Bachelor of Science in Economics and Politics
The Economics and Politics major is offered jointly between the Undergraduate Economics Program (UEP) and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Security and Technology (CMIST). Students are equal members of both academic units and receive advising from both units.
Economics and Politics is available as both a primary and additional major.
Degree Rationale
Politics and economics are deeply interconnected. Political institutions and decision-making impact economic growth, income distribution, and many other aspects of economic life. Both fiscal and monetary policies affect the economy, but these policies are often employed with political considerations in mind and can influence political activity. For example, while the United Nations is often thought of in purely political terms, the Security Council can and does impose sanctions on countries--an example of an economic policy used for political change.
The Economics and Politics major is offered jointly between the Undergraduate Economics Program (UEP) and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Security and Technology (CMIST). Students are equal members of both academic units and receive advising from both units. The major will appeal to any student interested in the design, evaluation, and political implementation of policy. It will be especially attractive to students considering careers in politics, government agencies, political and business consulting, lobbying, or the law.
The BS in Economics and Politics is an interdisciplinary major. The major will develop the political context and underpinnings of economic policy making. It will explore how political institutions resolve the tradeoffs and disagreements associated with policymaking and how they can facilitate or impede desirable economic outcomes.
CMIST strengths lie in topics such as emerging technology, national security, and grand strategy. Economic policy is one facet of grand strategy, through which governments pursue domestic and international goals. It will enable students to understand economic statecraft from a broad perspective. This major will address key issues such as how multilateral economic institutions such as the IMF and World Bank use economic coercion. Whether coercion is successful or not depends not only on the levers of power but also on variations in regime structures, alongside complex linkages in the international economy. For example, the viability of the “Euro Zone” depends on whether the political economic agreements necessary to mitigate institutional weaknesses are politically feasible or destined to failure. In short, international economics affects everything from human rights practices to global compliance with climate change treaties.
Economics and Politics is available as both a primary and an additional major. The requirements are the same for both.
Curricular Requirements
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all courses taken in the Department of Economics (73-xxx).
Mathematics (19 units)
Students must complete all of the following courses.
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
or 21-112 | Calculus II | |
21-256 | Multivariate Analysis | 9 |
or 21-259 | Calculus in Three Dimensions |
Foundations (36 units)
Students must complete all of the following courses.
73-102 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 9 |
or 73-104 | Principles of Microeconomics Advanced | |
73-103 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 9 |
84-104 | Decision Processes in American Political Institutions | 9 |
84-275 | Comparative Politics | 9 |
*Students who place out of 73-102 based on the economics placement exam will receive a pre-req waiver for 73-102 and are waived from taking 73-102 |
Core (63 units)
Students must complete all of the following courses.
73-230 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 9 |
73-240 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 9 |
73-265 | Economics and Data Science | 9 |
73-274 | Econometrics I | 9 |
84-226 | International Relations | 9 |
84-266 |
Research Design for Political Science |
9 |
84-310 | International Political Economy | 9 |
Communication (9 units)
Students must complete one course from the following list.
73-270 | Professional Communication for Economists | 9 |
84-250 | Writing for Political Science and Policy | 9 |
Electives (27 units)
Majors are required to take 27 units (three courses) from the elective lists below. At least one course (9 units) must be taken from Economics (73-xxx) and at least one course (9 units) must be taken from the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Security and Technoloy (84-xxx). Students may complete electives through coursework in the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP).
Economics Electives | |
73-328 | Health Economics |
73-332 | Political Economy |
73-338 | Financial Crises and Risk |
73-352 | Public Economics |
73-353 | Financial Regulation in the Digital Age |
73-359 | Benefit-Cost Analysis |
73-365 | Firms, Market Structures, and Strategy |
73-421 | Emerging Markets |
73-427 | Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Economics |
CMIST Electives | |
84-200 | Security War Game Simulation |
84-252 | Briefing in the Policy World |
84-303 | International Human Rights |
84-304 | In the News: Analysis of Current National Security Priorities |
84-306 | Latin American Politics |
84-307 | Economic and Political History of Contemporary China |
84-312 | Terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa |
84-313 | International Organizations and Law |
84-315 | Political Economy of International Migration |
84-316 | Political Economy of Transatlantic Partnership |
84-317 | Defense Resourcing: From Strategy to Execution |
84-318 | Politics of Developing Nations |
84-319 | Civil-Military Relations |
84-322 | Nonviolent Conflict and Revolution |
84-323 | War and Peace in the Contemporary Middle East |
84-324 | The Future of Democracy |
84-325 | Contemporary American Foreign Policy |
84-327 | Repression and Control in Dictatorships |
84-328 | Military Strategy and Doctrine |
84-329 | Asian Strategies |
84-330 | The Shading of Democracy: The Influence of Race on American Politics* |
84-331 | Money, Media, and the Power of Data in Decision making* |
84-334 | The History and Practice of Economic Statecraft* |
84-335 | US China Relations* |
84-336 | Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea To Reality* |
84-337 | Biomedical Science Research, Policy, and Governance* |
84-339 | Seminar in Public Policy Research* |
84-340 | Making Change: How Organized Interests Work in Washington* |
84-348 | Advocacy, Policy and Practice* |
84-351 | Bias, Objectivity, and the Media's Role in Politics |
84-352 | Representation and Voting Rights |
84-354 | The American Experiment: Unraveling the US Electoral System |
84-360 | CMU/WSP Internship Seminar* |
84-362 | Diplomacy and Statecraft |
84-365 | The Politics of Fake News and Misinformation |
84-369 | Decision Science for International Relations |
84-370 | Nuclear Security & Arms Control |
84-372 | Space and National Security |
84-373 | Emerging Technologies and International Law |
84-374 | Technology, Weapons, and International Conflict |
84-380 | US Grand Strategy |
84-383 | Cyber Policy as National Policy |
84-386 | The Privatization of Force |
84-387 | Remote Systems and the Cyber Domain in Conflict |
84-388 | Concepts of War and Cyber War |
84-389 | Terrorism and Insurgency |
84-390 | Social Media, Technology, and Conflict |
84-393 | Legislative Decision Making: US Congress |
84-402 | Judicial Politics and Behavior |
84-405 | The Future of Warfare |
84-421 | Advanced Topics in American Politics |
84-440 | Collaborative Research in Political Science |
*Denotes courses taught in Washington, DC, through the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP).
Additional Electives |
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19-411 |
Science and Innovation Leadership for the 21st Century: Firms, Nations, and Tech |
9 |
19-425 |
Sustainable Energy for the Developing World |
9 |
70-365 |
International Trade and International Law |
9 |
70-430 |
International Management |
9 |
79-280 |
Coffee and Capitalism |
9 |
79-318 |
Sustainable Social Change: History and Practice |
9 |
80-135 |
Introduction to Political Philosophy |
9 |
80-136 |
Social Structure, Public Policy & Ethics |
9 |
80-321 |
Causation, Law, and Social Policy |
9 |
80-323 |
Policy in a Global Economy |
9 |
80-335 |
Social and Political Philosophy |
9 |
80-348 |
Health, Human Rights, and International Development |
9 |
80-447 |
Global Justice |
9 |
88-366 |
Behavioral Economics of Poverty and Development |
9 |
88-419 |
International Negotiation |
9 |
88-444 |
Public Policy and Regulations |
9 |
CAPSTONE (15-21 units)
Students must complete all of the following courses.
84-450 | Policy Seminar | 6 |
73-497 | Senior Project or Senior Honors Thesis |
9 |
Note: Students in the BS in Economics and Politics who complete a Dietrich or Tepper Honors Thesis in economics may use 73-497 (Senior Project) as an economics elective. |
DOUBLE-COUNTING RESTRICTION
A maximum of four courses may double count with another major or minor.