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Frequently Asked Questions

My Degree Audit does not seem correct or up-to-date. Who should I contact?

You should contact the Economics undergraduate registrar.

Can I count Credit/D/Fail courses for credit towards the major?

No, courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.

The only two exceptions are: (1) courses taken Credit/D/Fail or Pass/Fail in spring 2020; (2) courses taken in fall 2021 where the final exam was administered on or after December 19, 2021 and the student opted for a mark of Credit. 

Can I count Residential College Courses or First Year Seminars for credit towards the major?

No.

Can I use an S&DS course such as S&DS 230 to fulfill the econometrics requirement?

No, you can only use ECON 117, 123 or 136.

Do I need to meet the DUS to discuss my plan for the Economics or Econ&Math major, or for a double major, or for switching majors?

No, there is no need to meet the DUS. In fact your first line of advising should be your economics college advisors (see "Get Advice" in the main menu to find out the economics professors who are assigned to your college). It can also be very helpful to consult the Peer Mentors. And the Economics undergraduate registrar is also able to answer most questions about major requirements and courses. The DUS should be consulted only for exceptional or unusual questions (by email or during the DUS office hours).

Can I place out of Introductory Micro or Introductory Macro even without pre-college testing?

Yes, but then you will have to take an additional elective. You can skip introductory courses if you feel confident about your background in economics, but we strongly recommend shopping both introductory and intermediate courses before making a decision.

Can I apply for a related course credit retroactively?

Yes. In the past there was a time limit to apply for related course credit, but it has been removed.

Does the department have a placement exam?

No. We provide each incoming first-year student with a placement based on application data and AP (and equivalent) exam scores.  Students receive a personal e-mail with their placement. Students can also find the placement on canvas. See our first-year placement page for more information.

Does the economics major have the STEM designation?

The economics and math major continues to retain the STEM designation.

In the past year, the Department has requested a change in the designation of the CIP code for the undergraduate and graduate programs in Economics. This request has been approved and was filed with State Office of Higher Education at the end of the past year with immediate effect.

The new CIP code (for Classification of Instructional Programs) by the National Center for Education Statistics at the Department of Education is 45.0603 (Econometrics and Quantitative Economics) rather than the old one 45.0601 (Economics, General). The new classification more closely corresponds to the quantitative and analytic nature of our programs.

An implication of this change is that 45.0603 has STEM designation. As such it allows our international students to apply for a two year OPT extension in addition to the standard 12 months of F1 student visas for all other degrees.

How can I get a copy of the syllabus for a course I took some time ago?

The instructor owns the copyright to the course syllabus and therefore it must be requested from him/her.

How will grades from spring 2020 figure into the calculation of distinction?

They will not. To earn distinction you must write a thesis that earns a grade of A or A- and earn A or A- in 3/4 of your major courses (excluding the introductory courses and math requirement in the economics major and the prerequisites in the math-econ major) taken in all semesters except Spring 2020.

I would like to be admitted to Yale and major in economics. Can you send me some information?

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions makes the decision on admissions to Yale College, not individual departments. Please refer to their website for more information. Once you are admitted to Yale College, you may choose to major in economics or economics & mathematics.

Is tutoring offered for my course?

The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers several tutoring options in quantitative reasoning and science. See the CTL’s tutoring page for all their offerings.