Economics

What You Will Learn

1. How to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, terms, and models of micro- and macroeconomics.
2. How to apply economic theory and methods to real-world economic problems.
3. How to conduct data gathering and perform data analysis using statistical software.
4. How to define and analyze an economic issue by identifying a question and using the appropriate methods to design, conduct, and synthesize research to form assessments.  

A major in economics requires the successful completion of:

1. One year of Principles of Economics (ECON 051 PZ and ECON 052 PZ) – AP courses do not count towards this requirement.
2. One year of Economic Theory (ECON 104 PZ and ECON 105 PZ)
3. One semester of Economic Statistics (ECON 091 PZ)
4. One semester of Econometrics (ECON 125 PZ)
5. Four additional upper-level courses in economics.
6. Senior Seminar in Economics (ECON 198 PZ): This course must be taken at Pitzer and in the fall of the student’s final year.
7. Senior thesis for honors candidates.

Completion of MATH 030 PZ or equivalent is required before taking Macroeconomic Theory and Microeconomic Theory. Upper-level courses are those that both (1) have Economics 51 and/or Economics 52 as a prerequisite and (2) are numbered 100 or above. Please consult with an Economics adviser in advance for courses requiring only Economics 50 as a prerequisite.  Accounting and Business Law courses do not fulfill the upper-level elective course requirement.  Senior Seminar must be taken at Pitzer; it is offered only during fall semesters; students should plan accordingly in consultation with their advisers.

Students planning to study abroad or wanting to transfer in courses taken at institutions outside of the Claremont Colleges consortium should consult with an Economics adviser beforehand. Only two courses taken at an institution outside of the Claremont Colleges consortium can be counted towards the major.  Within this limit of two, at most one course counted can be taken online. Econometrics generally cannot be taken outside the Claremont Colleges consortium. Overall, students should not assume that classes taken outside the Claremont Colleges consortium will be automatically counted for the major or minor; there is no guarantee. It is best to discuss with a professor in Economics prior to enrolling in class to confirm. These limits apply to the major, combined major, special majors, and to the economics courses in the Mathematical Economics major.

Honors:

Honors candidates will be expected to achieve excellence in the above, maintain a 3.5 grade point average in the major and overall, and to submit a worthy senior honors thesis.

1. ECON 051 PZ – Principles of Macroeconomics 
2. ECON 052 PZ – Principles of Microeconomics 
3. ECON 091 PZ – Statistics 
4. One Economic Theory course: either ECON 104 PZ – Macroeconomic Theory or
5. ECON 105 PZ – Microeconomic Theory 
6. Two upper–level courses in Economics

All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade.  The 6 courses for the minor must be separate from the courses in the student’s major.  If there is overlap in specific required courses (as is the case with some majors), additional upper-level courses must be added.  Please consult with an Economics advisor for more detail.

Completion of MATH 030 PZ or equivalent is required before taking Macroeconomic Theory and Microeconomic Theory. Upper-level courses are those that both (1) have Economics 51 and/or Economics 52 as a prerequisite and (2) are numbered 100 or above. Please consult with an Economics advisor in advance for courses requiring only Economics 50 as a prerequisite.  Accounting and Business Law courses do not fulfill the upper-level elective course requirement. Students planning to study abroad or wanting to transfer courses taken at institutions outside of the Claremont Colleges consortium should consult with an Economics adviser beforehand. At most one course for the minor can be taken at an institution outside of the Claremont Colleges consortium (including abroad).

Students who are pursuing a combined major with Economics and another field must complete all requirements for the Economics major with the following modifications: 

• Students pursuing a combined major need only complete two upper –level economics courses as opposed to four.  
• The two upper–level course selected must engage with issues at the intersection of the two disciplines being combined.  
• Similarly, the senior seminar paper (and honors thesis if one is done) must also engage with an issue at the intersection of the two disciplines.

Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University offer an accelerated program for completion of the BA and MA in Economics in five years. Interested students apply in the fall of their junior year and should contact the Pitzer Economics faculty for more information. Please see the CGU 4+1 Website.