Economics, B.S.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 and completion of MATH 122 or MATH 141 with a C or higher. A student who wishes to enter the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 and completion of MATH 122 or MATH 141 with a C or higher.
- Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.50 and completion of MATH 122 or MATH 141 with a C or higher on a USC campus.
Some programs in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, cardiovascular technology, biological sciences, chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, economics, environmental science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed below in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 34-46 |
| 2. College Requirements | 15-18 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 29-47 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 24-27 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
Requirements (120 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Core (32-44 hours) | ||
| CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written 1 | ||
| CC-CMW course(s) | 6 | |
| ARP - Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving 1 | ||
| MATH 141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 142 | Calculus II | 4 |
| SCI - Scientific Literacy | ||
| CC-SCI course(s) (two 4-credit CC-SCI courses) | 8 | |
| GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language | ||
| Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course. | ||
| CC-GFL course(s) | 0-6 | |
| GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking | ||
| CC-GHS course(s) | 3 | |
| GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences | ||
| CC-GSS course(s) | 3 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding | ||
| CC-AIU course(s) | 3 | |
| CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component 2 | ||
| CC-CMS course(s) | 0-3 | |
| INF - Information Literacy 2 | ||
| CC-INF course(s) | 0-3 | |
| VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 2 | ||
| CC-VSR course(s) | 0-3 | |
| 2. College Requirements (15-18 hours) | ||
| Foreign Language (0-3 hours) | ||
| Only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency | 0-3 | |
| Analytical Reasoning (6 hours) 1 | ||
| STAT 201 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| CSCE 102 | Web Design and Development using AI Tools | 3 |
| History (3 hours) | ||
| The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course. Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list: | ||
| U.S. and non-U.S. History Courses | 3 | |
| Social Science (3 hours) | ||
| ECON 221 | Principles of Microeconomics 1, 3 | 3 |
| or ECON 222 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Fine Arts/Humanities (3 hours) | ||
| Fine Arts/Humanities Courses | 3 | |
| 3. Program Requirements (29-47 hours) | ||
| Supporting Courses (0-3 hours) 1 | ||
| ECON 221 | Principles of Microeconomics 4 | 0-3 |
| or ECON 222 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours) | ||
| Students must complete a cognate (12 hours) or a minor as part of this program. In lieu of a cognate or minor, an additional major may be added to a student’s program of study. | 12-18 | |
Cognate: | ||
The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs. Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit . Some major programs have specific cognate requirements. It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major. Unless otherwise noted, for Bachelor of Science degrees, cognate courses passed with a grade of D or higher are acceptable. | ||
Minor: 1 | ||
In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must follow a structured sequence. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University. A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z . | ||
| Electives (11-32 hours) | ||
| 120 (or 128) degree applicable credits are required to complete any degree at USC. After the cognate, minor or second major is complete, any additional credits needed to reach 120 (or 128) total credits can be fulfilled by electives. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. | 11-32 | |
| 4. Major Requirements (24-27 hours) 1 | ||
| Economics majors may enroll in ECON 221, ECON 222, ECON 321, ECON 322, and ECON 436 a maximum of twice to earn the required grade of C or higher. For the purposes of this standard progression, withdrawal with a W does not constitute enrollment. Students who plan to major in economics are advised to consult the director of undergraduate studies in economics during the freshman year. | ||
| Major Courses (9 hours) | ||
| ECON 321 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 322 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 436 | Introductory Econometrics | 3 |
| Major Electives (15-18 hours) | ||
| Five ECON electives, 300-level or higher, excluding ECON 301, ECON 421, ECON 476,ECON 499 and ECON 524, 9 hours of which must be at the 400-level or higher. 5 | 15-18 | |
- 1
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
- 2
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
- 3
ECON 224 may fulfill this requirement for students who completed it prior to majoring in Economics. If a grade of A was earned, then ECON 221 and ECON 222 are not required. If a grade of less than an A was earned, then the student must complete either ECON 221 or ECON 222 for the Supporting Course.
- 4
Students must complete both ECON 221 and ECON 222. Whichever was not taken to fulfill the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences Social Science requirement will fulfill this Supporting Course. Students who took ECON 224 (earning less than an A) must also take either ECON 221 or ECON 222 as the Supporting Course. Students who earned an A in ECON 224 are exempted from taking either ECON 221 or ECON 222 as a Supporting Course.
- 5
If a student earned an A in ECON 224 and is exempted from taking ECON 221 and ECON 222, one additional ECON elective must be taken.
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus I 3 | 4 |
| ECON 221 | Principles of Microeconomics 4 | 3 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3-4 | |
| UNIV 101 | The Student in the University (or Carolina Core Requirement) 6 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| MATH 142 | Calculus II | 4 |
| ECON 222 | Principles of Macroeconomics 4 | 3 |
| STAT 201 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON 321 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory 4 | 3 |
| CSCE 102 | Web Design and Development using AI Tools | 3 |
| Foreign language or Carolina Core Requirement 5,6 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 4 | |
| History 7 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 322 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory 4 | 3 |
| Cognate or Minor Course 8 | 3 | |
| Humanities or Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON 436 | Introductory Econometrics 4 | 3 |
| Cognate or Minor Course 8 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 6,9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON Elective (300-level or above) 10 | 3 | |
| Cognate or Minor Course 8 | 3 | |
| Cognate or Minor Course 8 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 6,9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON Elective (300-level or above) 10 | 3 | |
| ECON Elective (400-level or above) 10 | 3 | |
| Minor Course or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON Elective (400-level or above) 10 | 3 | |
| ECON Elective (400-level or above) 10 | 3 | |
| Minor course or Elective 8,9 | 3 | |
| Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-121 | |
- 1
Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.
- 2
Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
- 3
Students who do not place into MATH 141 will be required to take the required prerequisite before proceeding with MATH 141.
- 4
Students must complete both ECON 221 and 222. Whichever was not taken to fulfill the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences Social Science requirement will fulfill this Supporting Course. ECON 224 may fulfill this requirement for students who completed it prior to majoring in Economics. If a grade of A was earned, then ECON 221 and 222 are not required. If a grade of less than A was earned, then the student must complete either ECON 221 or 222 for the Supporting Course.
- 5
Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
- 6
The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
- 7
The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
- 8
The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. For B.S. degrees, grades of D are acceptable for completion of the cognate requirement. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.
- 9
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
- 10
The prerequisites for Economics elective courses vary, but all include ECON 221 and 222 (or 224). Students must meet all prerequisite requirements before enrolling in courses. Please check the Bulletin for specific course prerequisite requirements. ECON 301, 421, 476, 499 and 524 are not approved major electives and will not count toward the major.
Program Notes:
- ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed in the student’s first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation. MATH 122/141, STAT 201, ECON 221 and ECON 222 must be completed early in the undergraduate sequence in order to stay on track with subsequent Economics courses and ensure a timely graduation.
- Economics majors may enroll in ECON 221, ECON 222, ECON 321, ECON 322, and ECON 436 a maximum of twice to earn the required grade of C or higher. For the purposes of this standard progression, withdrawal with a W does not constitute enrollment.
- Progression into the upper division requires the completion of ECON 221 and ECON 222 (or ECON 224) and MATH 122 or MATH 141 with a grade of C or better in each of these courses.
- All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.