BA in Economics

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics requires 32 4-credit courses, which, with a normal load of four courses per semester, typically demands four academic years of study. Information on the College of Arts & Sciences requirements for the BA may be found in the Boston University Undergraduate Programs Bulletin.

Some graduate courses are open to undergraduates with the proper prerequisites, the written consent of the instructor, and guidance from the undergraduate advisor.

The Economics major introductory sequence is comprised of 2 courses, EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis. These large lecture courses (225–280 students) meet for 3 hours per week with a faculty member, plus a 1-hour weekly discussion section, which is led by a teaching assistant.

Students should take EC 101 and 102 as soon as possible, as these courses are prerequisites for all other required courses. A maximum of four courses at the 200 level or higher (i.e., this does not include transfer courses to fulfill CAS EC 101 and/or CAS EC 102) may be transferred toward your Economics major from other schools after matriculation to Boston University.

The rest of this page describes the requirements for the major. Additional information that is helpful in planning your courses appears here:

EC Major Course Requirements (total 12 courses)
2 Introductory courses:

• EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
• EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis

These large lecture courses (225–280 students) meet for 3 hours per week with a faculty member, plus a 1-hour weekly discussion section, which is led by a teaching assistant.

Students should take EC 101 and 102 as soon as possible, as these courses are prerequisites for all other required courses. 

1 Calculus course (with a grade of C or higher) in any one of the following: 

• MA 121, 122, 123, 124, 127, or 129, or by achieving the equivalent through Advanced Placement examinations.
• Calculus is a prerequisite for EC 201 and thus should be completed early.

4 Intermediate courses (with grades of C or higher):

• EC 201 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis 
• EC 202 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis 
• EC 203 Empirical Economics 1* 
• EC 204 Empirical Economics 2

These four courses should be taken before the senior year. Students with strong skills in mathematics may substitute CAS EC201 through 204 with the corresponding EC 221 through EC 224 classes.

5 EC Elective courses (with grades of C or higher) must be chosen from: 

• EC 320 to EC 599

Note: Courses 500-level and above are graduate-level courses which require the instructor’s permission for undergraduates to enroll.

CAS Second Language Requirement 

• 2 years or 4 semesters of a foreign language. This can be waived by TOEFL, AP Language, or Proficiency exams, or shortened by taking a Placement exam.