FAQ

Q: Should I apply for the Honors Micro and Macro Theory courses (ECON 2203 and ECON 2204) and, if so, how do I apply?

Honors Micro Theory (ECON 2203): The honors section of micro theory (ECON 2203) is offered in the fall semester each year and is highly recommended for students who want to be candidates for departmental honors at graduation. It is a "by Department permission" course for which students must apply. Applicants must have completed both ECON 1131 and ECON 1132 (or have AP placement) by the end of the previous spring semester. ECON 2203 also has a prerequisite of Calc I and Calc II [MATH 1100/1101 or MATH 1102/1103 (preferred) or 1105] or their equivalent. AP-BC calculus is accepted as the equivalent of two calculus courses, whereas AP-AB calculus counts as only one calculus course.

To apply, download the Honors Micro Theory (ECON 2203) application and deliver a completed paper copy of the application to the Department's Undergraduate Program Assistant, Ms. Doran (317B Maloney Hall), by March 29, 2018. Late applications will be considered in a second round if the class is not filled after the spring registration period. Students are expected to have very high grades in both their Principles of Economics and calculus courses to gain admission to the course. Students taking a second Principles or calculus course during the spring semester will have their admittance decision deferred until after the grades for these courses have been recorded.

Students who have already taken Honors Macro Theory (ECON 2204) will generally be accepted into ECON 2203 providing they have earned at least a "B-" in ECON 2204.

Honors Macro Theory (ECON 2204): Students who take Honors Micro Theory in the fall semester are automatically accepted into Honors Macro Theory (ECON 2204) in the spring semester unless their performance is poor. Most students in Honors Macro Theory have been in Honors Micro Theory during the preceding semester. Students who want to take Honors Macro Theory who have not taken Honors Micro Theory should contact Professor Murphy.

Q: I am interested in writing a Senior Honors Thesis. What does the thesis involve and how do I apply?

Students interested in writing a senior honors thesis should consult the Senior Honors Thesis Guidelines. The Guidelines document describes the philosophy behind the senior thesis and walks you through the process of selecting a topic, engaging a faculty advisor, and registering for the two-semester honors thesis seminar. The final pages of the Guidelines provide a timetable for submitting a thesis proposal, along with the application form that accompanies your proposal.

Q: How do I register for an Internship and what academic credit do I get for it?

Download the Internship Approval Form or pick up a copy of the form from your Dean or Student Services. Bring the completed form signed by both you and your supervisor at the internship to the department's Undergraduate Program Specialist, Ms. Doran (317B Maloney Hall, maryellen.doran@bc.edu. Ms. Doran will then register you for the ECON 1199, one-credit pass/fail internship course. Once you complete your internship Ms. Doran will need a brief one or two-sentence E-mail from your supervisor indicating that your internship was satisfactory. The credit appears on your audit but does not count toward the credits required for the major, minor, or CSOM concentration.

NB: The Economics department does not offer internships. Interested students must find an internship in the private or public sectors.

Q: How do I register for the Economics major (minor, CSOM Concentration)?

To register for the economics major (minor, CSOM Concentration), contact Ms. Doran, our Undergraduate Program Assistant, and she will register you. (econ@fmwww.bc.edu; 317B Maloney Hall, 2-3670)

Q: Are there certain courses that must be taken in the BC Economics department?

MCA&S and CSOM economics majors must take Microeconomic Theory (ECON 2201 or ECON 2203), Macroeconomic Theory (ECON 2202 or ECON 2204), and Econometrics (ECON 2228) in the BC Economics department. MCA&S Economics majors must also take Statistics (ECON 1151) in the BC Economics department. CSOM Economics majors must take Business Statistics (OPER 1135) or Business Statistics-Honors (OPER 1145).

Q: I would like to work as a research assistant on a faculty project. How do I apply to be a faculty research assistant?

Boston College's Undergraduate Research Fellowship program (URF) supports research assistantships during the academic year and the summer. Application deadlines are typically in the first week in September for the fall semester, mid-December for the spring semester, and mid-March for the summer.

To apply for a Fellowship e-mail Professor Richard Tresch. The e-mail should include an expression of interest in being a research assistant, a copy of your audit and any specific research interests. Professor Tresch will then forward your e-mail to the economics faculty. If a faculty member is interested he/she will contact you to arrange a meeting. If there is a match the faculty member applies for the Fellowship with your name listed as the research assistant. If accepted you will be paid at an hourly rate for the duration of the assistantship. Generally faculty are interested in more advanced students who have completed their Theory courses and Econometrics.

More information on the URF

Note: The application form available at the URF website is for faculty only.

Q: How do I apply to study abroad and what courses can I transfer back for credit towards my MCA&S major, CSOM concentration, or minor?

Students interested in studying abroad should contact the Office of International Programs (OIP), located in Hovey House. OIP plans and coordinates your study abroad semester or year from beginning to end: from offering advice about various programs; applying to and planning your course of study at whatever program you may choose; and transferring credits and grades to BC when you return. The Economics department will determine how many and what courses a student can transfer back for credit towards the major or minor (see below).

MCA&S majors may transfer three courses for credit towards the major from outside the department chosen from the following list: one introductory course (Micro Principles and Macro Principles); and two electives. "Outside the Department" includes study abroad, summer programs, and BC's Woods College.

Exceptions: Students with AP credits in Principles, and students going abroad for the entire year, may transfer up to four courses total, for credit towards the major from outside the department chosen from the following list: one introductory course (Micro Principles, Macro Principles) and three electives.

CSOM concentrators and economics minors may transfer two courses total, for credit toward the concentration or minor from outside the department from the following list: one introductory course (Micro Principles or Macro Principles) and one elective. "Outside the Department" includes study abroad, summer programs, and BC's Woods College.

Exceptions: Students with AP credits in Principles and students going abroad for the entire year may transfer up to three courses total, for credit toward the concentration or minor from outside the department chosen from the following list: one introductory course (Micro Principles or Macro Principles) and two electives.

Preconditions for transferring any electives towards the MCA&S major, CSOM concentration, and minor.

To ensure that students are able to complete the requirements for the major in time for graduation, all students must have four courses completed before studying abroad: Micro and Macro Principles, Statistics, and either Micro or Macro Theory (although we strongly prefer that both theory courses are completed before studying abroad). To be eligible to transfer back credits, A&S majors, A&S minors and CSOM concentrators must earn at least a B- in at least one of the Intermediate Theory courses before going abroad.

Specific courses from study abroad programs that we accept for credit towards the MCA&S major, CSOM Concentration, and minor.

The Department has collected a list of courses from universities throughout the world that we accept for credit towards the MCA&S major, CSOM concentration, and minor. For electives the list also indicates whether the course is accepted as a lower-level (2000) or upper-level (3000) elective. See Preapproved Courses. If a course you take is on the list it will automatically be placed on your audit when Student Services receives the grade.

This list is updated periodically but is not exhaustive as courses are continually changing and students find new programs to attend. If you are interested in a course that is not on the list contact Professor Cichello, the Director of Undergraduate Studies paul.cichello@bc.edu; 2-0107; 342 Maloney Hall. Professor Cichello will determine if the course is accepted and whether it qualifies as a lower-level (2000) or upper-level (3000) elective. If possible send Professor Cichello a course syllabus and ideally, the prerequisites. Generally speaking the same rules apply for electives taken abroad as for our electives: if the course has an Intermediate Theory prerequisite it is accepted as an upper-level (3000) elective; if the course has only a Principles prerequisite it is accepted as a lower-level (2000) elective; if a course has no Economics prerequisites it is not accepted as an economics elective.

Do you need Department permission to study abroad?

As part of the application process to study abroad OIP provides students with a form that they bring to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in each of their majors to be signed for department approval to study abroad. Economics has a special arrangement with OIP, such that you do not need approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies to study abroad.

Q: I am interested in taking one of the Economics electives offered by the Woods College of Advancing Studies. How do I register for a Woods College course?

The Economics department accepts the following Woods College courses offered during the regular academic year as economics electives towards the MCA&S major, minor, and CSOM concentration:

• ADEC 2210 Behavioral Economics is accepted as a lower (2000)-level elective
• ADEC 3500 Social Policy is accepted as a lower (2000)-level elective
• ADEC 3340 Labor Economics is accepted as an upper (3000)-level elective
• ADEC 3394 Urban and Regional Theory is accepted as an upper (3000)-level elective

The Department does NOT accept ADEC 3345, Labor Relations and Human Resources, as an economics elective.

The Department also accepts summer courses offered by the Woods College. You may not take either of the Intermediate Theory courses nor Econometrics outside the department, which includes the Woods College.

To register for an elective during the academic year, contact the Woods College, located in St. Mary's Hall, South. If they accept you into the course, bring a Course Approval Form to Ms. Doran, Undergraduate Program Specialist, for her signature, maryellen.doran@bc.edu; 317B Maloney Hall, 2-3670 and return the signed form to Student Services. Department approval is not needed for summer courses.

Some points to keep in mind if you take a Woods College course:

• A Woods College elective counts as a course taken "outside the department." You are permitted to take two Economics electives total, from outside the department, which includes the Woods College, summer programs, and study abroad.
  
• You may not take either of the Intermediate Theory courses nor Econometrics outside the department which includes the Woods College.
• You may take either one of the two principles courses (ADEC 1131 or ADEC 1132) outside the department which includes the Woods College with limitation. You may take a single principles course in the Woods College only if a section of the course you seek is not available in our regular day program. This means that most students who take an introductory course in the Woods College do so during the summer.

ECON1131 Principles of Microeconomics and ECON1132 Principles of Macroeconomics each satisfy one semester of the University Core Requirement in Social Science. The Economics Department from time to time offers Enduring Questions and Complex Problems courses under the University Core Renewal Program. These courses each satisfy one semester of the University Core requirement in Social Science. In some cases, these Core Renewal courses will also satisfy the Economics major requirements of Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics

In the Spring 2018, the Enduring Questions course ECON1701 Human Disease: Health, the Economy, and Society will satisfy the Economics major requirement of ECON1131 Principles of Microeconomics. The Complex Problems course ECON1501 Beyond Price: Markets, Cultures, Values will not satisfy any requirements for the Economics major.