Economics follows human beings as they strive to fulfill their aspirations within different social and physical environments, notably via the production of commodities, their distribution and consumption, and the elaborations of institutions to organize these three processes. The program focuses on issues of economic justice, development, and sustainability.
Major Requirements
ECO Courses That Meet General Education Requirements
Major Advising in Fall/Spring
During the Fall 2023 semester, Economics majors, those interested in adding an Economics major, and those just curious about Economics can contact one of the following Economics faculty for advising:
Jay Hamilton: Email him at jhamilton@jjay.cuny.edu (provide your EMPLID) or drop by during his Monday and Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in-person office hours at Room 336-14 3rd floor Haaran Hall.
Geert Dhondt: Email him at gdhondt@jjay.cuny.edu. His office is at 336-13 Haaren Hall.
Rita Taveras: Email her at rtaveras@jjay.cuny.edu. Her office is at 336-4 Haaren Hall.
Economics majors should consult with an Economics advisor at least once per semester.
If you are transferring economics course credits from another college, check in with one of them to discuss how these credits have been evaluated and posted on your John Jay transcript. If there are any concerns or issues about economics credit evaluation, they will help you clarify and resolve them.
Major Advising in Summer/Winter
Economics majors who need advising during Summer session 2023 can email Jay Hamilton (jhamilton@jjay.cuny.edu).
Registration and Major Holds
Sophomores with 45-59 credits may have a hold on their registration. The hold will be removed when they have a major advising appointment with one of the Economics major advisors. This discussion will encourage wise planning and allow students to ask any questions they may have about the major. How do you know if you have a major hold? Go to CUNYfirst and complete the following steps:
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Check the Holds box of your CUNYfirst Student Center. If "Advisement Required" appears, click on “details.”
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Click on “Advisement Required.”
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See which type of advisement you need. If you must see a major advisor, then make a major advising appointment following the steps preferred by this department.
Avoid Course Planning Mistakes!
The Economics major requires that you take certain prerequisite courses in order to progress through the major, so it is important to plan accordingly. Keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Take ECO 101 and ECO 105 early, since they provide the foundation for this major.
- Take your Math course(s) early. MAT 141 or higher is recommended, but MAT 108 will also be sufficient. Depending on your CUNY math placement, you may need to start with MAT 105. Note: Though there is no requirement that you must take MAT 141 (pre-calculus) as a foundation for Economics, we strongly urge you to take MAT 141 instead of MAT 108. If you plan to advance in the field of economics, ultimately you will need calculus, and MAT 141 provides the foundation for that work, whereas MAT 108 does not.
- The Economics major was revised for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students fulfilling the 2020-2021 requirements should consult with the major advisor when planning their electives.
- We recommend that you avoid overloading on Economics courses in any semester. Try to spread them out and take them along with general education requirements.
- Transfer students should meet with an Economics advisor as soon as possible to discuss any Economics transfer credit, confirm what they still need to complete in the major, and develop a plan that makes sense.
- Remember that you will need at least a 2.0 GPA in the major and at least a 2.0 overall GPA to graduate.
- For those students fulfilling the major requirements prior to the revised 2020-2021 Bulletin: In the Part Two Electives area of the major, you will sometimes see a course on several of the cluster lists, but a course cannot satisfy more than one cluster. Furthermore, only one of the five courses in the Part Two Electives area can be at the 100 level.
Monitor Your Progress in the Major (Major Checklist, Sample 4 yr Plan)
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DegreeWorks degree audit - Use this online planning tool to track your overall progress toward graduation. You will see which of your general education and major requirements are completed, in progress, or still needed. Refer to the DegreeWorks FAQs to better understand how to use this helpful tool. Note: be sure to confirm the accuracy of your degree audit with a general advisor and major advisor.
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Fill out the Economics Major Checklist for students who declared before Fall 2021- or the Economics Major Checklist for students who declared Fall 2021 or later to keep track of which major requirements you have completed and which ones you still need.
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Sample Four Year Plan - See an example of how you could complete all your degree requirements (major, general education, electives) and graduate in four years! Remember that this sample plan shows just one possible way to combine your requirements. Transfer students in particular should work with advisors to determine a plan that works best for them.
Meet with a General Academic Advisor
A General Academic Advisor will confirm what general academic requirements you still need, make suggestions about smart course planning that will help you graduate without delays, discuss your interest in adding a minor or second major, inform you about opportunities such as study abroad, discuss general questions and concerns, and make helpful referrals. Visit the Academic Advisement Center's webpage for more information.
Career Possibilities
A Major that Pays You Back
| Major (BA and BS) | Early Career Pay | Mid Career Pay |
| Actuarial Science | $60,800 | $119,000 |
| Aeronautical Engineering | $63,000 | $113,000 |
| Economics | $53,900 | $100,000 |
| Statistics | $57,400 | $97,500 |
| Finance | $53,300 | $89,600 |
| Accounting | $48, 300 | $77,200 |
| Criminology | $39,500 | $63,600 |
| Psychology | $38,300 | $62,100 |
| Criminal Justice | $37,000 | $59,100 |