2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide
Economics Department
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 Return to: Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
The economics curriculum provides an understanding of the origins, characteristics and functions of our economic organization, and develops the ability to appraise the functioning of the economy and proposals for the economy’s improvement. The curriculum emphasizes the development of tools of economic analysis and the study of current institutional arrangements and their consequences. Attention is focused on the effects of individual and collective actions on the economic process.
The department offers the BA and BS degrees in economics, as well as a minor. The BA degree offers an excellent background for students planning to enter careers or professional schools in business, law or public policy. The BS offers three specializations. The BS specialization in economic analysis is the most quantitative specialization. It is offered for students planning careers requiring the more technical tools of economic theory and econometrics. It is a basic preparation for graduate training in economics, although additional coursework in advanced mathematics and statistics is suggested for those planning to pursue a PhD. The BS specialization in financial economics is offered for students planning employment or graduate study in financial analysis. The BS specialization in economic policy analysis combines empirical statistical tools with additional exposure to courses outside economics related to policy analysis. It is offered for students interested in public policy and planning employment or graduate study in government, healthcare and other non-profit organizations.
The department also offers graduate programs leading to Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in economics. The focus of the PhD program is on the applied aspects of the discipline. A strong foundation in economic theory is developed, followed by exposure to several sub-disciplines of economics. Courses usually place an emphasis on the sub-disciplines of empirical and policy applications. The program provides a flexible framework adaptable to a wide variety of professional objectives. The PhD program prepares individuals for careers in teaching, government and research. The program offers the opportunity to specialize in various fields.
The MA program in economics with a specialization in financial economics prepares students for employment in economic research at government and private organizations. The MA program can also provide a base for further graduate work in economics.
Graduate students receiving assistantships are usually assigned responsibilities that prepare them for teaching and research.
Honors Program
Honors Programs Students in either BA or BS degree programs may earn honors in economics in two ways: the curriculum honors program and the J. C. Liu Honors Thesis program. Completion of the curriculum honors program alone leads to a degree with honors in economics. Completion of the J. C. Liu Honors Thesis program may earn honors, high honors or highest honors in economics. Completing both programs earns high or highest honors in economics.
Curricular Honors Program
Students must earn a GPA of 3.7 or better in their major coursework. Students will be paired with a faculty advisor for Honors. Students will work with their advisor who will recommend the appropriate three courses to fulfill Curricular Honors.
J. C. Liu Honors Thesis Program
This is a two-semester program that includes ECON 498 Honors Research Design (four credits) and ECON 499 Honors Thesis (four credits); and submission of a thesis judged worthy of honors in conjunction with ECON 499. ECON 498 or 499 may be counted as lower-level electives toward the economics major, but will not count toward the requirement of courses numbered 400-489.
Admission to the honors thesis program and to ECON 498-499 is limited to majors with a 3.3 GPA in economics and a 3.0 GPA overall. Requests for admission to the program should be directed to the instructor of ECON 498 in the second semester of the junior year. Students planning to graduate in December of their fourth year should be aware that they must begin the program with ECON 498 in the fall of their third year, and complete ECON 499 in the spring of their third year.
Programs
Return to: Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
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