Economics

Major Requirements

Major: Economics

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

Communication (C)12
ENGL 110
College Composition I
ENGL 120
College Composition II
COMM 110
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing †
Quantitative Reasoning (R) †3
Science and Technology (S) †10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) †6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) †6
Wellness (W) †2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

†

 General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable.  Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

Major Requirements for all options

Economics Core Requirements
ECON 189Skills for Academic Success 11
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 211Introduction to Computational Economics3
ECON 341Intermediate Microeconomics3
ECON 343Intermediate Macroeconomics3
TL 116Business Software Applications3
Capstone3
ECON 440
Game Theory and Strategy
ECON 461
Economic Development
ECON 470
Public Economics
ECON 475
Health Economics
ECON 480
Industrial Organization
Program Option: Select one of three options to complete the major: 33-47
1) Standard
2) Quantitative
3) Business Economics
Total Credits55-69
1

ECON 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student.  Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take ECON 189. If a student has completed another NDSU [Prefix] 189 course, this will substitute for ECON 189.

Standard Option

NOTE: Students selecting the Standard Option may complete either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Standard Option Requirements
MATH 144Mathematics for Business4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
or STAT 367 Probability
STAT 331Regression Analysis 22-3
or ECON 410 Econometrics
Economics Electives 15
Select 15 credits from the list below. Students may select no more than 6 credits from the list of approved non-economics courses, including ECON 324 and ECON 356, as part of the 15 credits of economics electives.
ECON 402
Economics of Entrepreneurship
ECON 410
Econometrics 2
ECON 411
Computational Economics
ECON 440
Game Theory and Strategy (if not taken as capstone)
ECON 461
Economic Development (if not taken as capstone)
ECON 465
Labor Economics
ECON 470
Public Economics (if not taken as capstone)
ECON 472
International Trade
ECON 475
Health Economics (if not taken as capstone)
ECON 476
Monetary Theory and Policy
ECON 480
Industrial Organization (if not taken as capstone)
ECON 481
Natural Resource Economics
ECON 482
Environmental Economics
Select no more than 6 credits from the following as part of the 15 credits of economics electives:
AGEC 339
Quantitative Methods & Decision Making
AGEC 344
Agricultural Price Analysis
AGEC 346
Applied Risk Analysis
AGEC 347
Principles of Real Estate
AGEC 445
Agribusiness Industrial Strategy
AGEC 446
Agribusiness Finance
BUSN 487
Managerial Economics
ECON 324
Money and Banking
ECON 356
History of Economic Thought
FIN 410
Investment Analysis and Management
FIN 420
Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives
FIN 430
Management of Financial Institutions
FIN 440
International Finance
FIN 450
Advanced Bank Management
FIN 460
Corporate Finance
Additional Social & Behavioral Requirements6
In addition to the 6 credits for general education, students must complete 6 credits of social and behavioral sciences. Three credits must be selected from the current general education list while the remaining 3 credits may be any course with a prefix of: ANTH, CJ, GEOG, POLS, PSYC, or SOC.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Requirements - A student must select either a BS or BA degree. The following requirements apply to the specific degree type selected:3-16+
Bachelor of Science: Completion of a minor program of study. This minor must be officially declared through the Office of Registration and Records. (Minimum 16 credits)
Bachelor of Arts: Completion of the BA Langauge Proficiency requirements and 3 credits of 300-400 level humanities, social sciences or a study abroad experience. (Credits for language proficiency will vary depending on placement; 3-14 credits)
Total Credits33-47
2

 STAT 331 is waived if ECON 410 is taken.

Quantitative Economics option

NOTE: Students selecting the Quantitative Economics Option complete a Bachelor of Science degree only.

Quantitative Economics Option Requirements
CSCI 122Visual BASIC3
or CSCI 159 Computer Science Problem Solving
ECON 410Econometrics3
ECON 411Computational Economics3
MATH 165Calculus I4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3-4
or MATH 265 Calculus III
or CSCI 222 Discrete Mathematics
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
or STAT 368 Statistics
or CSCI 366 Database Systems
STAT 367Probability3
or STAT 467 Probability and Mathematical Statistics I
Economics Electives - Select 6 credits from the following 400-level economics electives:6
ECON 402
Economics of Entrepreneurship
ECON 411
Computational Economics
ECON 440
Game Theory and Strategy (if not used as capstone)
ECON 461
Economic Development (if not used as capstone)
ECON 465
Labor Economics
ECON 470
Public Economics (if not used as capstone)
ECON 472
International Trade
ECON 475
Health Economics (if not used as capstone)
ECON 476
Monetary Theory and Policy
ECON 480
Industrial Organization (if not used as capstone)
ECON 481
Natural Resource Economics
ECON 482
Environmental Economics
Minor Requirement
Minor in Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics Required10-14
This option requires the completion of either the computer science, mathematics or statistics minor. Approximately 10-14 credits for any of these minors remains after the completion of the option requirements. The minor must be officially declared through the Office of Registration and Records.
Total Credits42-47

Business Economics option

NOTE: Students selecting the Business Economics Option complete a Bachelor of Science degree only.

Business Economics Option Requirements
ECON 410Econometrics3
ACCT 200Elements of Accounting I3
ACCT 201Elements of Accounting II3
CSCI 122Visual BASIC3
Economics Electives - Select 9 credits from the following:9
ECON 402
Economics of Entrepreneurship
ECON 411
Computational Economics
ECON 440
Game Theory and Strategy (if not used as capstone)
ECON 461
Economic Development (if not used as capstone)
ECON 465
Labor Economics
ECON 470
Public Economics (if not used as capstone)
ECON 472
International Trade
ECON 475
Health Economics (if not used as capstone)
ECON 476
Monetary Theory and Policy
ECON 480
Industrial Organization (if not used as capstone)
ECON 481
Natural Resource Economics
ECON 482
Environmental Economics
Electives - Select 3 credits from the following:3
BUSN 340
International Business
BUSN 341
Global Business Environment
ECON 472
International Trade
FIN 440
International Finance
MGMT 440
International Management
MRKT 440
International Marketing
Quantitative Tools: Select 3 credits from the following:3
ACCT 420
Accounting Information Systems
AGEC 339
Quantitative Methods & Decision Making
Minor Requirement
Minor in Business Administration, Accounting, Banking or Entrepreneurship Required10
This option requires the completion of a minor in Business Administration, Accounting, Banking, or Entrepreneurship. Approximately 10+ credits for the minor remains after the completion of the option requirements. The minor must be officially declared through the Office of Registration and Records.
Total Credits37

 PROGRAM NOTES:

  • Students selecting economics must complete the courses in the Core Requirement area and the requirements outlined within one of the identified option areas listed below: 1) Standard Option 2) Quantitative Economics Option or 3) Business Economics Option. 
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in courses that satisfy the core requirement and option requirements.

Minor Requirements

Minor: Economics

Required Credits: 18

Required Courses
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 341Intermediate Microeconomics3
or BUSN 487 Managerial Economics
ECON 343Intermediate Macroeconomics3
Elective Courses
ECON 300-400Elective3
ECON 400Elective3
Total Credits18

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.
  • This minor is not available to Agricultural Economics majors.