2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide
Economics, BS
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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 global economic organizations. Students learn to appraise the functioning of the economy and proposals for the economy’s improvement, develop skills in economic analysis, study current institutional arrangements and their consequences, and the effects of individual and collective actions on the economic process.
The Bachelor of Science in Economics offers three specializations: economic analysis, financial economics, and economic policy analysis. Economic analysis is the most quantitative specialization and should appeal to 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. Financial economics is offered for students planning employment or graduate financial analysis studies. Economic policy analysis combines empirical statistical tools with additional exposure to courses outside economics related to policy analysis. It is offered for students seeking careers in public policy and planning or graduate study in government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
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University General Education Requirements
All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.
Harpur College Requirements
All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.
Major Requirements
Departmental requirements for the Economics major are 16 full courses from economics and mathematics distributed as listed below. Students should consult the department for details on qualifying grades in AP and transfer courses. No course may be counted toward more than one requirement.
Course Requirements
Students must fulfill the following requirements for all tracks in the Economics BS:
Economics Analysis Specialization
- ECON 466 - Introduction To Econometrics OR
- ECON 456 Data Analysis in Economics
- ECON 456, 461, 462, 464, 466, 467 or 483k; ECON 611 may be substituted with approval
- MATH 224 - Differential Calculus
- MATH 225 - Integral Calculus
- MATH 226 - Integration Tech & Application AND
- MATH 227-Infinite Series
- MATH 304 - Linear Algebra
- MATH 323 - Calculus III
- Two full courses (or equivalent) chosen from courses in economics numbered above 110, no more than one of which may be numbered in the 100s, or from the following courses in mathematics or computer science: MATH 314, 357, 371, 447, 448, 461, 471, 478, CS 140. Other mathematics courses numbered 300 and above may be substituted after approval by the economics undergraduate director
- Three additional full courses (or equivalent) chosen from economics courses numbered 400-489 (hence practica, internships and honors courses do not count for this requirement)
Financial Economics Specialization
Electives
- Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which:
- no more than one may be chosen from courses numbered in the 100s
- at least three must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489; and,
- at least three must be chosen from the following list of courses: ECON 350, 414, 416, 436, 437, 439, 440, 442, 445, 450, 454, 456, 458, 459, 461, 462, 483c, 483k, 483m, 481f. The department may also designate special topics courses as suitable to satisfy this requirement.
Economics Policy Analysis
Electives
- Two courses chosen from either PLSC or ENVI or another course approved by the director of undergraduate studies. PLSC courses used to satisfy this requirement must be numbered above 300
- Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which:
- at least three are numbered 400-489; and,
- at least three must be chosen from the following list of courses: ECON 331, 413, 414, 415, 416, 430, 431, 433, 436, 437, 440, 443, 444, 448, 450, 456, 458, 459, 461, 462, 483c, 483k, 483m. The department may also designate special topics courses as suitable to satisfy this requirement
Additional Information About the Program
- A course in which a student earns a grade of C- or less is not acceptable as a prerequisite and may not be used to fulfill the requirements for the major in economics. A course taken under the Pass/Fail option may not be used to fulfill the requirements for prerequisites or the major.
- A B- or better grade in MATH 220 is acceptable in lieu of MATH 224/225 for the BS in Financial Economics and the BS in Economic Policy Analysis.
- College-level calculus (such as MATH 224/225 or MATH 220) and statistics (such as MATH 147) are required for an economics major. If students do not place into MATH 224, then MATH 223 and, if needed, MATH 108 are also required to complete the major. If students are not placed into MATH 147, then MATH 107 is also required to complete the major.
Residency Requirement: At least nine of the 16 required courses and six courses in economics, including four (two for the Economic Policy Analysis specialization) numbered 400-489, must be taken in residence at Binghamton.
For more information on the Economics BS program, please refer to the Economics website. To apply to the Economics BS program, please visit the University Admissions website.
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Return to: Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
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