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Undergraduate ProgramMinors and TracksQuantitative Economics Track

Quantitative Economics Track

The Quantitative Economics Track is an optional track within the Economics major for students seeking a rigorous, mathematically intensive approach to economic analysis. Admission to the program will take place at the start of the spring term of junior year and is open only to Economics majors. Majors who successfully complete the program’s requirements will receive a departmental attestation.

The deadline for the Class of 2028 to apply for the Quantitative Economics Track is Friday, October 9th.  Please fill out an application by the deadline.

Applying for the Quantitative Economics Track 

PREREQUISITES

To enter this track, a student must complete ECO 100, ECO 101, MAT 201 or ECO 201, MAT 202, and ECO 202 before the start of the junior year and receive a minimum grade of C in each of these courses.

REQUIREMENTS

Students enrolled in the Quantitative Economics Track must maintain a minimum of a C average across all core and elective courses in order to successfully complete the program.

CORE COURSES:

Three core economics courses, at least two of which must be the more mathematical version.

    • ECO 310 (Microeconomic Theory: A Mathematical Approach)
    • ECO 311 (Macroeconomics: A Mathematical Approach)
    • ECO 312 (Econometrics: A Mathematical Approach)

ELECTIVE COURSES: 

Of the five departmental elective courses needed to complete the math track Economics major, three must be from the following pre-approved quantitative list:

    • ECO 313 (Econometric Applications)
    • ECO 315 (Topics in Macroeconomics)
    • ECO 317 (The Economics of Uncertainty)
    • ECO 323 (Market Failures and Policy Responses)
    • ORF 335/ECO 364 (Introduction to Financial Mathematics)
    • ECO 416 (Fintech)
    • ECO 418 (Strategy and Information)
    • ECO 462 (Portfolio Theory and Asset Management)
    • ECO 480 (Quantitative Data Analysis in Finance)
    • COS 445 (Economics and Computing)
    • ORF 405 (Regression and Applied Time Series)
    • ORF 445 (High Frequency Markets: Models and Data Analysis)

Substitutions: Students may substitute equivalent or more advanced graduate courses, with the approval of the Quantitative Economics Track faculty coordinator.

Double-counting: As the track is part of the overall Economics major, all courses used to fulfill the Quantitative Economics track will be permitted to double-count with major requirements. Regular double-counting rules for the major apply to other areas, however, including the Program in Political Economy, the Finance Minor, as well as any other Minor.

Independent Work Requirement:

There is no additional independent work requirement for this track beyond the Junior Independent Work courses (ECO 396 and ECO 398), Senior Thesis courses (ECO 498 and ECO 499), and Senior Comprehensive Exam required for all Economics majors.

Timing

Students must complete all core courses by the end of their junior year.  Please see Popular Course Sequences 3 and 4 for reference.

Contact

Should you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the Undergraduate Program Manager, Gina Holland. If you have questions about the academic requirements of the math track, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Smita Brunnermeier.