Faculty & Office Hours
About the Department
About the Major
Math-Econ Program
Seminars
Courses
Department News
Eastern Economic Journal
Faculty Openings
 

 

Tips for Economics Majors

  • Pre-registration is important, because enrollment in 200- and 300-level economics courses is limited (generally to 35 students for 200-level courses and 25 for 300-level electives). Students often have difficulty pre-registering for a core course because they did not take calculus at Wesleyan. If you satisfied the calculus requirement by earning a 4 or a 5 on the Advanced Placement Calculus test or by taking calculus at another college, you should make a point of getting a prerequisite override form. Also, students who are returning to campus after a semester away should take advantage of the In-semester Course Selection opportunity.
  • Balance your work load: The department expects you to finish the three core courses before your senior year so as to leave time for more advanced coursework. However, try to avoid taking two core courses in the same semester.
  • Faculty office hours are posted on the bulletin board outside the economics office, and those of your advisor are available in your electronic portfolio. These times are reserved for your use, so please come by at these times to discuss your course work, your schedule, etc. If you cannot come by during scheduled office hours (perhaps because of class conflicts), you should contact the professor in advance for an appointment at a mutually convenient time.
  • Forms requiring the department chair’s signature: Tutorial Forms, Teaching Apprentice Forms, Course Assistant Forms, Major Acceptance Cards, Senior Concentration Forms, Transfer Credit Forms, etc. can be processed expeditiously if you submit your form at least a day in advance to the administrative staff in the Economics Office. They will verify that the forms are complete, obtain the chair’s signature if required, update the department’s records and make any necessary photocopies. You will usually be able to pick up the form at the Department Office by the next day.
  • Teaching Apprentices and Course Assistants: As an economics major, you surely are aware of the key contribution that TAs and CAs make to our program. It is a reciprocal relationship, for students who serve as TAs and CAs usually find it a most rewarding activity. If you are doing well in your courses, you may want to consider serving as a TA or CA for one or two semesters. Applications are solicited twice a year and there is an application form in our office that you would complete.
  • Get involved!  The Economics Majors Committee has an important role in the life of the department, from planning events to interviewing candidates for faculty positions.  Notices of elections are sent to all majors and posted outside the ECON office.  This is a great way to be involved!
  • You may well need letters of recommendation: We are proud of our students and delighted to help, but writing letters of recommendation takes considerable time and energy - some faculty members find time to write letters only on weekends. You can ease the burden by requesting your letters at least three weeks in advance rather than at the last minute. Because the precise form of the letter depends upon its purpose, you should make it clear whether the letter will be for a job, for a business school or for a Ph.D. program in economics. It does save much time and energy if you provide the faculty member with as complete a list as possible of all the places that you will want letters to be sent and the deadlines for each letter. It will also help the instructor if you will provide an up-to-date photocopy of your transcript and your résumé. Some students establish a file of reference letters at the Career Planning Center. You should feel free to let the faculty member know if there are particular points that you would like to have covered in the letter. When you know what has happened, let us know - we are interested in your plans for the future.
  • Reminder: If you are planning to take courses away from Wesleyan, please note that University Regulations state that credit can be granted for courses taken elsewhere only if the course selections have been approved in advance by the relevant department. Check the regulations very carefully and submit a Transfer of Credit Form for departmental approval before you leave the campus.
  • Watch the Bulletin Board outside the economics office for announcements, job opportunities, a list of advisor-advisee pairings, and other information.