The Degree with Honors in Economics:

To be admitted to candidacy for honors in economics a student must complete a substantial piece of independent research. Two routes to honors are open: the specialization route and the thesis route.

a. Specialization route, consisting of these three units:

Students who have notified the department of their interest in writing an honors thesis will use the second module of Economics 401 to develop a thesis proposal. Such proposals frequently build on research papers completed for advanced electives, but this is not a requirement. If the proposal is accepted, the student will be admitted to W030. The department provides a memorandum to majors with more details every spring and fall.

b. Thesis route (Economics 493-W031-494)

A few students each year will be accepted for year-long thesis research on a subject closely related to the scholarly interests of a faculty member. A student who hopes to do such independent and advanced research in close association with a faculty member should begin to work out a mutually satisfactory topic early in the second semester of his or her junior year. Application to the department must be made before the end of the junior year by submitting a detailed proposal for work under the supervision of the faculty member. The WSP of the senior year is also spent on the thesis.

The College Bulletin states that students who wish to receive Honors must take at least one course in addition to the minimum number required for the major. Students who pursue a year-long thesis and therefore take both Economics 493 and 494 may substitute Economics 493 for an upper-level elective if they wish to. Students who pursue the Specialization Route to Honors may not substitute Economics 404 for an upper- (or lower-) level elective requirement.

For a list of recent honors theses, click here.