Focused Tracks for the Economics Major Over the past fifty years, the discipline of economics has become vastly more complex than the simple static picture presented in mainstream Principles of Economics texts. This increased complexity is reflected in the market for economists in the increased diversity of the jobs available to economists. Thirty years ago, the standard training in economics that undergraduates received was sufficient preparation for entry level jobs in banking, in government service, or for the pursuit of the Ph.D. in the discipline. Positions in the banking sector, for example, require additional knowledge of international trade and political relations among nations. Positions with investment banks can require sophisticated knowledge in the use and programming of computers.
Government service can require detailed understanding of database management.
Pursuit of the Ph.D. in economics now requires an understanding of advanced mathematics. The following tables lay out the design of each track, indicating modifications in the core sequence, additional required courses, and additional elective courses. The Ph.D. Track in Economics Ph.D. programs in Economics at upper tier American universities subjects students to rigorous technical material in economic theory and econometrics. Hence, success in such a program requires that students be well-trained in the use of mathematics prior to entering the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. track in Economics directs students toward the mathematics courses and Economics electives they will need to be sucessfully prepared for graduate work in Economics.