Economics (BS)

Program Code: U-ECON-BS
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Science
Department: Economics Department
Website: econ.duke.edu/undergraduate/bs-economics 

Program Summary

Economics courses develop the critical and analytical skills essential for understanding economics and institutions, in both their contemporary and historical settings. Although no particular vocational or professional goal is emphasized, these courses provide the academic background necessary for positions in industry or the non-profit sector, for work in many branches of government service, for law school, and for graduate study in business administration, economics, and the social sciences.

Students who contemplate graduate study in economics are urged to develop skills in intermediate calculus (MATH 212), linear algebra (MATH 221), differential equations (MATH 356), and advanced calculus (MATH 431).

The undergraduate degree in economics signifies achievement of proficiency in quantitative skills and experience in applying these to economics.

The Department of Economics maintains online resources to guide economics majors and minors at econ.duke.edu/undergraduate.

Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.

Academic Requirements

At least 12 units total to complete the major. At least 34 units total to earn a degree.

• Math Requirement (1 unit)

  • MATH 202

  • MATH 212

  • MATH 219

  • MATH 222

• Core Economic Courses (6 units)

  • ECON 101D

  • ECON 104D

  • ECON 201D

  • ECON 204D

  • ECON 205D

  • ECON 210D

• Upper-Level Electives (5 units)

  • Must include at least 5 ECON or FECON courses 300-400-level

    • At least 1 elective course must be 300-level

    • At least 1 elective course must be 400-level

For the BS Degree with Concentration in Financial Economics

The economics department also offers a BS degree with a concentration in financial economics. Certification of this concentration is designated on the official transcript. Students who wish to pursue this designation must complete the requirements for the BS degree with the addition of the following requirements.

• FECON 372

• At least 2 elective courses from the following options:

  • FECON courses 300-level and above (may also satisfy BS elective requirements)

  • FMKT courses 200-level and above

  • FINTECH 520, 533, 534, 536, 550, 552, 564

  • ENERGY 620

Departmental Graduation with Distinction

Awarding of Distinction. A student will be awarded distinction upon graduation if they have satisfied all of the following requirements:

• A minimum grade point average of 3.3 in the major and 3.3 overall;

• Completion of five electives commensurate with an undergraduate AB or BS degree; and

• The honors committee determines that the honors thesis qualifies for Graduation with Distinction.

Awarding of High Distinction. 
A student will be awarded High Distinction upon graduation if they have satisfied all the requirements for Distinction and their honors thesis is selected by our honors committee from among nominated theses.

Awarding of Research Distinction.
If the honors committee determines that a student’s thesis qualifies for distinction, but the student’s GPA does not meet the standards for Graduation with Distinction, the Economics Department will recognize the student with a Research Distinction in the departmental graduation program.

Honors Thesis. An honors thesis is a research paper representing a degree of research and critical thinking sufficiently complex and sophisticated as to require two to three semesters’ worth of work. The thesis is planned, researched, drafted, and revised over the course of two to three semesters, using research tools and techniques employed in economics research.  The thesis is not a term paper summarizing existing research.  Rather, the thesis represents novel economic research undertaken by undergraduates under guidance of faculty.

Honors Seminars (ECON 495S and ECON 496S). The department offers a two-semester research workshop sequence for students interested in writing an honors thesis. Students are expected to take both ECON 495 and 496 but they can be taken in either order.  Required core courses are prerequisites for both Honors Seminars.  We strongly encourage students to begin the sequence in the spring of their junior year, but it is also possible to begin in the fall of their senior year.

If a student has been working with a faculty member on a research project possibly through a course or through work as a research assistant, they can - with the approval of this faculty member - alternatively register for Economics 394 (Research Independent Study) and then ECON 493 (Honors Research Independent Study).

A student may start in an Honors Seminar (495 or 496) and then finish their second semester with ECON 493 with the approval of the faculty member offering to oversee the student’s completion of the honors study.

Students do not have to qualify for Graduation with Distinction to enroll in ECON 495, ECON 496, ECON 394, or ECON 493.

ECON 495, ECON 496, ECON 394, and ECON 493 all qualify as electives for the major. Still, completion of any one or any two of these courses does not guarantee Graduation with Distinction. The honors committee determines if the honors thesis qualifies for Graduation with Distinction.