Mathematical Economics

Jason Owen, Mathematics Program Coordinator
Andrew Yates, Economics Program Coordinator

The mathematical economics (MATH-ECON) major includes courses taught by faculty in both the mathematics and economics departments. Faculty members, graduate students, and recent Ph.D.s ranked analytical skills and mathematics as the most important skills necessary for success in the graduate study of economics. The MATH-ECON major is designed to develop those skills. Additionally, the combined major provides a stronger, more coordinated curriculum for students who would otherwise major in economics or business and minor in mathematics. The MATH-ECON major is available as a Bachelor of Science degree.

The Mathematical Economics Major

Note: A grade point average of C (2.00) is required in the major, with no course grade below a C- (1.70) in courses counting towards the major.

MATH 211 or 231 Calculus I

MATH 212 or 232 Calculus II

MATH 235 Multivariate Calculus

MATH 245 Linear Algebra

MATH 329 Probability

MATH 330 Mathematical Statistics

CMSC 150 Introduction to Computing or CMSC 155 Introduction to Scientific Computing

ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 271 Microeconomic Theory

ECON 272 Macroeconomic Theory

ECON 340 Econometrics

ECON 341 Mathematical Economics

MTEC 400 Capstone in Mathematical Economics

One unit chosen from

MATH 310 Advanced Multivariate Calculus

MATH 312 Differential Equations

MATH 320 Real Analysis I

MATH 323 Discrete Mathematical Models

MATH 328 Numerical Analysis

MATH 395 Special Topics

One unit chosen from

ECON 300 Industrial Organization and Public Policy

ECON 310 International Trade and Finance

ECON 330 Environmental and Resource Economic Theory

ECON 331 Labor Economics

ECON 332 Public Economics

ECON 360 Selected Economic Topics

Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.

In order to be eligible, students must have met the following qualifications:

• Completion of at least 18 units of coursework, not including courses in which the student is currently enrolled
• Overall GPA of 3.3 or higher
• Completion of at least four units within the major, excluding courses primarily for first-year students (MATH 211, 212, 231, 232; ECON 101, 102), with a cumulative GPA in all such courses of at least 3.3

The student will select a willing faculty member to serve as lead advisor for the project. Together they find a second faculty member to serve as consultant. One faculty member should be from economics and one from mathematics.

The student and lead advisor will plan the student's honors program. The student and advisor will plan four units of coursework in support of the honors topic. Two of these units will be MATH 340 Directed Independent Study or ECON 490-491 Honors Seminar/Research, depending on the department of the lead advisor. These courses are used to prepare the honors thesis. The remaining two units will be selected from the regular curriculum with an additional honors component; one unit will be from upper-level economics and one unit from upper-level mathematics. These courses will be chosen with an eye towards maximizing the student's ability to produce a quality honors thesis.

A completed honors thesis will be read and approved by a committee of at least three readers, including the lead and consulting advisors, and will be presented to the faculty in both departments.

MTEC 400 Capstone in Mathematical Economics

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