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Admission Inquiries from Students Outside Yale University

I would like to be admitted to Yale and major in economics. Can you send me some information?

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions makes the decision on admissions to Yale College, not individual departments. Please refer to their website address: http://www.yale.edu/admit/ for more information. Once you are admitted to Yale College, you can major in whatever subject(s) you like.

Distinction in the Major/Senior Essay

Seniors who wish to be considered for distinction in the economics major must meet the grade standards for distinction and submit a senior essay in April of their senior year written in Econ 491a (a one-term essay), in Econ 491a and 492b (a two-term essay), or in Econ 400-489 (a seminar or advanced lecture-discussion class wherein, with additional work, the term paper has been developed with the help of the seminar instructor to senior essay status). All senior essays must be done with the help of an advisor.
Prospectuses for senior essays in Econ 491a and Econ 492b must be submitted and approved in October.

It is a good idea (but not required) to try to choose a senior-essay topic and to find an advisor during the spring of your junior year. This allows you to start research over the summer.

Please attend one of the senior essay informational meetings in the first week of classes for more details. (Consult your bluebook for days and times.)

Also please refer to the Senior Essay Guidelines.

Seminars and advanced lecture-discussion classes (400+ classes).

How is seminar placement done?

Declared economics, economics & math and EP&E majors, who have taken 2 of the 3 core courses and met all of the "prerequisites" are placed into seminars according to the following priority:
     1. Seniors who have not yet met the seminar or advanced lecture discussion requirement
     2. Juniors
If you have met the seminar and 400+ classes requirement after the fall of your senior year, you will not be placed into a seminar or 400+ class during preregistration for the spring. You can however, go to seminars and 400+ classes with open spaces and after the first or second class meeting we will be able to determine if we can admit you. Priority for open spaces goes to 4th year seniors first, then down the scale (see the question and answer below). The seminar and 400+ preregistration lists, posted at 28 Hillhouse Avenue and on the webpage here, will note if a class is open or closed. Juniors may apply to be put on the wait list for open places in seminars and 400+ classes during the pre-registration period but seniors who need the course to graduate will be given first priority.
 

How will acceleration/deceleration affect my priority?

Seniors in their 4th year are placed before accelerated seniors in their 3rd year. Juniors in their 3rd year are placed before accelerated juniors in their 2nd year.
     We have found that most economics accelerated students (94%) decelerate, so only a handful of students who accelerate actually graduate early and need the seminars early. We will honor your accelerated status based on the priority system outlined above.
 

Why can't I take the place of someone who drops out of a seminar? Take a different seminar from the one I was placed in? Why can't I shop seminars?

Seminar spaces are limited and enrollment is kept low to ensure the character of small seminars.
     You can switch to a different seminar if there are open spaces in that seminar and you have an academic a conflict, but we keep switching to a minimum.
     Closed seminars are overenrolled in preregistration so attrition is accounted for. Unfortunately, for closed seminars, there is little room to maneuver. 

Should I meet the seminar/400+ requirement in my senior year?

It is quite common for students to take such classes in their junior year but the senior requirement includes taking one such course in senior year.

If I have already met the requirement in my junior year, do I have to take another seminar or 400+ course?

Yes. In all cases students must enroll in one such course during their senior year.
     Please note however, that if you want to be considered for distinction in the major, you must do a senior essay (which counts as a seminar if you enroll in Econ 491a or 491a/492b) or alternatively a senior essay done in a seminar in your senior year. 

Can I get credit toward the economics major for Yale courses in related fields.

At most one course outside of economics but in a related field can count toward the requirements for the economics major. Courses taught outside of the department of economics that have two (2) core courses, as prerequisites listed in the Blue Book, will upon request, be granted related course credit
 

How do I apply for "related course credit" for a non-economics Yale course?

Related course credit is only given for Yale courses taken by declared majors, and only if requested and granted in the semester they are taking the course. Fill out the "Request for Related Course Credit" form (available in the Forms and Documents section of our website or in the Undergraduate Studies office at 28 Hillhouse Avenue) and bring it to the DUS for approval and authorized signature by the midterm date on the Yale College Calendar. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please consult Courses Taken Outsite of Yale section.

Can I count Credit/D/Fail courses for credit towards the major?

No.