Curriculum FAQ

Click on a question to see our answer. If this page does not answer your question, please contact Julie Wong.

The course catalog is available at http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/economics/.

Not all ECON/ECMA and BUSN courses are offered every year. 

The Economics major at UChicago offers three options: 

  1. Standard Track – Provides rigorous, quantitatively oriented training in economics. 

  2. Data Science Specialization – Combines standard economics track with coursework in  computer science, statistics, and special electives. 

  3. Business Economics Specialization – Focuses on applied economics with business related courses and is structured with fewer math prerequisites. 

 Keep your options open! The best approach is to: 

  • Complete entire first-year calculus sequence 

  • Take ECON 20000 (or ECON 20010) 

  • Explore both the Standard and Business Economics tracks before committing 

  • Principles of Economics (Econ 10000 or 10200) – An introduction to Chicago-style economics 

  • Calculus (MATH 15250 and third quarter calculus) – Opens doors to many interesting courses  

  • Core Curriculum courses (The Arts, Civilization Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, etc.)  – Broaden perspectives and improve writing skills

Choose the highest-level course you are qualified for. 

  • Standard & Data Science Tracks: MATH 15250/MATH 18400/MATH 20400/MATH  20800 and MATH 19620/MATH 18500/MATH 20250/STAT 24300 

  • Business Economics Track: Math prerequisites are assigned on a per-course basis • If unsure, consult with the Math Department for personalized advising. 

  • You may meet the PQs in one of the following ways:  

  • You’ve completed MATH 15250 or MATH 18400 

  • You’ve completed MATH 13300 or MATH 15200 and are enrolled in MATH 15250  concurrently with ECON 20000 

  • You’ve completed MATH 18300 and are enrolled in MATH 18400 concurrently with  ECON 20000 

  • You’ve placed into MATH 15910 or higher 

  • You’ve completed MATH 16300 or MATH 16310 

  • You’ve completed MATH 16100 and MATH 16200 with grades of A/A- and are  concurrently enrolled in MATH 16300 and ECON 20000 

The Economics major is designed to be started during your second year. 

  • Core Economics Courses: Econ 20000, 20100, and 20200 

  • Empirical Methods: Linear Algebra, Statistics, and Econometrics (prerequisite for many  standard track electives), taken in consecutive quarters 

  • Core Economics sequence and econometrics courses must be taken in the UChicago Economics Department. 

  • A maximum of two electives may be taken outside the Economics department (up to two  from the pre-approved outside electives list or up to two approved by petition through a  study abroad or one from the pre-approved list and one approved by petition). 

  • For exceptional cases, petitions are considered for courses that use the economic approach  as the main method of analysis. 

  • Petitions should be submitted prior to course enrollment.

  • Micro and Macro core, Micro and Macro methods, and econometrics courses must be taken  in the UChicago Economics Department. 

  • Two electives must be taken from the Economics Department. In exceptional cases,  students may petition for at most one outside econ elective that uses the economic approach  as the main method of analysis. Petitions should be submitted prior to course enrollment. 

  • Four BUSN courses must be taken from Booth-approved bundles (three electives and one  course designated as the business education core) 

  • The four BUSN courses must be drawn from at least three (out of eight) different bundles.  

 In exceptional cases, students may petition for courses to count as electives by submitting a  general petition (https://college.uchicago.edu/advising/tools-forms) along with a syllabus of the  course for our Co-Directors to review. For outside courses to be considered, we require that these  courses use the economic methods as mode of analysis as opposed to using an economy as  an area of analysis. In the Present Your Case section, you should provide compelling reasoning as to why this course substitution should be considered. How does it fit into  your undergraduate career? There should be substantial economics material in the course to  be considered. Please do not just copy the syllabus or course description. Business (BUSN) classes  will not be approved to satisfy the ECON elective requirement of the business economics specialization. Petitions should be submitted prior to course enrollment. 

For substitutions within the BUSN requirements of the business economics specialization, you must  petition to Booth School. If a BUSN course currently does not fall within any of the eight approved  bundles, you may petition to have them counted toward your business economics specialization  BUSN requirements. To petition for a Booth course to count as a substitution in one of the  bundles/categories (e.g. Strategy and Business Environment), you’ll need to use the online  petition request form from Booth, and they (Booth School) will then make the decision to  approve/deny your petition request. Submit a Booth 

Petition here: https://chicagobooth.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_diFzmZcOOh0aca9. 

Writing an honors thesis is not required but can be valuable for graduate school or research  careers. It also allows you to explore a research question of your own. It involves: 

  • Faculty mentorship 

  • A substantial research paper 

  • Planning ahead by taking relevant coursework and electives 

These are advanced economics electives with a master’s designation, introduced in AY 2020- 2021. Students who complete the honors economics core are encouraged to take them. 

Quality grades of C- or higher are required in all courses that count toward the major requirements. 

No, pass/fail grading is not allowed for any course that counts toward the economics major.  

If the professor allows pass/fail grading, students may request pass/fail grading for economics  classes by email before the final exam/ final project due date. At the very latest, they can  request before seeing the final exam. Once they see the final exam (or the final project due date  has passed), they cannot change the grading preference (Quality grading is the default when no  request is made.). 

  • Email Julie Wong (juliew@uchicago.edu), Undergraduate Student Affairs Administrator (SHFE 106), to schedule a meeting. 

  • Students with curriculum questions, grad school questions, research ideas, etc. may seek assistance during our in-person walk-in office hours. Hours labeled MA are reserved for MAPSS/MACSS graduate students. Quarterly schedule here. 

  • Email Emma Rubenstein (emrubenstein@uchicago.edu), Student Affairs Administrator, MACSS-Econ and MAPSS-Econ (SHFE 106) to schedule a meeting to discuss MA (and  BA/MA) program questions. 

Self-subscribe to our Student Listservs with your UChicago email address. Join the Economics Major listserv for major curriculum announcements, course scheduling updates, and events. 

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