Economics (BA)

College of Arts and Sciences

Program Website

Program Description

Economics studies human behavior in many settings. At the household level, economics investigates how a household allocates its income across goods, and how a household chooses how much to work, spend, and save. At the market level, economics investigates consumer decisions (what to buy and how much to spend); decisions firms make about their production methods and levels of output; and how these decisions jointly determine market prices, structure, and performance. At the aggregate level, economics investigates the determinants of growth and fluctuations in national income, the determinants of inflation and unemployment, the nature of trade and financial flows between nations, and how all of these are influenced by government monetary and fiscal policy.

At its heart, however, economics is more than a set of questions, but rather is a mode of thought, a set of precise analytical tools that can be used to study a wide variety of social science problems. Students are introduced to these tools in the core methodology courses of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics. With these tools in hand, students are then able to study a wide variety of topics including labor-market outcomes, the role of the banking sector, the economics of developing countries, international trade, the role of the public sector and of the political process, economic history, and the study of health and education. In addition, students have the option for advanced methodological study in dynamic optimization, game theory, and econometrics.

Admission to the Major

Before applying for admission to the Economics Major, students must complete ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics, ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics (or equivalents), and MATH 1110 Calculus I. Students must have grades of B- or better in ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics and ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics and a grade of C or better in MATH 1110 Calculus I. After completing these courses, see the major application on the departmental website.

Note: In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements. 

Major Rules for Transfer Students

Special rules apply for students who transfer to Cornell from another college or university. Transfer students who plan to complete an Economics Major must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine what transferred courses will apply to the requirements for the Economics Major.