The department seems to be responding to calls to make the economics major less theoretical and more “useful”.
There are now two standard tracks, A and B. For Track A, Econ 203 (a core macro class) is cut and replaced by one of six macro econ electives. For Track B, in addition to cutting Econ 203, Math 196 (linear algebra) and Stat 234 (statistical models and methods) are combined into a single class, Statistical Methods in Economics. For Track B, the required number of econ electives goes from 4 to 5.
Generally, all three of these classes have very limited applications for other classes, or simply fall short. Econ 203 is needed for many of the macro-oriented electives, but it’s easy to avoid taking macro electives in the first place, and students often view 203 as a rite of passage more than anything else. Math 196 is highly theoretical with almost zero practicality. Stat 234 is an overview of statistical theory and application, but it typically falls short of the requirements needed in classes like econometrics, which places a burden on both instructors and students.
Important to note is that Track A and B described above are the minimum set of requirements for the major. The beauty of the economics major is that one can customize its difficulty, and the honors options seem unchanged.
These changes may make the economics major easier and more accessible to students. Keep in mind that economics is already by far the most popular major in the college. What sort of impact will this have, if any?
@Boothie007 - Hahaha Chicago falling from the #1 Econ spot in the rankings was startling - in the history of the rankings, that had never happened before. This would be like Yale falling from the no. 1 spot in Law.
They only rank Econ programs once every few years - so it’ll be a long wait for the Econ experts in Hyde park.
Re the more practical major, it looks like Chicago is starting to meet more undergrads where they are - in a more practical space. This is happening with comp sci too.
@exacademic - I liked your comment about being able to customize the difficulty of the major. This looks like the most market conscious way for Chicago to go generally - more customization means fewer unhappy undergrad customers!
Yes. Business economics will be a major for class of 2021. This is a great development. I was interested to see that UChicago is ranked First in English together with Berkeley. Anybody out there who can give some context here ? Since when is Chicago preeminent in English and why ?
Who knows hor USNWR ranks graduate programs? Chicago has some great English faculty, especially in areas I know all of you love like queer studies. It certainly belongs in the group of top programs, but I have no idea how anyone decided it was tied with Berkeley and better than Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Duke.
@Chrchill as my kid wants to major in History I would agree with at least part of that, particularly if her subject matter makes use of data and quantitative methods of analysis (which she is hoping to learn). English can go either way - a lot depends on how rigorously it’s taught. UChicago has plenty of stories that suggest there is no issue there.
The particular disciplines (or sub-disciplines) of “Queer/Chicano/Womens/AA/Catholic/etc. Studies” really do vary from school to school. What I know of the general subject matter suggests that it can definitely be taught from more of an “advocacy” angle than “critical thought” angle. Schools with entire departments devoted to these subjects appear to be the worst offenders. If UChicago treats “queer studies” as a sub-discipline of English or Philosophy or History then it should be on the more rigorous side, given the rigor of those respective departments.