Economics

Chair: Paul Zak

(909) 621-8074
spe@cgu.edu
www.cgu.edu/spe

Faculty

Academic Program

The Department of Economics at CGU emphasizes the use of economic theory and empirical research to analyze problems facing government, business, consumers, and the economy in general. It stresses the importance of international as well as domestic economic and financial analysis and the importance of the political and institutional framework within which decision- making takes place. In addition to traditional MA and PhD degrees, the Department of Economics offers, in cooperation with faculty from the Department of Politics and Policy and the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, three special MA and PhD programs emphasizing business and financial economics, international economic development, political economy, and public choice.

The traditional PhD is usually the appropriate program for students intending to pursue careers in economic research and university teaching. One of the other programs may be more appropriate for students intent on careers in business, government service, or teaching and research in interdisciplinary programs such as schools of international studies, management, and public policy. The Department of Economics has also developed several degree options that allow a student to pursue an interdisciplinary curriculum in economics and other fields such as politics and policy, management, mathematics, financial engineering, philosophy, and information science.

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements. A year of calculus, an introductory course in statistics, and courses in intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory are required prior to entrance. In some instances, students may be allowed to complete one or more of these requirements after admission to the program. Students lacking an adequate background in calculus should correct this deficiency before coming to CGU. Students without an adequate background in economics may be required to take or audit intermediate microeconomics or macroeconomics as appropriate at one of The Claremont Colleges. Students without an adequate background in mathematics will be required to take Mathematics for the Social Sciences (ECON 307) in the fall semester.

Transfer of Credit. Graduate coursework completed at other institutions prior to enrollment at CGU will be considered for credit at CGU under the conditions specified in this Bulletin under “Degree Regulations.”Transfer of credit will be considered on the basis of the relevance of the coursework to the student’s area of specialization at CGU. Student petitions to transfer credits must describe courses completed elsewhere, identifying professors, texts, etc. Final approval of transfer of credits usually is given after the student has been in the program for at least two semesters. This facilitates evaluation of the compatibility of courses taken elsewhere with CGU program requirements.

Financial Aid. In addition to tuition fellowships and assistantships offered by the department, other research assistance funding may be available from the Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies at CGU, the Lowe Institute of Political Economy at Claremont McKenna College, or faculty research grants.

Jointly Offered Programs

Master of Arts in Politics, Economics, and Business (MAPEB)

The School of Politics and Economics jointly offers this program with the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management. Refer to the section titled “Jointly Offered Programs ” in the Bulletin for program details.

Special Programs

BA/MA in Economics. The Department of Economics offers an accelerated BA/MA option for juniors and seniors at the undergraduate Claremont Colleges. Admitted undergraduates can apply up to four courses (16 units) toward both the MA in Economics and the BA (or BS) degree. Four core graduate courses are required; students may choose the other eight graduate courses to complete the MA from a variety of fields in economics. Graduate work in related areas such as business and management, international relations, politics and public policy, psychology, and philosophy also is permitted.