Curricular Advice

Potential economics majors are encouraged to:

• take ECON 1001 and ECON 1002 in the first year or the sophomore year.
• take a 2000-level ECON elective course next.
• take one of the required 2000-level courses – ECON 2002, 2003, 2010, and 2011 – after that.
• discuss any plans to study abroad with a first-year faculty advisor or a faculty member in the Economics Department.
• declare the economics major in the winter term (January) of the sophomore year.

Prospective majors should fully immerse themselves in the liberal arts upon enrollment and continue to take courses outside economics during their time at W&L.

Choosing Electives

There are many ways to choose electives. Here are some ideas. You do not need to follow these specific areas. You can instead simply take courses which interest you.

If you are interested in public policy, you may be interested in taking:

• Urban Economics (ECON 2400)
• Labor Economics (ECON 2300)
• The Economics of Social Issues (ECON 2305)
• Economics of Education (ECON 2310)
• Health Economics (ECON 2350)
• Public Finance (ECON 2200)
• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ECON 2500)

Most of the courses above qualify toward additional interdisciplinary programs as well.

If you are interested in international economics, you may be interested in taking:

• Economics of War and Peace (ECON 2740)
• Caste at the Intersection of Economy, Religion, and Law (ECON 2955)
• International Trade (ECON 2700)
• International Finance (ECON 2710)
• Health Economics in Developing Countries (ECON 2355)
• Development Economics (ECON 2800)
• Comparative Institutional Economics (ECON 2750)

If you are interested in environmental studies, you may be interested in taking:

• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ECON 2500)
• Energy Economics (ECON 2905)
• Lakota Land, Culture, Economics, and History (ECON 2860)

All of the above courses go toward the Environmental Studies minor.

If you are interested in banking, finance, and financial markets, you may be interested in taking:

• Money and Banking (ECON 2650)
• International Finance (ECON 2710)
• Introduction to Accounting (ACCT 1000)
• Financial Statement Analysis (ACCT 3010)

Graduate School Advice

If you are considering graduate study in economics, additional math and computer science courses are strongly recommended. Multivariable calculus and linear algebra are essential, although a minor or major in math is useful, too. Game Theory (ECON 3020) and Mathematical Economics (ECON 3010) are also recommended. Consider working as a Summer Research Scholar after your sophomore or junior year and applying for research internships off campus after your junior year.

If you are considering graduate study in law, additional coursework might include some of the following electives: Money and Banking (ECON 2650), Labor Economics (ECON 2300), Public Finance (ECON 2200), Comparative Institutional Economics (ECON 2750), and Advanced U.S. Economic History (ECON 3400). It is also useful to take additional English and politics coursework.

If you are considering graduate study for an M.B.A. after working for several years, additional coursework might include some of the following economics electives: Money and Banking (ECON 2650), International Trade (ECON 2700), International Finance (ECON 2710), and Game Theory (ECON 3020). It is also useful to take business administration and accounting coursework.

Economics majors have many options for graduate school fellowships (scholarships). There are also scholarships for undergraduate students in the first year, sophomore year, and junior year. Please visit the university’s fellowship website for more information.

Potential Schedules

Below are a few examples of ways to schedule an Economics major. There are many options.

BEFORE Declaring an Economics Major  

Option 1: Econ 1001 and 1002 in sophomore year

Option 2: Econ 1001 and 102 in first year

AFTER Declaring an Economics Major

Typical schedule based on EITHER option above

Study-abroad schedule*

 *To study abroad for a full year, take Econ 2003 plus one of 2010 or 2011 by end of sophomore year.

**If you take 2000-level Econ electives while abroad, you will have fewer Econ electives to complete at W&L, so adjust the remaining schedule for electives accordingly.