INTERNSHIPS
The Department of Economics encourages students to complete at least one internship in preparation for the job market. Course credit is available (ECO 4395-97) for qualifying students who are undertaking an internship that involves significant economic research. The requirements for internship credit include the completion of a 15- to 20-page paper under the supervision of a faculty sponsor, the presentation of the paper before the faculty sponsor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, a 3.0 G.P.A. requirement in economics, and the completion of relevant coursework. Please contact the Undergraduate Advising Office, 301D Umphrey Lee, for more information and an application.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTINCTION
To earn Departmental Distinction in Economics, a student must graduate with a 3.7 economics G.P.A. and a 3.5 overall G.P.A. In addition, economics majors of junior or senior standing must enroll in and successfully complete ECO 4398. The requirements for ECO 4398 include the completion of a 15- to 20-page research paper under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and the presentation of the results of this research before a faculty committee. Please contact the Undergraduate Advising Office, 301D Umphrey Lee, for more information and an application.
GRADE POLICY FOR MAJORS
- Students must receive at least C- in all math, statistics, and economics classes. B.S. finance students must receive at least C- in all math, statistics, and economics and finance classes.
- Students must have 2.0 G.P.A. overall for all economics classes attempted at SMU. B.S. finance students must have 2.0 G.P.A. overall for all economics and finance classes attempted.
- There is no minimum grade requirement for co-requirement such as CSE 1340, ACCT 2301, etc.
Note: Students receiving a D in a class taken for the major should consult with an advisor before repeating the class. In some cases it is best to take a different class for the major and use the class in which the student received a D for elective hours.
MINOR IN ECONOMICS
Students desiring a minor in economics must take the four economics CORE courses (ECO 1311, 1312, 3301, and 3302) and two courses at the 4000 or above level. MATH 1309 or 1337 and STAT 2301 or 2331 or 4340 are required (begin in Fall 2009). In order to graduate with a minor in economics, students must have a G.P.A. of at least 2.0 on all economics courses attempted at SMU. No grade less than C- will count towards the minor in economics degree. Independent study (ECO 4390), academic internship (ECO 4395-97), departmental distinction (ECO 4398) and research/reading seminar (ECO 4399) classes cannot be used toward an economics minor. Instead of a general minor in economics, a minor in a specialized field may be obtained if the student has successfully taken six hours in one of the eight fields currently approved by the Economics Department: International Economics, Public Economics, Labor Economics, Econometrics, Economics of Decision Making, Monetary Economics, Economics of Industrial Organization and Economic Growth and Development (see the previous page for the list of courses required for each field).
TRANSFER POLICY
The Department of Economics will consider petitions for transfer credit from other four-year institutions. Only courses with matching prerequisites and requirements will be considered. Only in cases of exceptional educational opportunity (i.e., foreign or domestic university with exceptionally ranked economics department) will students be allowed to transfer credit of economics courses with prefixes of 4000 or above. Credits received through the SMU Study Abroad program appear with SMU course title and catalog numbers (and are not considered transfer credits).
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
As minimum requirements, a candidate for a degree in Dedman College must take the following hours in residence at SMU:
- A total of 60 hours.
- A total of 18 hours of advanced work in the major.
- A total of 45 of the last 60 hours earned toward the degree
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Students may obtain additional information, registration forms, add-drop slips, and petition forms in the Advising Office, 301D Umphrey Lee. Staff in this office will refer students to the faculty adviser for approval signatures and for advising conferences as needed. All economics majors should check their e-mail frequently for important information and announcements.
Students are responsible for ensuring that all of their graduation requirements are satisfied. The availability of advising should in no way imply that the Department of Economics assumes responsibility for the correctness of student choices. Questions regarding University or General Education requirements should be discussed with the students Degree Counselor in 214 Dallas Hall.