Academic Advising Resource Center
Financial Economics
Why take courses in Financial Economics?
Financial economics courses provide an opportunity for students to learn the role of financial markets in allocating resources across the economy as well as in promoting societal welfare.
What kinds of questions does Financial Economics explore?
- How can investors, organizations, firms, and governments best finance their operations to meet their objectives?
- How do government policies and legal decisions correct and improve the outcomes of financial institutions and markets?
- How is financial information created, communicated, and utilized within organizations?
What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Financial Economics?
Knowledge gained in this field can be applied to many areas, ranging from stock trading and large finance firms to financial management at corporations, policy development, and nonprofits.
Taking Courses
Courses for non-majors or general interest
- ECON 101, followed by ECON 211, are necessary starting points for any student interested in this area. In addition, BUSI 116 or ECON 099 are accounting courses that count towards the major and serve as a prerequisite for Econ 241. All economics courses are quantitative (and carry QFR), but 100- and 200-level field courses are less rigorous. Most models are explained graphically or with simple algebra. Courses numbered 250 and above require more mathematical preparation.
Getting started in the major
Econ 341 and/or Econ 342 are the core advanced finance courses necessary to proceed on to completion of either the minor (in Finance) or major. Both require Econ 241 as a prerequisite.
Advanced Placement Credit
We do not give credit for AP courses. Students who have taken an AP course in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics with a score of 4 or 5 may request the Chair to grant permission to bypass ECON 101, and advance to a 200-level course (A major would nevertheless need to take another Economics course to stand in for the bypassed ECON 101). Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores.
Majoring in Financial Economics
Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. This major is eligible for the Bachelor of Science. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.
Sample Four-Year Plans
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | ECON 101 | |
| Y2 | MATH 133 ECON 211 BUSI 116 | DATA 113 ECON 251 |
| Y3 | ECON 241 ECON 255 | ECON 253 ECON 351 |
| Y4 | ECON 342 | ECON 440 |
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | ECON 101 MATH 133 | BUSI 116 ECON 211 DATA 113 |
| Y2 | ECON 241 ECON 253 | ECON 251 ECON 341 |
| Y3 | ECON 255 | ECON 343 |
| Y4 | ECON 441 |
Related Areas of Study
Business, Cinema and Media, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Data Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Global Health, Law and Society, Musical Studies, Politics
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Financial Economics Major Requirements
Economics Department