Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics


Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics

The B.S. in Quantitative Economics requires a total of 79 credit hours, 28 for core courses, 28 for economics electives, and 23 for math/statistics courses. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for entry into a Masters of Economics program but it is also an excellent choice for those wishing to go directly into employment or a graduate program in another field. Specific requirements are as follows:

Required Core Courses (28 credits)

Each course is four credits.

  • EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 202 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 415 Microeconomic Theory with Calculus
  • EC 312 Macroeconomic Theory
  • EC 380 Introduction to Mathematical Economics
  • EC 460 History of Economic Thought
  • EC 469 Introduction to Econometrics

Required Math/Statistics Courses (23 credits)

Each course is four credits except STAT 452 which is three credits.

  • MTH 251 Calculus I
  • MTH 252 Calculs II
  • MTH 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra
  • MTH 254 Calculus IV
  • STAT 451 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I
  • STAT 452 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II

Economics Electives (28 credits)

A minimum total of 28 credits of 300- and 400-level coursework in economics in addition to the required core courses. At least 16 of these credits must be in courses numbered 410 and above. Up to 4 credits of EC 418 may be counted as upper-division credit in the major. EC 311 cannot be used as an economics elective.

Quantitative Economics majors must take a minimum of 24 credits of upper-division coursework (courses numbered 300 and above) in residence from this department and must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average in work completed in this department.  All courses used to satisfy the departmental major requirements, whether economics, mathematics or statistics, must be taken for a letter grade and must be graded C- or better. Ec 403 (Honors Thesis) cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for the BS in Quantitative Economics.

Once a student has declared a major in economics at Portland State University, formal written permission must be granted by the undergraduate economics adviser if a student wishes to propose using courses numbered 300 and above from other institutions to fulfill the requirements for the BS in Quantitative Economics. Such permission may be granted in the following cases: the student plans to study abroad, the student has been temporarily transferred to another location, or the department does not offer a required course, or an acceptable substitute for that course (as determined by the undergraduate adviser), during a particular term.

B.S. in Quantitative Economics Sample Schedule

Notes:

  • All courses used to satisfy the Quantitative Economics requirements (including MTH and STAT) must be taken for a letter grade (no P/NP)
  • Must maintain a GPA in EC, MTH and STAT of 3.00
  • C- or above required  for course prefixes EC, MTH, and STAT

Year 1

Fall Winter Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry Freshman Inquiry Freshman Inquiry 15
MTH 251 MTH 252 MTH 261 12
Ec 201 Ec 202 General Elective 12
n/a n/a Science Elective 4
Total: 13 Total: 13 Total: 17 43

Year 2

Fall Winter Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry Sophomore Inquiry Sophomore Inquiry 12
Economics Elective (300 level) General Elective Lab Science Elective 12
Ec 380 Ec 415 Ec 312 12
Economics Elective (300 level) MTH 254 Economics Elective (300 level) 12
Total: 16 Total: 16 Total: 16 48

Cumulative credits at the end of Year 2 = 91

Year 3

Fall Winter Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster Upper Division Cluster Upper Division Cluster 12
Ec 460 Economics Elective (410 and above) Economics Elective (410 and above) 12
Lab Science Elective General Elective General Elective 12
General Elective General Elective General Elective 12
Total: 16 Total: 16 Total: 16 48

Cumulative Credits at the end of Year 3 = 139

Year 4

Fall Winter Spring Credits
Economics Elective (410 and above) Economics Elective (410 and above) Capstone (6)

14

STAT 451 STAT 452 (three credits) Ec 469 11
General Elective General Elective General Elective 12
n/a General Elective n/a 4
Total: 12 Total: 15 Total: 14 41

Cumulative Credits End of Year 4 = 180. 
All requirements for the BS in Quantitative Economics satisfied