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USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Progressive Degree Program in Economics
In Economics: ECON 203, ECON 205, ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 414 and at least two other ECON courses at the 400 level or above
The Economics department offers students who have demonstrated exceptional academic success the opportunity to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a progressive degree program. This program allows students to earn both the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Arts degrees in five years. Students may also pursue the Bachelor of Science in Economics/Mathematics and the Master of Science in Mathematical Finance. Further details about progressive degree programs can be found on page 87. Admission Admission is available after the completion of 64 units of course work toward the undergraduate degree. Students must apply for admission to the progressive degree program after completing 64 units of applicable course work to their undergraduate program, but prior to the completion of 96 units of course work. The application for admission to the progressive degree program must be accompanied by a course proposal plan and two letters of recommendation from USC Economics faculty. Awarding of Degrees The bachelor’s and master’s degrees may be awarded separately upon completion of all degree requirements, but the master’s degree will not be awarded before the bachelor’s degree. Students who elect not to complete the master’s must complete 128 units to earn the bachelor’s degree. Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Economics/Mathematics
Students are required to take seven courses in economics, seven courses in mathematics and one course in computer programming languages. Pre-major requirement: MATH 125 or equivalent.
In Mathematics: MATH 126 or MATH 127; MATH 225 or MATH 245; MATH 226 or MATH 227; MATH 407, MATH 408 and at least two other MATH courses at the 400 level or above In Computing: At least one course chosen from ITP 110x, ITP 150x, ITP 165x; CSCI 101L Electives must be approved by the program advisers. Minor in Economics
Students from all disciplines will benefit from an economics minor. The economics minor is offered in three tracks. Each track is designed to help the student explore a coherent area of economic thought and methodology. Students minoring in economics must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (cumulative) in courses taken for the minor. The minor includes the core courses ECON 203, ECON 205, ECON 303 or ECON 305, MATH 118x or MATH 125 plus three courses chosen from one of the following tracks: Law and Political Economy This track introduces students to the economic theory that underlies the economic choices made by individuals and the ways in which law and policy combine to regulate such behavior. Economic models of individual choice, contracts, and law are analyzed in courses in this track. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 330, ECON 332, ECON 434.
Finance and Money This track guides students through the economic thought and theory that underlie the importance of money. Courses cover topics that shed light on the ways in which institutions, individual preferences and financial markets affect the allocation and investment of money. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 350, ECON 357, ECON 360, ECON 450, ECON 452, ECON 457. International Economics This track concentrates on the foundations, complexities and importance of the global economy as well as the role of economics and political economy in societies outside of the United States. Choose three courses from: ECON 317, ECON 330, ECON 340, ECON 342, ECON 343, ECON 346, ECON 450. Undergraduate Honors Program
The department offers an honors program. First and second semester seniors can enroll in ECON 495 Honors Thesis. Honors will be awarded upon completion of the thesis, an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a major GPA of 3.5. Department Policy Regarding Transfer Credits
Students who have taken courses equivalent to ECON 303, ECON 305, ECON 317 or ECON 414 from an economics department at another four-year college or from a program deemed comparable by the director of undergraduate studies, can earn transfer credits provided they received a B (3.0) or better in the courses.
Graduate Degrees The graduate program in economics is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching, research, industry and government. The department emphasizes economic theory and econometrics; applied economic analysis, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, international and development economics, urban and regional economics; and political economy. Admission Requirements
Prerequisites The typical applicant for admission will normally have completed an undergraduate major in economics. Minimal prerequisites for admission to a master’s degree program include
courses in intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, a year of calculus, and a semester of statistics. Applicants for the Ph.D. program are normally expected to have completed more than the minimum, particularly in the areas of mathematics and statistics. Criteria The Graduate Record Examinations General Test, three letters of recommendation and the student’s statement of purpose are required. The letters and statement should be sent directly to the Director of Graduate Admissions, Department of Economics, KAP 300, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0253. International applicants are required to take the TOEFL
examination. In addition, applicants for financial aid are advised to take the GRE Economics Subject Test and international students must have a TSE score of 200. Admission is based on the appropriateness and quality of completed course work, GRE scores and the letters of recommendation. Procedure Application deadlines for master’s degrees are normally April 15 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring. Completed doctoral fellowship and assistantship applications are due by December 1. Except for unusual cases, students are permitted to begin Ph.D. programs only during the fall semester.