Interdepartmental Majors
Many students find that they want to combine their study in economics with another major.Because the economics department offers both a BA and a BS, it is possibly to easily combine economics with another major in either the Lerner College or the College of Arts and Sciences. For example, students with an interest in business-related issues can take a B.S. in Economics along with a B.S. in finance, accounting, or any other business major. Students with an interest in social science or humanities can combine economics with political science, history, sociology, a foreign language, or any other major that leads to a BA degree.
Established interdepartmental majors exist that combine Economics with Political Science, Mathematics, Business Administration, or a Foreign Language. These interdepartmental majors combine courses from two departments in a way that eases the burden of completing the requirements. See below for details on these programs. Where an interdepartmental major does not exist, students can double major in Economics and another major that offers the same degree (BA or BS). In a double major, a student satisfies separately the specific requirements of each department – typically, by taking 30 credits of courses in the major.
It is also possible to combine a major in economics with majors with other degrees (e.g. Engineering), but this involves a double degree and substantial additional coursework.
Interdepartmental Majors- DetailsAn interdepartmental major usually consists of 51 credit hours selected from related fields with a minimum of 21 credit hours selected from each major field. In general, the Economics Department requires that the 21 hours of economics include ECON 151, 152, 300 or 301, and 303.
Students wishing to explore the possibility of developing an interdepartmental major with other departments should meet with Professor harrisw
lerner [dot] udel [dot] edu (Will Harris), the Economics Department Undergraduate Program Advisor. We encourage you to start planning early in your academic career so that you can successfully complete the program.
Economics and Political Science
Requirements:
Political Science Lower Division Courses-- POSC 105
- Field Requirements. One course at the 300 level or above in three of the five areas of Political Science, as indicated on page 17 (ECON 341 course description) and one additional "elective" Political Science course at the 300 level or above.
- Other Political Science Courses. Additional Political Science course as are necessary to complete the minimum of 21 credits. Note that ECON/POSC 306, Public Choice, can count as either an economics or political science course.
Economics
- Related Work Nine additional credit hours to be taken at the 300 or above level in economics and/or the 400 level in Political Science and/or approved work in related departments.
Economics and French or Spanish
Requirements:
French/Spanish
- Check with the French and Spanish Departments for specific course requirements.
Economics
- 21 credits, including ECON151, 152, 300 or 301, 303 and two courses selected from ECON 305, 311, 340, 443.
Related Work
- Worked out with the individual student. See the Undergraduate Program Advisor, Will Harris.
Economics and Mathematics Requirements:
Economics
- ECON301, ECON303, ECON422, ECON423 ECON406 or ECON426 One of ECON302, ECON430, ECON443, ECON471 or FINC311
Mathematics
- Math245 and Math401 or
- Math350 and Math450 or
- Math201 and Math202 or
- Math503 and one of Math426, Math512, or Math529 Math530 / ECON530
For more information, see the Math department web page.
Economics and Business Administration (B.S.) Requirements:
- The student is required to take 130 credits for graduation rather than 124 (Business Administration major) or 120 (Economics major), but the additional credits may all be P/F general electives. The Business Administration (BUAD) degree will accept 3 credits in economics as part of the 6 credits of BUAD electives. Free electives may also include an additional 3 credits of economics.
- The Economics degree will accept one BUAD concentration courses as 3 of the 30 minimum required credits in the economics major. The following courses are recommended.
- For Finance majors: BUAD407, 413-17, 479For Marketing majors: BUAD479For Operations majors: BUAD447For Administration majors: BUAD429
A maximum of 21 credits in economics can be applied toward the B.S. in Business Administration.
- Special Advice:
- The double major requires that the student has or is able to declare a Business Administration major along with Economics as a major. The Business Administration and Finance Departments review change of majors very carefully. If you are not classified in a business administration or a finance major, you must apply to the appropriate program.
- A double major can use the Business Administration/Finance A-D Group Breadth requirement rules in place of the Economics Breadth rules for both departments, thus making the fulfillment of group requirements simpler. In order to minimize the total number of required courses, we recommend that you do the following when fulfilling the Business/Finance Group requirements
- Under Group B in Business/Finance (Social or Behavioral Sciences), be sure to take 6 credits of economics.Under Group D (Natural Sciences), Business Administration and Finance require 7 credits, including a lab science.
The double degree enables a student to combine programs that grant different degrees, such as a B.S. in another department and a B.A. in economics or a B.A. in another department and a B.S. in economics. The double degree requires 30 additional credit hours beyond the number required for one degree; thus it requires either 150 credits (students majoring in Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences) or 154 credits (students majoring in Economics in the College of Business and Economics). Concentration requirements are the same as for a major. Any student considering this option should contact Prof. Harris, Undergraduate Advisor.
