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ECON-BA - Economics (BA)

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EconomicsUndergraduate MatriculatedBA - Bachelor of Arts

Overview

Program Policies

Learning Outcomes

Program Overview

The mission of the undergraduate program in Economics is to acquaint students with the economic aspects of modern society, to familiarize them with techniques for the analysis of contemporary economic problems, and to develop in them an ability to exercise judgment in evaluating public policy. The program introduces students to macro- and microeconomic theory, teaches them to think and write clearly about economic problems and policy issues and to apply the basic tools of economic analysis. The undergraduate major provides an excellent background for those who plan careers in government and private enterprise as well as those pursuing graduate degrees in professional schools or in the field of economics.

Completion requirement
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 2144841
  • 1132501
  • 1132521
  • 1132571
  • 1132801
  • 1132811
Complete at least 5 of the following Courses:
  • 1406151
  • 2226661
  • 1132921
  • 2149101
  • 1133011
  • 2147461
  • 1133571
  • 2092251
    OR     1133331
  • 2041841
  • 1133291
  • 1133341
  • 1133391
  • 2079941
  • 1133411
  • 2121091
  • 1133561
  • 1133581
  • 1133591
  • 1133621
    OR     2131431
  • 1133661
  • 2078231
  • 2147771
  • 2020291
  • 1170542
  • 1133971

Must be taken at Stanford in California. The economics major does not require following a specific track or concentration however students should go to economics.stanford.edu to see the economics courses listed by focus areas.

Earn at least 20 credits

Students complete 20-27 units in addition to the field courses taken; choose from any ECON courses offered for a letter grade.

  • If students waive course, they must take 5 units of elective courses to make up the 5 waived Econ 1 units.

  • If the Field Course requirement of 5 courses does not add up to 25 units, the missing units can be made up with elective units.

  • Up to 10 units of this requirement may be fulfilled by upper-division math, statistics, or computer science with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

  • A maximum of 10 units of transfer credit or course Directed Reading or approved courses offered by Bing Overseas Studies Program may be taken under this section. Suitable transfer credit must be approved in writing by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

  • Advanced undergraduate majors with strong quantitative preparation may enroll in Econ graduate (200-level) courses with the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the course instructor.

  • The department does not give credit for internships.

Completion requirement
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 1132781

Must be taken at Stanford in California. This course should be taken only after completing course Economic Analysis II and course Economic Analysis III, course Applied Econometrics, and at least two field courses.

Completion requirement

For students graduating in 2024-25 and beyond, the Economics capstone experience will consist of two components:

  1. starting right after declaring the Economics major, every student will develop an electronic portfolio, highlighting key aspects of their economic experience and reflecting on it.

  2. during their senior year, every Economics major will choose one of the following two paths: (a) researching and writing an honors thesis, or (b) taking Econ 101, a one-quarter course with an emphasis on empirical analysis and writing. Successful completion of either path will also count toward the writing in the major requirement.

 

Completion requirement
Enroll in the following Courses:
  • 1133971

The honors program offers an opportunity for independent research, creativity, and achievement. It is designed to encourage a more intensive study of economics than is required for the normal major, with course and research work of exceptional quality. Honors students submit their theses in writing and present them during the Honors Research Symposium during Spring Quarter.  The honors program requires:

  1. Completing all requirements for the major; plus five additional units, bringing the total to 85 units.

  2. Achieving a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 for the required courses of the Economics major (excluding course Directed Reading and course Honors Thesis Research). See details in the Information Book for Economics Majors.

  3. Complete course Applied Econometrics and at least two Econ upper-division courses most relevant for the proposed topic of the honors thesis by the end of the junior year. (These can be included in the basic 80 units.)

  4. Candidates must write and present an honors thesis in their senior year for one to nine units of credit in their thesis adviser's section of Econ 199D.  Additionally, winter registration for one unit of Honors Thesis Research, under the Director of the Honors Program section number (199D-20) is mandatory for all honors students.  The thesis must be of very high quality and written under the direction of a member of the department or its affiliated faculty. 

Prospective candidates for the honors program should submit an application to the director no later than the third Wednesday of the Autumn Quarter for Spring Quarter degree conferral. Also required, in the same quarter, is a three-page thesis proposal that must be approved by the thesis advisor.

Juniors interested in the honors program should contact the honors program director for more information.

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