Undergraduate Economics

Major in Economics and History (45 hours)

Economics and History Interdisciplinary major catalog page from online 2012-13 catalog.

Economics and History
The joint major in economics and history makes an important contribution to liberal education at Vanderbilt by helping students understand the origins and organization of modern society. It also provides a unique preparation for careers in business, the professions, and other fields by combining all the analytical tools of the regular economics major with history’s emphasis on clear and effective writing and on developing skills in gathering, assessing, and synthesizing information.

The program consists of 45 hours of course work: 9 hours in an economic history core, and an additional 18 hours in economics and 18 in history. Students declare their major through the Department of History office.
Note: All students must have at least one semester of calculus; two are strongly recommended for the economics component. Calculus is a prerequisite for ECON 150, 155, 231, and 232, which are required for the major. It is also a prerequisite for all economics courses numbered above 250.

Course work for the major is distributed as follows:

Economic History Core (9 hours)
Three of the following courses, one of which must be an economics course numbered above 250:
HIST 160, HIST 165, HIST 166, HIST 286a, HIST 288a, HIST 288b, HIST 288W, ECON 226, ECON 262, ECON 266, ECON 271. Note: ECON 231 is a prerequisite for ECON 262, 266 and 271.

Economics (18 hours)
ECON 100, 101, 150 or 155, 231, 232; one economics course numbered above 250 not included in the economic history core.
Note: The following course sequences may be substituted for ECON 150 or 155: (1) MATH 218, 218L, and 219 or (2) MATH 218, 218L, and ECON 253. ECON 253 will also count as an elective.

History (18 hours)
No more than 3 hours of AP or IB credit in history courses may count toward this total. Two courses numbered 142 or below; HIST 200W; HIST 295 or a course from Option 3 on page 120 in the history pages for a capstone alternative; two electives above 142 and not included in the economic history core (note that 169 is NOT accepted as an elective for the major). These two electives may also include any of the following: AADS 201, 205; Classical Studies 207, 208, 209, 212, 213, 224; Divinity 2750, 3217; Jewish Studies 156, 222, 252, 256, 257; Philosophy 210.

Honors Program (9 more hours)
Students apply to the Honors Program in History in the first semester of the junior year.
54 hours: students will take the four-course honors sequence, HIST 297, 298a–298b, 299; they will not be required to take HIST 295, though they may enroll for 295 as an elective. They will write an interdisciplinary thesis under the direction of an adviser from each department.

Updated July 30, 2012