<p>Hey guys, I am a Singaporean applying to colleges this year, hoping to major in economics. I have been looking through the websites of various american, canadian and UK universities, particularly at their curriculum for economics major.</p>
<p>I realized that American and Canadian economics major are rather similar- students are able to select various mathematics courses such as linear algebra, differential equations, calculus, real analysis etc to complement their economics studies. </p>
<p>For UK schools, students are required to take principles of economics, micro and macroeconomics analysis, econometrics and a few options for you to choose between international, development, mathematical economics or advanced micro and macroeconomic analysis. There's less emphasis on building a strong foundation in mathematics first before starting the advanced courses in economics. Are all the knowledge of those mathematics courses i mentioned above assumed to have been taken in Alevels Mathematics? I realized the UK schools offer one or two modules in quantitative methods, and that's all the mathematics training they give you?</p>
<p>I understand that those mathematics courses are really important for study of economics, especially if you are considering going to grad school. Will UK schools less emphasis on mathematics affect a student chance of grad school in America or make the economics studies less rigorous?</p>
<p>British A Levels cover calculus and don't cover real analysis or differential equations. I think they might touch on a few linear algebra topics (as "vector geometry") but don't cover the entire subject.</p>
<p>I don't know why US economics majors are encouraged to take so much math because you definitely don't need all of it. Wellesley, for example, recommends majors considering graduate school to take Real Analysis and Abstract Algebra. Maybe these courses build some general problem-solving/abstraction/attention-to-detail skills, but they don't involve any computational math whatsoever.</p>
<p>I am not terribly familiar with Economics curricula in the UK, but I suspect that the LSE's joint BSc in Mathematics and Economics might interest you.</p>
<p>No no, I am ok with the mathematics. I know its important in the study of economics. Just that I did not do Alevel mathematics, so my mathematics foundation is not that strong. I'm afraid I can't cope at the UK schools. At least in the american and canadian schools, I can brush up on my mathematics during my freshman and sophomore years.</p>
<p>Edwinesque: I mentioned the LSE joint Math/Economics BSc because I think it is an excellent preparation for further graduate studies in economics at any top U.S university. </p>
<p>In summary, on the economics side properly, you can take a sequence of one-year courses in introductory economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, plus an additional one-year course in mathematical economics. On the math side, the curriculum starts with a sequence of two one-year courses in mathematical methods covering calculus and linear algebra, plus a one-year course in elementary statistics, and a one-year introduction to modern abstract mathematics. In the sequel, most students take one semester of real analysis, plus one semester of either advanced differential equations, optimization theory, or discrete math. Finally, in the 3rd year, you take two additional one-semester math courses (e.g. advanced probability, game theory, or further optimization theory) and a free elective, which can be either in math, economics, finance, or any another subject taught at the LSE (e.g. sociology, political science, anthropology, etc.)</p>