<p>Why do so few economics departments offer math-oriented economics courses? By this, I mean intermediate microeconomics and econometrics courses that use sophomore level math like multivariable calculus and linear algebra, which should be better preparation for PhD study in economics than the more common courses that use a little calculus.</p>
<p>It appears that only a small number of highly selective research universities offer such math-oriented economics courses, although not all highly selective research universities do so. I have not found a LAC that does so, which is odd, given that LAC students are supposedly more pre-PhD-oriented than those at other schools. Since economics faculty have had to complete PhDs in economics which require considerable math, one would expect them to know the importance of math. Or is it that there are just too few pre-PhD economics majors (versus those taking it as a substitute for majoring in business) to create student demand for math-oriented economics courses, even at LACs or large universities in the upper-middle range of selectivity?</p>
<p>My daughter is studying at Northeastern a combined math/economics major. She will probably end up with the background you talk about. She is required to take some pretty advanced econometric type classes. </p>
<p>However she is in the minority - not many kids take this double major. She has mentioned that in her intermediate level econ classes many of the kids are lost when advanced math is used. </p>
<p>So although these types of classes are being offered and she will be taking them - most econ majors will not.</p>
<p>Interesting. Is it because Econ goes with or competes with Business as a major at many schools? I also wonder if many of the quant kids go to STEM fields and don’t consider Economics, so Econ is left with less math-y kids. </p>
<p>It certainly does appear that economics is viewed as a substitute business major by many.</p>
<p>For example, Berkeley offers both less-math (frosh calculus) and more-math (multivariable calculus and linear algebra) economics courses. The less-math versions are about four times as popular as the more-math versions, and economics appears to be a common backup major for those trying to get admitted to the highly competitive business major.</p>
<p>But is that necessarily the case at schools like LACs, which emphasize pre-PhD preparation and have generally less pre-professional (“business”) students, but oddly are even less likely to have math-heavy economics courses?</p>
<p>My LAC alma mater offers advanced microeconomics and advanced macroeconomics courses, which both require multi-variate calculus. They also offer advanced econometrics, which requires linear algebra. Pre econ PhD students would definitely take these advanced courses in their junior or senior year.</p>
<p>Swarthmore’s advanced microeconomics and advanced macroeconomics courses (shown under “Honors Preparations”) both require multi-variate calculus as prerequisites. Econ 135, Advanced Econometrics, requires linear algebra as a prerequisite. </p>
<p>All majors must satisfy a statistics requirement and complete Math 015 (elementary single-var calculus).
“In addition, the department very strongly recommends that students take either MATH 025 or 026 (Basic Calculus [continuation of Math 015]). MATH 027 (Linear Algebra), MATH 034 (Several Variable Calculus), and MATH 044 (Differential Equations) are valuable for those intending to focus on the more technical aspects of economics. Students planning to attend graduate school in economics should give serious thought to taking additional mathematics courses, including MATH 063 (Introduction to Real Analysis).”</p>
<p>I’d be surprised if at least a few other selective LACs did not have similar requirements and recommendations.</p>
<p>In absolute numbers, not all that many LAC alumni earn PhDs in economics. Even for schools like Williams, Carleton, Swarthmore or Wellesley, we’d be looking at fewer than 10 earned doctorates in econ per college per year (based on the NSF data I’ve pulled). </p>
<p>At my D’s school, higher level math is not a prerequisite for intermediate Micro and Macro or even for courses like Mathematical Economics and Econometrics. However, most of the students who take the latter two (which are electives, as opposed to Micro and Macro, which are required of all Econ majors), have had more math. The department recommends that students who will be doing graduate work in Economics take more math. There is also a Quantitative Economics major, which requires the calculus series, linear algebra, DiffEq, probability, math stats and more. I suspect there would be a lot fewer econ majors if that math was required of everyone.</p>
<p>Sometimes it depends on whether one is getting a BA or a BS in Economics. I know at Clemson, the BS (which requires Econometrics, etc) is far more math based than a BA in Economics. The latter, at many schools, is comprised of more comparative and theory courses with less focus on quantitative economics.</p>
<p>My son is a Econ/Math major at Case Western and his advisers told him that he should have the math as an UG to get into a good grad Econ program. </p>
<p>At UF, students planning to pursue graduate study in economics are told they should consider a minor in mathematics. As with beth’s mom D’s school, the school “recommends” the calc series, linear algebra, DiffEq, Introduction to Probability and Introduction to Statistics Theory.</p>
<p>Yes, most schools’ economics departments do recommend that pre-PhD economics majors take lots of additional math. However, relatively few of them offer math-heavy intermediate economics courses, which was the actual question of the thread.</p>
<p>While definitely not an LAC, I believe CMU offers a math intensive microeconomics degree. Would be interested if anyone knows anything more about their major firsthand. </p>