER G. TELSER, Professor, Department of Economics and the College
GEORGE S. TOLLEY, Professor, Department of Economics
ROBERT M. TOWNSEND, Charles E. Merriam Professor, Department of Economics and the College
GRACE TSIANG, Senior Lecturer in the College
ROBERT WILLIS, Professor, Department of Education and the College; Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies; Director, Economics Research Center at the National Opinion Research Center
MICHAEL WOODFORD, Professor, Department of Economics and the College