Major in Economics (COL)

A major in Economics at Georgetown University requires the completion of 11 courses, as specified below. Of those 11 courses, at least six must be taken in the Economics department at Georgetown. The remaining credits for the major can be earned from transferred courses and/or advanced placement credit. The relevant advanced placement policies are laid out in the Admissions section of the University Bulletin at https://bulletin.georgetown.edu/admissions/advanced-credit/.

The AB in Economics is recognized as a STEM degree: https://internationalservices.georgetown.edu/students/after-graduation/stem-opt-approved/

Requirements for the Major in Economics

Note: Effective Fall 2023, all Main Campus courses have been renumbered using a 4-digit numbering system.

https://schedule.georgetown.edu/course-renumbering-crosswalk/e/#econ

Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (2 courses)

  • ECON 1001 (Principles of Microeconomics)
  • ECON 1002 (Principles of Macroeconomics)

Students with a score of 5 on the AP exam in Microeconomics and/or Macroeconomics will earn credit for the corresponding Principles course(s). Students with a score of 6 or 7 on the IB Higher Level (HL) exam in Economics will earn credit for both Principles courses. 

ECON 1003 (Principles of Economics: Micro & Macro combined) may be taken instead of 1001 and 1002 (but not by students who have already taken ECON 1001 and/or 1002, or who have received course credit for ECON 1001 and/or 1002 via AP or IB). Students who take ECON 1003 instead of 1001 and 1002 are required to take an additional economics elective, to bring the total number of courses taken to 11.

Mathematics for Economics (1 course)

  • ECON 1357 (Mathematics for Economics)

ECON 1357 is a prerequisite for all 2000-level economics courses.

ECON 1357 is a corollary requirement* for all 1000-level economics courses
* This course may also count toward another major or minor requirement in addition to the Economics minor

MATH 1360 (Calculus II) or equivalent AP or IB credit is an acceptable substitute for ECON 1357.

Intermediate Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (2 courses)

  • ECON 2101 (Intermediate Microeconomics) 
  • ECON 2102 (Intermediate Macroeconomics)

Statistics (1 course)

  • ECON 2110 (Economic Statistics) or MATH 2140 (Intro to Mathematical Statistics)

Econometrics (1 course)

  • ECON 2120 (Introduction to Econometrics)*
    *This course must be taken before the start of Senior year

Economics Electives (4 courses)

  • At least 2 electives must be 4000-level courses which typically require at least one of the following prerequisites: ECON 2101, 2102, or 2120.
  • To graduate with Honors, majors must take 3 courses (9 credits) at the 4000 level.
  • Students who took ECON 1003 instead of 1001 and 1002 must take five (5) economics electives.
    Note: Majors who took ECON 1003 prior to Fall 2022 require 15 elective credits. Students who take ECON-1003 in Fall 2022 or later require 14 elective credits.
  • Variable Credit courses: Economics Internship and Guided Research courses each can earn 1, 2 or 3 credits, and are graded Pass/Fail. They are open only to Economics majors (CAS) or International Economics majors (SFS). Total credits from such courses may not exceed 3, and can be earned in any combination from the two course categories (e.g., 2 credits from Economics Internship and 1 credit from Guided Research).
  • Senior thesis: although this is not required to graduate with Honors, it is a valuable option for Economics Majors. See below, Writing in the Major.
  • The Department maintains a list of our course descriptions and their prerequisites.
    Note: not all courses are offered each semester, check with the Georgetown Schedule for the current semester’s listing.

Writing in the Major describes our integrated writing requirement for economics majors.

Grading Rules

In general, only free electives may be taken pass/fail. Courses fulfilling core or major/minor/certificate requirements must be taken for a letter grade (unless the course is only offered on a pass/fail basis). Students may take courses in core curriculum fields of study as electives, on a pass/fail basis, after they have already fulfilled that core requirement. Similarly, students who wish to take a course in their major or minor field of study on a pass/fail basis may do so only after all requirements for that major or minor have been fulfilled. Those seeking an exception to this rule must consult the relevant director of undergraduate studies or program director. If the pass/fail option is approved by exception, the course will not, under any circumstances, count in the major or minor.

Undergraduate Bulletin

Graduate Study

Students who anticipate graduate study in economics should take the full Calculus sequence (MATH 1350, 1360, 2370) as well as MATH-2250 (Linear Algebra) and MATH-3310 (Analysis I).