Bachelor of Science in Economics and Politics
The Economics and Politics major is offered jointly between the Undergraduate Economics Program (UEP) and the Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS). Students are equal members of both academic units and receive advising from both units.
To discuss the major requirements and declaration process, please contact Emily Half, Institute for Politics and Strategy deputy director, and Steve Pajewski, Undergraduate Economics Program associate director.
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. Conversely, economic outcomes shape political preferences and policy choices. The overlap between these two disciplines is endless. 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 Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS). 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.
IPS strengths lie in topics like national security, grand strategy, and globalization. Economic policy is just one facet of grand strategy, through which an administration pursues domestic and international goals. This major will also address key issues such as the complementarity between the multilateral economic institutions such as the IMF and World Bank and the use of economic coercion, and enable students to understand economic statecraft more broadly. Whether coercion is successful depends not just on the levers of power but on also on variations in authoritarian regime structure, and complex linkages in the international economy. This is also important for our understanding of the relationship between international economics on human rights practices, extending even to how treaty commitments can facilitate compliance with a global initiative to combat climate change. And, not least important, there is broad recognition that 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.
Economics and Politics is available as both a primary and additional major.
Curricular Requirements
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all courses taken in the Department of Economics (73-xxx).
Prerequisites
Students must complete all of the following courses.
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
or 21-112 | Calculus II | |
36-200 | Reasoning with Data | 9 |
Foundations (48 units)
Students must complete all of the following courses.
21-256 | Multivariate Analysis | 9 |
or 21-259 | Calculus in Three Dimensions | |
73-102 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 9 |
73-103 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 9 |
84-104 | Decision Processes in American Political Institutions | 9 |
84-275 | Comparative Politics | 9 |
73-210 | Economics Colloquium I | 3 |
*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 Institute for Politics and Strategy (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 |
Institute for Politics and Strategy 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 Events |
84-306 | Latin American Politics |
84-307 | Economic and Political History of Contemporary China |
84-310 | International Political Economy |
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 Decisionmaking* |
84-333 | Power and Levers for Change in Washington, DC* |
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* |
84-346 | Legal Issues in Public Administration* |
84-348 | Advocacy, Policy and Practice* |
84-352 | Representation and Voting Rights |
84-360 | CMU/WSP Internship Seminar* |
84-362 | Diplomacy and Statecraft |
84-365 | The Politics of Fake News and Misinformation |
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 | Technology and Policy of Cyber War |
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 |
80-335 | 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.