For Current Students

FAQ - Additional Information

• If I want to consider majoring in economics, what courses should I take to find out if I like it?

  You should begin with Economics 101, Economic Principles and Problems. This course is designed as a survey of economics, to introduce students to the main theories of economics and to introduce them to some contemporary economic issues. Students should also complete calculus (MATH 192 or MATH 201) in their first three semesters.

   

• What do students do with an economics major after they graduate?

  The economics major is quite versatile. Economics majors can pursue careers in financial services, government, management or business, or the non-profit sector. The major also provides a good background for law school, public policy master's programs, and Ph.D. programs in many disciplines. See careers chosen by Bucknell graduates, including economics majors.

   

• If I want to attend graduate school in economics, how should I prepare?

  You must take five or six mathematics courses at Bucknell to be fully qualified for most graduate economics programs. See our economics graduate school adviser for more details.

   

• Is it true that there is a cap on economics majors?

  Yes, there are a limited number of seats available to current students applying for admission to economics major.

   

• What is the minor in economics?

  The minor in economics consists of Economics 101 and any four Economics courses above the 101 level.

   

• Do I need to take 200 level core economics courses in order?

  No. You can take any of the 200-level core economics courses once you have taken Economics 101. There is no requirement that you take 202 prior to 203 or to 204, for example.

   

• Can I get Bucknell credit for courses I take in a study-abroad program?

  You can receive 200-level credit for up to two economics courses that you take in a non-Bucknell abroad program. If the courses are not on the list of courses previously approved by the Department of Economics maintained by the Office of Global & Off-campus Education, you will have to bring a course description and syllabus to the department chair to have the course approved for credit.

   

• I took the AP exam in high school but didn’t receive credit for Economics 101. Why not?

  If you took only the Microeconomics AP exam or only the Macroeconomics AP exam, you have not covered the material in the Economics 101 course. Current departmental policy is to give students only ECON 100-level credit for scores of 4 or better on either the Micro or Macro AP exam. Any student who earns a score of 4 or better on both AP Macro and AP Micro can meet with the department chair to make a case for receiving Economics 101 credit. (Credit for Economics 101 is not awarded automatically, but must be requested from the department chair.) Students receiving AP credit for ECON 101 are encouraged to take ECON 104 so that they are fully prepared for their intermediate economics courses.

   

• If I take an IP course taught by a member of the economics department, will it count toward my economics major?

  IP courses taught by members of the economics department can also be counted as a 200-level economics course.

   

• If I take Economics 227 to fulfill my international relations major, can I also count that course toward an economics major or minor?

  No. The University rules are that courses applied to the major requirements for any one major cannot be double counted to meet requirements for another major or minor. You will have to decide whether Economics 227 should count as an international relations course or as an economics course.

   

• What is the difference between Math 192 and Math 201?

  Both of these courses satisfy the economics math requirement, so which you choose is mainly a matter of personal choice. But, if you think you might eventually want to get a Ph.D. in economics or pursue a graduate degree in any field that will use rigorous mathematics, it would be advisable to take Math 201.

   

• Do Economics 298 (formerly 201) and 398 (formerly 301), independent studies, count toward the major as one of the 200 and 300-level requirements, respectively?

  Yes.