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Program Requirements
Economics Major
Economics is the study of how people and organizations make decisions, how they interact, and how institutions and policies can be designed to improve people's lives. Students majoring in Economics typically go on to careers in business, law or government.
Students interested in a career in business should enroll in the Zimpleman College of Business, where they will receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree. The core curriculum of the BSBA degree will equip students with the essential business skills needed for a successful career in business (including business law). Popular minors or second majors include Finance, International Business, and Business Law. Click here to view the Zimpleman economics curriculum guide.
Students interested in a career in law or government should enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences, where they will receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Popular minors or second majors include Political Science, International Relations, and Environmental Sustainability.
Economics or Quantitative Economics?
Students interested in a career as a professional economist—or who simply enjoy math—should consider the major in Quantitative Economics, cosponsored by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. For a career in Economics, you need a masters degree or a PhD in economics, but to be admitted to a graduate program you need extra coursework in math and statistics. (See grad school math requirements.)
The Quantitative Economics major requires only two Economics elective courses, but it includes all the math and statistics that graduate schools require. It can be completed through either the College of Arts and Sciences or the Zimpleman College of Business. Popular minors or second majors for Quantitative Economics students include Actuarial Science, Mathematics, and Data Analytics.
| ECONOMICS | QUANTITATIVE ECONOMICS | MINOR IN ECONOMICS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required ECON courses | ECON 2, 10, 170, 173, 174 | ECON 2, 10, 170*, 173, 174 | ECON 2, 10, and (173 or 174) |
| Elective ECON courses | Four 100-level | Two 100-level | Three 100-level |
| Required MATH courses | MATH 28 or 50 | MATH 50, 70, 80, 100, and two from (101, 110, 120, 125, 127, 176, 184) | MATH 28 or 50 |
| Required statistics courses | STAT 71 & 72** | ACTS 131 & 135 | None |
| Capstone | ECON 190 | ECON 190 or MATH 191 | None |
* Students in the Quantitative Economics major may substitute STAT 170 for ECON 170.
** Note that IS 44 is a prerequisite for STAT 72.
Economics Minor
Economics studies the big picture in business and society:
- Why are some countries rich and others poor?
- Why do some countries grow rapidly and others not at all?
- How do markets work?
- Why do recessions happen?
- What determines workers' pay and firms' profits?
- And how does government policy affect all this?
The Zimpleman College of Business Economics minor gives students economic insights that they can apply to business, government, or law careers.
This minor is available to all Drake students. Click here to view the economics curriculum guide.
Zimpleman News
October 1, 2024
