Declaring the Economics Major

Before applying for admission to the Economics Major, students must complete ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics, ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics (or equivalents), and MATH 1110 Calculus I. 

• Note: Students must receive credit for ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics and ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics with grades of B- or better (for details, see Credit for ECON 1110 and ECON 1120).
• Note: Students must receive credit for MATH 1110 Calculus I with a grade of C or better (for details, see Credit for Calculus).

Once these requirements are met, students should complete our online form by clicking the link below. We will have access to your Cornell transcript, so there is no need to send a copy to us.

Application for Admission to the Economics Major 

On this form, you will be able to express preferences for whom to have as an Economics Major Advisor. We will do our best to meet your preferences; however, we also need to spread advisees relatively evenly across department faculty, and thus we cannot promise that you will get one of your top choices. For more details, including a list of possible advisors, see Advising in Economics.

Note: If a specific faculty member agrees to take you on as an advisee, please have that faculty member send an email to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (econdus@cornell.edu) stating that they will accept you as their advisee.

Once we receive your application, you will be contacted about 7-10 days later to confirm your acceptance into the major and to let you know the name of your Economics Major Advisor. We recommend that, shortly thereafter, you make an appointment with your Economics Major Advisor to introduce yourself.

While you are eligible to declare an Economics major once you have completed ECON 1110, ECON 1120, and MATH 1110, you need not declare the major as soon as you are eligible. Some students declare as early as the second semester of their freshman year, but many students declare at the end of their sophomore year --- often after taking one or more intermediate core courses. 

Before declaring the major, you are welcome to speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (econdus@cornell.edu) or the Undergraduate Experience Coordinator (economics-uec@cornell.edu) to get general advice about the Economics major.  You are also welcome to seek advice from the instructors of your Economics courses.

Please note that the College of Arts & Sciences requires you to declare at least one major and process all the paperwork by the end of your sophomore year.  If you are declaring Economics as a second major, it is perfectly fine to do so in later semesters.