The Economics Major (A&S Students)

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. Students must have grades of B- or better in ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics and ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics and a grade of C or better in MATH 1110 Calculus I. After completing these courses, see the major application on the departmental website.

For information on how to apply to declare the major, see Declaring the Major.

Basic Requirements

Complete 12 courses listed by the Department of Economics, all with grades of C– or better (S/U grade option is not allowed), that must satisfy the additional requirements listed below.

Introductory Courses_¹ 

• ECON 1110: Introductory Microeconomics  
• ECON 1120: Introductory Macroeconomics

Core Courses_² 

• ECON 3030: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
• ECON 3040: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
• ECON 3110: Applied Probability and Statistics or ECON 3130: Probability and Statistics
• ECON 3120: Applied Econometrics or ECON 3140: Econometrics

Elective Courses         

• At least 3 ECON courses at the 4000-level
• Up to 1 ECON course numbered 2400-2999
• Remaining ECON courses (to sum to a total of 12) can be at the 3000-level, 4000-level, or from among this list of acceptable graduate ECON courses. 

We have prepared this worksheet to help declared majors check off the requirements of the Economics major. Save a copy of the worksheet on your desktop in order to use the fillable fields fully.

¹ Note: Each introductory course will count toward the major only if the student receives credit with a B- or better; see additional notes below.

² Note: The four required core courses must be taken at Cornell (i.e., during Cornell Regular Sessions, Cornell Summer Sessions, Cornell Winter Sessions, or Cornell in Washington; courses taken on Study Abroad do not count as being taken at Cornell). Majors are strongly advised to complete these courses before the start of senior year.

Additional Notes

Credit for ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics and/or ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics with a B- or better can be obtained in the following three ways: 

• taking these courses at Cornell and receiving a B- or better, 
• taking courses at another college or university that are approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies to count as ECON 1110 or ECON 1120, or 

• completing BOTH of the following:

  (i) receiving advanced placement from one of these three sources:

  • receiving a score of 5 on the associated A.P. Exam (A.P. Microeconomics for ECON 1110 Introductory Microeconomics, A.P. Macroeconomics for ECON 1120 Introductory Macroeconomics), 
  • receiving a score of A on the GCE "A" Level Examination in Economics, or 
  • receiving a score of 7 on the IB Higher-Level Examination in Economics.

  (ii) passing a placement exam administered by the Economics Department (exception: a placement exam is not required for students who matriculated as a full-time student at a college or university prior to May 1, 2026).

ECON 4999 Independent Study in Economics, ECON 4997 Cross-Cultural Work Experiences, and ECON 4998 Cross-Cultural Work Experiences all do not count toward the twelve-course requirement.

Enrollment of undergraduates in graduate ECON courses requires approval from (i) the instructor, (ii) the student’s Economics faculty advisor, and (iii) the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

To obtain major credit for courses taken away from Cornell (including study abroad), please see the Director of Undergraduate Studies in advance of taking the courses. Please note:

• All courses taken away from Cornell will be counted as 3000-level ECON electives.
• For students on a one-semester Cornell-sanctioned study abroad program, at most 2 courses from that study abroad can count toward the Economics Major.
• For students on a two-semester Cornell-sanctioned study abroad program, at most 3 courses from that study abroad can count toward the Economics Major.

Special rules apply for students who transfer to Cornell from another college or university.

Transfer students are subject to the same program requirements as non-transfer students, except that some Economics courses taken at a prior institution previous to enrollment at Cornell may count toward the 12 courses required to complete the Economics Major (including core courses).

Upon arriving at Cornell, transfer students interested in the Economics Major should set up a meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss which classes taken at their previous institution(s) can count toward the Economics Major at Cornell. Please bring copies of transcript(s) and course syllabi; in addition, it may be necessary to provide copies of problem sets, exams, and lecture slides (especially to receive credit for any of the 4 core courses).

Transfer students are subject to one further requirement: At least 6 of the 12 courses used to complete the Economics Major must be taken during Cornell regular sessions, Cornell Winter Session, Cornell Summer Session, or Cornell in Washington.  Please note that Economics courses taken at your prior institution or taken on study abroad do not count toward this requirement.