Economics

The Economics Program at Dartmouth College is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles that govern economic systems, along with the analytical skills necessary to evaluate complex economic issues. This program offers a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with empirical research methods, enabling students to analyze both microeconomic and macroeconomic phenomena. Students will explore topics such as supply and demand, market structures, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade, and economic development. The program emphasizes critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and data analysis, equipping graduates with the tools to interpret economic data and contribute to informed decision-making in various sectors. The faculty comprises esteemed scholars and practitioners who are committed to engaging students through small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and opportunities for independent research. Dartmouth's strong liberal arts tradition encourages interdisciplinary learning, allowing students to connect economics with political science, history, mathematics, and environmental studies. Students can participate in research projects, internships, and study abroad programs to gain practical experience and global perspectives. The program prepares graduates for diverse careers in finance, government, consulting, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Furthermore, Dartmouth's close-knit academic community fosters collaboration and intellectual growth, ensuring students develop not only technical expertise but also ethical considerations and social responsibility. Graduates of the Economics program are well-equipped to analyze current economic challenges, contribute to policy debates, and pursue advanced studies or professional opportunities in economics and related fields.

The economics major is a hands-on experience that teaches concepts and models underlying both individual decision-making and broader (macro) questions such as the determination of interest rates and income growth. We offer courses in a series of fields including finance, international trade, macroeconomics, competition and strategy, labor economics, development economics, and public economics. 

Requirements for the Major

Prerequisites: ECON 1 (The Price System: Analysis, Problems, and Policies) and ECON 10 (Introduction to Statistical Methods), with an average grade no lower than C, and MATH 3 (Introduction to Calculus). (A student who fails to achieve the minimum grade average for the prerequisites may, with the permission of the vice chair, substitute grades in ECON 21 (Microeconomics) and ECON 20 (Econometrics) for those in ECON 1 and ECON 10, respectively. Another statistics course may be substituted for ECON 10 with permission of the vice chair.)

Requirements : Nine courses in addition to the prerequisites, with a GPA for these nine courses of no less than 2.0. The nine courses must include the following:

1. ECON 20, ECON 21, and ECON 22 (Macroeconomics)
2. Any two of the following sequences (depending on the sequences chosen, one or two additional courses may be needed): 24-39, 24-44 or 24-27-44 or 24-39-44; 25-45 or 25-75 or 25-75-45 (35 can be substituted for 75); 26-36 or 26-36-46; 27-47 or 24-27 or 24-27-47; 28-38 or 28-48 or 28-38-48 (72 or 75 can be substituted for 38); 29-39 or 29-39-49; 80-81 or 80-82 or 81-82 or 80-81-82. At least one of the sequences must include a 40 or an 80-level course in which a major paper is required. This requirement will serve as the culminating experience in the major. (ECON 24 Development Economics, ECON 25 Competition and Strategy, ECON 26 The Economics of Financial Intermediaries and Markets, ECON 27 Labor Economics, ECON 28 Public Economics, ECON 29 International Finance and Open-Economy Macroeconomics, ECON 36 Theory of Finance, ECON 38 Urban and Land Use Economics, ECON 39 International Trade, ECON 44 Topics in Developing Economics, ECON 45 Topics in Industrial Organization, ECON 46 Topics in Money and Finance, ECON 47 Topics in Labor Economics, ECON 48 Topics in Public Economics, ECON 49 Topics in International Economics, ECON 71 Health Economics and Policy, ECON 73 The Political Economy of Development, ECON 75 Environmental and Energy Economics, ECON 76 The Financial Crisis of the Noughties, ECON 77 Social Entrepreneurship, ECON 78 Fed Challenge, ECON 79 The Clash of Economic Ideas, ECON 80 Advanced Topics in Econometrics, ECON 81 Advanced Topics in Microeconomics, ECON 82 Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics, ECON 85 Independent Study in Economics, ECON 87 Senior Thesis) 

Notes: ECON 2 (Economic Principles and Policies) and ECON 7 may not be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirement.

Economics Minor

Prerequisites : ECON 1 and ECON 10, with an average grade no lower than C, and MATH 3. (A student who fails to achieve the minimum grade average for the prerequisites may, with the permission of the vice chair, substitute grades in ECON 21 and ECON 20 for those in ECON 1 and ECON 10, respectively. Another statistics course may be substituted for ECON 10 with permission of the vice chair.)

Requirements : Six courses in addition to the prerequisites, with a GPA for these six courses of no less than 2.0. No courses can be counted toward both a major and a minor. The six courses must include the following:

1. ECON 20, ECON 21, and ECON 22
2. Any one of the following sequences (depending on the sequence chosen, one additional course may be needed): 24-44 or 24-27-44 or 24-39-44; 25-45 or 25-75-45 (35 can be substituted for 75); 26-36-46; 27-47 or 24-27-47; 28-48 or 28-38-48 (72 or 75 can be substituted for 38); 29-39-49; 80-81 or 80-82 or 81-82 or 80-81-82. With the permission of the vice chair, a student may substitute a sequence of courses involving an alternative culminating experience.

No courses can be counted toward both a major and a minor. With the permission of the vice chair, a student may substitute other courses to fulfill these requirements.

1.       SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);

2.       2 SAT Subject Test Scores;

3.       The common application essay;

4.       Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;

5.       A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;

6.       Resume;

7.       Brief abstract of an independent research project;

8.       IELTS or TOEFL (no minimum scores).

Dartmouth Scholarships are need-based and are given without expectation of repayment. Amounts range from $1,000 to over $50,000, depending on our determination of your eligibility. Some Dartmouth students will be selected as recipients of one or more of our over 750 endowed scholarship funds. These awards are not additional money, but indicate that the aid already awarded will come from a specific endowed fund. No separate application is required. Students who receive scholarships from external sources can use these funds to reduce the loan and/or job portions of their financial aid packages. Veteran's benefits are included as a resource in the determination of eligibility for Dartmouth scholarship awards. Dartmouth College currently participates at 100% in the Yellow Ribbon Program which supplements GI Bill benefits. For U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only form required to apply for Federal Financial Aid. The federal government provides Pell Grants to students who qualify on the basis of financial need as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded by the College to the most needy students. They vary in amount but do not exceed $4,000 a year. When you apply for financial aid, your parents' country of residence will determine which documents you need to submit. Parents living outside U.S. and Canada should provide income/benefits statement from employer.

Economics at Dartmouth College offers students an in-depth understanding of the core principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, providing a solid foundation for analyzing economic issues at local, national, and international levels. The program combines rigorous coursework with opportunities for research, internships, and fieldwork, enabling students to develop critical thinking and quantitative skills necessary for careers in business, government, or further academic study. Students can choose from a variety of elective courses that cover specialized areas such as development economics, environmental economics, international economics, public policy, and financial economics. The department emphasizes the application of economic theory to real-world problems, encouraging students to engage in data analysis, policy evaluation, and economic modeling.

Dartmouth's Economics major requires completion of a set of core courses in introductory and intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, along with advanced courses in economic theory and quantitative methods. Students are also encouraged to participate in a senior seminar or independent research projects, often supported by the department's resources for empirical analysis and statistical software. The college’s close-knit academic environment fosters mentorship relationships with faculty members, many of whom are leading researchers in their fields.

Internships and practical experience are strongly encouraged, with students gaining exposure to economic consulting firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations, or international institutions. Dartmouth’s location in Hanover, New Hampshire, provides a unique setting for engaging with policy issues affecting rural and suburban communities, as well as opportunities for experiential learning through fieldwork and collaborative projects. The program aims to prepare graduates for successful careers in economics consulting, finance, public policy, academia, and beyond. Overall, Dartmouth College's Economics program blends theoretical rigor with practical relevance, equipping students with the analytical tools necessary to understand and address complex economic challenges in a rapidly changing world.