North Dakota State University

The study of economics has a long tradition at North Dakota State University. A student pursuing an economics major at NDSU has the advantage of receiving instruction from a well-established and strong faculty. Economics courses are taken by students in all colleges on campus, so classes provide an opportunity to broaden one’s understanding through interaction with other students. 

The Department offers two tracks of economics for all economics majors: a general economics track and a quantitative economics track. The general economics track offers students more flexibility in terms of economics field course selection – 15 credits of economics electives, three credits of which may be in agricultural economics, finance, or business administration. The quantitative economics track is designed for students who desire to pursue a graduate degree in economics after college, or for students who desire a quantitative approach to economics. Students with strong quantitative and/or statistical backgrounds are highly encouraged to select the quantitative economics track. 

During the freshman and sophomore years, the program requires basic college courses such as English, mathematics, science, communication and information technology. The introduction to economics includes 1) microeconomics, the study of relative prices and the consequences of different market forms, and 2) macroeconomics, the study of such topics as the general level of prices, employment and output. 

Economics majors take a one-year sequence in intermediate economic theory. Students enhance their ability to explain and use fundamental microeconomics and macroeconomics concepts and are further exposed to relationships between governments and markets. These concepts and relationships establish the foundation a student needs to deal with current economic issues. 

Economics students take elective courses to develop areas of emphasis such as development economics, international economics, industrial organization, public economics, natural resource and environmental economics. The historical development of economic ideas receives more attention in these economic electives. A representative program for the major in economics is summarized on the back of this page. A major in economics also can be combined with a variety of minors and other majors and still be completed in four years. The concepts of economics can be applied to many fields. A minor in economics may be selected in combination with most other majors on campus, including business. 

Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study. 

 ¹ ECON 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take ECON 189

View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies