2021-2022 Undergraduate Bulletin

Economics, BS Dual Admission / Accelerated Program Leading to Economics, MA

The Dual Admission / Accelerated Economics program will provide an opportunity for academically bright and hard working student to simultaneously pursue their baccalaureate and master’s degrees.  This will encourage motivated students to take a fast track in seeking jobs or academic careers with improved prospects.  We have eligible undergraduate students who are eager to pursue this option.  The number of undergraduate electives and courses in the major are reduced to enable motivated student to begin graduate courses in their junior years. Graduate courses will fulfill certain similar disciplinary area which makes some undergraduate courses not necessary.

Economics BS. Economics is the study of how people and societies make choices to accomplish individual and social purposes. In this major, students learn about individual, national and global economic behavior, and then apply various theoretical insights and methods of analysis to the contemporary challenges involving social and economic justice, discrimination, immigration, markets, and crime, among other topics.

Learning outcomes.  Students will:

  • Apply multiple approaches to economic analysis using critical thinking to produce arguments concerning economic issues on a variety of issues.
  • Produce arguments using quantitative reasoning ranging from critical evaluation of existing statistics to generating original statistical information.
  • Create persuasive oral and written communications of economic arguments.
  • Evaluate justice advocacy issues of social justice, racism, and environmental sustainability through the lens of economic inequality.
  • Experience multiple perspectives of complex social challenges to become informed, open-minded, and active global citizens.

Economics MA. The Master of Arts in Economics provides students with a comprehensive and foundational knowledge of applied economics. The program is distinct in that it requires students to examine the unjust and just application of economic analysis and subsequent policies. The program utilizes a heterodox/pluralist approach that focuses primarily on issues of justice such as diversity, equality and sustainability. The degree will require students to have a firm understanding of the theory, skills, and tools used by practitioners in the field. 

Learning Outcomes. Students will:

  • Conduct applied research suitable for government and  nonprofit advocacy organizations
  • Critically evaluate public policies from multiple economic perspectives
  • Product effective formal and informal communications

Credits Required.

Economics BS Major Courses 30
Economics MA Courses 36
General Education 42
General Undergraduate Electives 17-26
Other Undergraduate Required Courses 0-9
Total Credits Required for BA/MA Degree 134


Undergraduate Major Coordinator.
 Professor Geert Dhondt (gdhondt@jjay.cuny.edu), Department of Economics. 

Graduate Program Director. Professor Zhun Xu (zxu@jjay.cuny.edu) and Ian Seda-Irizarry, Department of Economics (212.393.6425, iseda@jjay.cuny.edu)

Tuition and Financial Aid Information.  This program is accelerated and intended for students to attend full-time (at least 12 cr. for undergraduate students, at least 9 cr. for graduate students).  Full-time students pay undergraduate tuition rates until they complete 120 credits and earn their bachelor’s degree.  Students are then graduate students and tuition is charged at the graduate rate.  Students who have not yet earned the Bachelor’s degree continue to be eligible for consideration of federal and state financial aid programs including PELL and TAP.  Once students move onto the Master’s portion of the program, undergraduate financial aid is not be applicable.  Students may apply for federal loans to finance their Master’s degree.

If circumstances occur that require students to attend part-time, tuition rates will be determined by the level of the courses (undergraduate or graduate) they are registered for.

All students in the accelerated, dual admission programs are encouraged to consult with the Financial Aid Office about their eligibility for aid under federal and state guidelines and the Bursar’s Office about tuition charges when they are considering admission to these programs. 

Additional information.  Students must have a 3.5 overall GPA each semester to remain in this dual admission / accelerated program.  Students pay undergraduate tuition rates up to their 120 credit mark.  Subsequent coursework will be paid at the graduate tuition rate.  This accelerated program is intended to be done as a full-time student but if a student opts to attend part-time, the tuition rate appropriate to the level of course(s) will be charged.  Students will be awarded the bachelor's degree when they reach 120 credits. Students must complete a minimum of six credits at the graduate level.  Students no longer eligible for this program or who wish to no longer be part of it, must complete the entire undergraduate major in order to earn the Bachelor's degree in Economics.   

BS in Economics

Economics Foundation Courses

Choose one
ECO 101Introduction to Economics and Global Capitalism

3

OR

ECO 120Introduction to Macroeconomics

3

OR

ECO 125Introduction to Microeconomics

3

Required
ECO 105Understanding U.S. Economic Data

3

ECO 213Political Economy

3

ECO 220Intermediate Macroeconomics

3

ECO 225Intermediate Microeconomics

3

ECO 255Statistics for Economists

3

ECO 310Economics in Historical Perspectives

3

Total Credit Hours:21
Note: ECO 101 and ECO 105 can be taken as part of the General Education Requirements in the Flexible Core: Individual and Society and the U.S. Experience in Its Diversity areas. 

Economics Electives

Choose any three courses with at least two at the 300-level.
ECO 231Global Economic Development and Crime

3

ECO 235Finance for Forensic Economics

ECO 245International Economics

3

ECO 260Environmental Economics, Regulation and Policy

3

ECO 265Introduction to Public Sector Economics

3

ECO 270Urban Economics

ECO 280Economics of Labor

ECO 283Selected Topics in Economics

3

ECO 315/PSC 315An Economic Analysis of Crime

3

ECO 324Money and Banking

3

ECO 327The Political Economy of Gender

3

ECO 330Econometrics

3

ECO 333Sustainability: Preserving the Earth as Human Habitat

3

ECO 360/SOC 360Corporate and White-Collar Crime

3

ECO 389Independent Study 300-level

3

AFR 250Political Economy of Racism

3

AFR 322Inequality and Wealth

3

Total Credit Hours:9
Note: Students substitute two graduate level courses (ECO 713 and ECO 750) to fulfill the BS elective requirement in Economics. 

Other Required Undergraduate Courses

Depending on mathematics placement, students may have to take these classes. If needed, students must complete these courses as part of the undergraduate portion of the program. 

MAT 141Pre-Calculus

3

MAT 241Calculus I

3

MAT 242Calculus II

3

Total Credit Hours:0-9
Note: MAT 141, MAT 241, and MAT 242 can satisfy the Required Core: Math & Quantitative Reasoning area of the General Education Requirements. 

Undergraduate Electives

Students must complete 17-26 credits of electives to fulfill the undergraduate portion of the degree program.  Students have free choice of electives for the additional credits.  Students may opt to complete a minor with their elective credits. 
Total Credit Hours:17-26

MA in Economics

Please note: For the purpose of this program. students will earn residency in the MA with 12 credits.

Required Core Courses

ECO 713Political Economy

3

ECO 720Macroeconomics

3

ECO 740Community Economic Development

3

ECO 725Microeconomics

3

ECO 750Mathematics for Economists

3

ECO 751Research Methods I - Quantitative Analysis

3

ECO 752Research Methods II

3

ECO 799Seminar in Economics

3

Total Credit Hours:24

Economics Elective Courses

Choose any four courses.
ECO 710History of Economic Thought

3

ECO 711Economic History

3

ECO 715Contending Economic Theories

3

ECO 724Global Capitalism, Gender and Debt

3

ECO 745International Economics

3

ECO 746International Finance

3

ECO 760Political Economy of the Environment

3

ECO 780Global Political Economy of Work and Social Welfare

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours: 134