Major Requirements
The department requires majors to complete, and pass on a graded basis, eight departmental courses: three core courses and five other elective courses. In addition to these departmental courses, students must complete the Junior Independent Work courses (ECO 396 and ECO 398), the Senior Thesis courses (ECO 498 and ECO 499) and a Senior Comprehensive Exam.
Furthermore, students must have a departmental average of at least a C.
Note: The calculation of the departmental average is described in Departmental Average section of the department website. The treatment of failed courses is described in the Advancement to Senior Standing section.
Core courses, departmental electives, and cognates
CORE COURSES
All majors must pass, on a graded basis, core courses in Microeconomics (ECO 300 or ECO 310), Macroeconomics (ECO 301 or ECO 311) and Econometrics (ECO 302 or ECO 312). These courses must be completed during or before junior year. Each of the three core courses is offered in two versions to accommodate different levels of preparation in mathematics: ECO 300, ECO 301, and ECO 302 require MAT 175/ ECO 201; ECO 310 and ECO 311 require MAT 201/ ECO 201; and ECO 312 requires MAT 201/ ECO 201 + MAT 202.
Qualified students are encouraged to take the more mathematical versions of our core courses. It is not necessary to take all three core courses in the same version.
ELECTIVE COURSES
In addition to the three core courses, majors must pass, on a graded basis, five other departmental elective courses. These courses can be any 300-, 400-, or 500-level economics courses, or an approved cognate (see below).
Students planning a senior thesis with empirical emphasis are strongly encouraged to take ECO 313; students planning a theoretical senior thesis are strongly encouraged to take ECO 317 and/or ECO 418.
COGNATES
Economics majors are allowed to count a maximum of two courses from other departments as cognates. These courses must have substantial economics content. A course with an economics cross-listing (indicated by an ECO 3XX, ECO 4XX or ECO 5XX number in its first or second listing) counts as a regular departmental course, not as a cognate. Courses that will be automatically recognized by Stellic as cognates are automatically approved as cognates. No application is necessary for these courses.
If you would like us to consider a course that is not on the automatically approved cognate list, please email a copy of the course syllabus to the undergraduate program manager. To be approved as a cognate, a course must have substantial content in theoretical or empirical economic analysis. Permission should be obtained before the semester’s deadline for the grading option change (usually in week eight or nine of each term).
To see all ECO courses offered this semester, visit the Registrar’s Office.
Junior and Senior Independent Work
As part of their undergraduate coursework at Princeton, all Economics majors work with faculty advisers to work on two, year-long research projects: A Junior Paper and a Senior Thesis. Through these projects, students are able to research topics they’re passionate about.
Senior Comprehensive Exam
The senior comprehensive examination takes the form of an oral presentation and defense of the Senior Thesis. The senior comprehensive exam grade will appear on the student’s transcript.
Questions about the exam should be directed to Gina Holland.
Grades and other requirements
Economics majors must complete their core courses and Junior Independent Work with an average grade of C or better by the end of their junior year to advance to senior standing.