Econometrics and Quantitative Economics Requirements

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The study of economics examines how entities from individuals to nations allocate resources to achieve objectives congruent with their desires and interests. A strong economics background can help one better conduct market analyses important for business, predict movements in financial markets, and understand effects of government policies. But to pursue these endeavors, employers are increasingly wanting students that have training in statistics, math, and computer programming as these employers will pay a premium to employees that have these skills. The Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (EQE) major is designed to provide these skills and to enable graduates to apply this training to economic issues. The EQE major will also greatly benefit those wanting to go to graduate school in economics because majors will have the quantitative foundation students need to succeed in economics graduate programs.

The requirements for an EQE major are given below. Courses taken for a pass/fail grade will not be counted toward the major without the written consent of the director of undergraduate studies within the economics unit. Transfer students can receive credit towards the major from equivalent courses at other institutions. However, the required 400-level economics courses must be taken at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Students are highly encouraged to discuss their major programs and career goals with an economics professor. Undergraduates considering graduate economics programs should meet with a professor as soon as possible in order to adequately prepare for the economics and mathematical rigor of these graduate programs.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 39
Major Requirements 33
ECON 208 (or equivalent), ECON 240, ECON 241, ECON 340, ECON 341, ECON 463, ECON 465 22

Computer Science and Mathematics

Choose three of the following Math and CS courses:
Computer Science Courses: CS 202, CS 215, CS 220, CS 221, CS 300, and CS 306

Math Courses: MATH 150 or MATH 151 (but not both), MATH 221, MATH 305, MATH 318, MATH 319, MATH 349, MATH 352, MATH 380, MATH 400

At least three credit hours must come from Math and at least three credit hours must come from Computer Science.

11
Technical Electives 36
Choose courses in fields complementary to the major from:

Accounting; Agribusiness Economics; Anthropology; Archeology; Business; Business Analytics; Computer Science*; Economics**, Engineering; Finance; Geography; History; HTEM; ITEC; Journalism; Languages, Cultures, and International Studies (with prefixes CHIN, FR, GER, INTL, JPN, LCIS, SPAN); Linguistics; Management; Marketing; Mathematics*; Paralegal Studies; Philosophy; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology 1
Other Electives 12
120

1 *Only Computer Science and Mathematics credit hours above the eleven applied to the major apply to the Technical Electives. **Only Economics courses not specified above apply to the Technical Electives.

Accelerated Master's Program

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics majors can enter an accelerated Bachelor's-Master's program in which specific courses satisfy requirements in both degrees allowing for completion of the master's in just one year after the B.A. To enter this program, students apply through the School of Analytics, Finance, and Economics during their junior year and must have at least a 3.25 G.P.A. in all coursework. Before the end of their senior year, students in this program take ECON 465 (Mathematical Economics) and ECON 463 (Applied Econometrics), one other 400-level Economics course, and MATH 150 (Calculus I). Up to seven credits from these 400-level Econ courses can be applied to both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. Because the master’s requires 30 hours of coursework, students in the accelerated master’s program only need 21 hours after their senior year thereby making it possible and likely to complete the master’s degree in only one year. Please see the school director for more information.

Capstone Option For Transfer Students

The Capstone Option is available to students who have earned an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree or have the equivalent certification and who have a cumulative 2.0/4.0 GPA on all accredited coursework prior to the completion of the A.A.S. or certification, as calculated by the transfer institution's grading policies. The Capstone Option reduces the University Core Curriculum requirements from 39 to 30 hours, therefore reducing the time to degree completion. See the Capstone Option section for information. Students who apply for the Capstone Option will work with the College of Business and Analytics Advisement Office for approval of the Capstone Option and will complete a personal contract for a degree completion plan.

Differential Tuition

The College of Business and Analytics assesses differential tuition for College of Business and Analytics majors. The College of Business and Analytics has a “minor program fee” for majors outside of the College of Business and Analytics that want to declare a minor through the College of Business and Analytics. The minor program fee is equal to 15% of 15 credit hours of applicable tuition for declared College of Business and Analytics minors.