Information for New Economics Students
Welcome to the Economics program at RIC! We’re thrilled that you’re choosing to major in Economics! You’re starting a rigorous and challenging major, one that will teach you to think and reason analytically and get you ready for a variety of different career options.
This page provides general information for new students planning to major in Economics. For specific questions or for academic advising please contact your academic advisor. If you don’t know who your academic advisor is, please check your academic record under MyRIC. If you have not yet been assigned an academic advisor or you want to switch your major to finance, please contact Dr. Saatcioglu, the Economics and Finance Department Chair.
Once you log onto MyRIC, you can access your academic advisement report which lists all your degree requirements. You have general education (GenEd) requirements (some are called milestones) and then also requirements for your Economics Major.
If you’d like a new student orientation, you can sign up for an online session here: www.ric.edu/orientation. Orientation is mandatory for all First-Year and Transfer students. Second Bachelor’s Degree (SBD) and Re-Admitted (RAD) students are not required but are welcome to attend, especially if it has been more than 3 years since last attending the College.
You can find general information on the GenEd requirements and available courses here: http://www.ric.edu/generaleducation.
For new students, the typical list of milestones and GenEd requirements are as follows:
The requirements for the Economics Major are here: https://ric.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2020-2021/Catalog/School-of-Business/Economics-B-A
- Required courses: ECON214, ECON215, ECON314, ECON315, ECON449
- One course from: ECON331, ECON335, ECON337
- Three courses from: ECON421, ECON422, ECON431, ECON433, ECON435, ECON436, ECON437, ECON438, ECON490, ECON491 (if selected to the honors program in economics)
- ECON462 or ECON492 (if selected to the honors program in economics)
- Cognates: ACCT201, ENGL230, FIN301, MATH177, MATH248
The first courses to take in Economics are ECON214 and ECON215. All other Economics courses have one or both of those courses as prerequisites.
Most upper level economics courses also have MATH177 as a prerequisites. This course should also be a priority. The sooner you take MATH177, the sooner you can progress onto the upper level economics courses.
Whether you can take MATH177 directly or need to build up to it by taking prior math courses will depend on your math placement. Detailed information on math placement and the link to register for the math placement exam is here: http://www.ric.edu/oasis/Pages/Mathematics-Learning-Center.aspx
With the exception of the math courses, all other cognates and most of the GenEd courses can be taken in any sequence.
One additional option to consider is to add a minor. While you’re not required to have a minor, it is relatively easy for all business students to minor in another business area. In most cases, this can be achieved by taking 3-4 additional courses. The Finance Minor and the International Business Minor are especially attractive to economics majors. You can see the requirements for each in the links. Economics students can take 4 finance courses in addition to their Economics Major requirements and graduate with a Finance Minor as well. Most students can also do the International Business Minor by taking 3-4 additional courses beyond their Economics Major requirements. Other minor options within the business school are, and the Management Minor (5 additional courses), the Marketing Minor (6 additional courses), the Accounting Minor (6 additional courses), and the Health Care Administration Minor (7 additional courses). Please contact Dr. Saatcioglu if you’d like to discuss these or other minoring options. Students can also decide to add a minor later on as they progress through their majors.
This information is provided to help you plan your degree. As you progress beyond your first semester, please keep in contact with your assigned academic advisor who will guide you with specific advice based on your progress through the program. In fact, towards the end of each semester when it’s time to register for classes, you will need to contact your academic advisor to go over your progress and discuss the classes for the next semester. Your advisor will then remove your advising hold so that you can register for classes. In most cases, this is possible through an email exchange but can also be supplemented with a face-to-face (or Zoom) meeting.
