Students interested in Economics are encouraged to complete the introductory sequence of ECON 101 and ECON 102 in their first year. It is also helpful to complete Calculus I during the first year, because it serves as a prerequisite for the intermediate courses ECON 250 and ECON 251. Students should also take statistics (COMP 146) during the first two years as it is a prerequisite for ECON 272.
The economics major can be completed in fewer than four years, but it is almost impossible to complete the major in less than three years.
Placement Information
Most students who are interested in majoring in economics should take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if you any of the following are true:
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You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam;
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You receive an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;
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You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university.
Students who have AP or IB HL economics scores, or have taken economics courses at another college or university, should see the Transfer Credit Policies section for the Economics Major in the Catalog.
Sample 4-Year Plan
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Curricular Notes
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Students must complete ECON 101, ECON 102, and Calculus 1 prior to taking ECON 250 and ECON 251.
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ECON 250 and ECON 251 can be taken in any order, but should not be taken during the same semester.
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ECON 250 is a prerequisite for most of the 300-level Economics electives.
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Prior to taking ECON 272, students must have completed Calculus 1, Statistics (or equivalent), ECON 102, and one additional ECON course. Equivalents to COMP 146 include MATH 150 or a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam.
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300-level ECON electives can be reviewed, here.
Transfer Credit Policies
- Students who have passed a microeconomics or macroeconomics class at another college or university will be allowed to skip ECON 101.
- Economics majors and minors must complete the following courses at Occidental and may not satisfy them with transfer credits: ECON 250, ECON 251, ECON 272. Economics majors must also complete at least two 300-level electives and their Senior Comprehensives course at Occidental.
- Students who have received a score of 4 or 5 on either AP Calculus test have met the departmental Calculus I major requirement (and the calculus pre-requisite for courses that require Calculus I).
- Students who have received a score of 5 on both the AP Microeconomics test and the AP Macroeconomics test will be allowed to skip ECON 101 and ECON 102. Students who have received a score of 4 on both the AP Microeconomics test and the AP Macroeconomics test, or a score of 4 in one and 5 in the other, will be allowed to skip ECON 101. Students who have an AP Microeconomics score of 5 may be allowed to skip ECON 101 after consultation with the economics department.
- Students who have received a score of 7 on the Higher Level (HL) International Baccalaureate in micro- and macroeconomics will be allowed to skip ECON 101 and ECON 102, but will need to take an additional 4-unit Economics course.
- Students who have received a score of 6 on the Higher Level (HL) International Baccalaureate in micro- and macroeconomics will be allowed to skip ECON 101.
- Students who have received a score of A on the A-Levels micro- and macroeconomics exam will be allowed to skip ECON 101 and ECON 102, but will need to take an additional 4-unit Economics course.
- Students who have received a score of B on the A-Levels micro- and macroeconomics exam will be allowed to skip ECON 101.
- For all students, at most one 300-level elective course will be accepted toward the major or the minor in transfer. Students should consult with the department chair about how courses they have taken elsewhere may count toward the 100-level or 200-level Economics requirements.
- Economic department policy is that all students may only count one (1) pre-professional business or accounting course taken at another academic institution as ECON 233 (Accounting) towards college credit (not credit towards the Economics major). For example, if a student takes a marketing course at a local community college, and hasn't already taken ECON 233 on campus, this course will transfer as ECON 233 and they will not be allowed to take ECON 233 without a Petition for Special Consideration in order to repeat a course. If a student has already taken ECON 233 before taking a pre-professional course at another domestically accredited institution of higher education, the Economics chair will not approve this course for college credit.
- For any course not approved by Economics to transfer, students are welcome to check with other departments/programs, as appropriate, to allow for them to review the content as appropriate to transfer to Occidental as college credit only.
- Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.