Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science + Economics

The McKelvey School of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences has developed the Computer Science + Economics major to allow students interested in both disciplines to combine them efficiently without having to pursue them as two separate majors.

Electronically mediated platforms have by now evolved to permeate most human activities. Social media, online market exchange, banking, education, and publishing are all activities that are intermediated by computational means. Technically, the design and implementation of such platforms is an exercise in engineering. However, the nature of the social interactions is in the realm of economics.

Students will be required to take the following eleven courses, including Calculus I and Calculus II.

Core Course Requirements*
Math 131 Calculus I; we expect many majors to use AP credits 3
Math 132 Calculus II; we expect many majors to use AP credits 3

Math 3200

Or ESE 326 

Or Math 3211

Elementary to Intermediate Statistics and Data Analysis

Probability and Statistics for Engineering

Statistics for Data Science I

3
Math 233 Calculus III; majors can take Econ 493 instead 3
CSE 131 Introduction to Computer Science 3

CSE 240 

Or Math 310 

Logic and Discrete Mathematics 

Foundations for Higher Mathematics

3
CSE 247 Data Structures and Algorithms 3
CSE 347 Analysis of Algorithms 3
Econ 1011 Introduction to Microeconomics 3
Econ 1021 Introduction to Macroeconomics 3
Econ 4011 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
Econ 413 or Econ 413W Introduction to Econometrics 3

*Each of these core courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

In addition, majors have to complete six elective courses, three from economics and another three from computer science. Students who have AP credits to satisfy requirements for Econ 1011 and/or Econ 1021 can instead take approved electives in either department, and add at most one approved course outside both departments. A current list of elective courses follows.

Economics Electives
Econ 4021 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
Econ 404 Behavioral and Experimental Economics 3
Econ 407 Market Design 3
Econ 410 Macroeconomics of Inequality 3
Econ 4111 Optimization and Economic Theory 3
Econ 4151 Applied Econometrics 3
Econ 435 Open Economy Macroeconomics 3
Econ 452 Industrial Organization 3
Econ 467 Game Theory 3
Econ 471 Development Economics 3
Econ 477 Topics in Financial Economics: Investments 3
Econ 480 Labor Economics 3
Econ 483 Economics of Education 3
Econ 484 Computational Macroeconomics 3

 

Similarly, a current list in Computer Science follows:

Computer Science Electives
CSE 217A Introduction to Data Science 3
CSE 314A  Data Manipulation and Management  3
CSE 311A Introduction to Intelligent Agents Using Science Fiction 3
CSE 330S Rapid Prototype Development and Creative Programming 3
CSE 332S Object‐Oriented Software Development Laboratory 3
CSE 341T Parallel and Sequential Algorithms 3
CSE 400E Independent Study---MUST be approved by CSE CS+Econ Director 3
CSE 411A AI and Society 3
CSE 412A Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 416A Analysis of Network Data 3
CSE 417T
or ESE 417
Introduction to Machine Learning
Introduction to Machine Learning and Pattern Classification
3
CSE 425S Programming Systems and Languages 3
CSE 427S Cloud Computing 3
CSE 435S  Database Management Systems 3
CSE 457A Introduction to Visualization 3
CSE 514A Data Mining 3
CSE 517A Machine Learning 3
CSE 518A Human-in-the-Loop Computation 3
CSE 543T Algorithms for Nonlinear Optimization 3
CSE 557A Advanced Visualization 3
Additional Departmental Requirements*
CWP 100 College Writing I 3 units
Engr 310 Technical Writing 3 units
Natural Sciences electives 8 units
Humanities and Social Sciences electives 18 units
Total Units 32