You're logged in as |

Applied Mathematics-Economics

The Applied Mathematics-Economics concentration is designed to reflect the mathematical and statistical nature of modern economic theory and empirical research. This concentration has two tracks. The first is the advanced economics track, which is intended to prepare students for graduate study in economics. The second is the mathematical finance track, which is intended to prepare students for graduate study in finance, or for careers in finance or financial engineering. Both tracks have A.B. degree versions and Sc.B. degree versions, as well as a Professional track option. If you are interested in declaring a concentration in Applied Mathematics-Economics, please refer to this page for more information regarding the process.

Standard Program for the A.B. degree (Advanced Economics track):

Prerequisites:
Single Variable Calculus, Part II
Linear Algebra
Course Requirements:
Applied Mathematics Requirements
(a) 1
APMA 0350
& APMA 0360		Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
and Applied Partial Differential Equations I 2		2
Select one of the following: 1
Introduction to Scientific Computing (preferred)
Introduction to Modeling
Computing Foundations: Data
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science
Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction
Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
Select one of the following: 1
Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
Select one of the following:1
Statistical Inference I
Honors Statistical Inference I
(b) 1
Select one of the following: 1
An Introduction to Numerical Optimization
Introduction to Numerical Solution of Differential Equations
Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
Applied Partial Differential Equations II
Applied Dynamical Systems
Statistical Inference II
Computational Probability and Statistics
Statistical Analysis of Time Series
Nonparametric Statistics
Computational Probability and Statistics
Information Theory
Monte Carlo Simulation with Applications to Finance
Recent Applications of Probability and Statistics
Graphs and Networks
Analysis: Functions of One Variable
APMA 193X, 194X Senior Seminar series, depending on topic 6
Economics Requirements:3
Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) 3
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Mathematical Econometrics I
Two 1000-level courses from the "mathematical-economics" group: 42
Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory
Advanced Macroeconomics: Monetary, Fiscal, and Stabilization Policies
Unemployment: Models and Policies
Bargaining Theory and Applications
Theory of Market Design
Topics in Macroeconomics, Development and International Economics
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Investments II
Crisis Economics
Economics in the Laboratory
Theory of Behavioral Economics
The Theory of General Equilibrium
Game Theory and Applications to Economics
One 1000-level course from the "data methods" group: 41
Economics of Education I
Labor Economics
Health, Education, and Social Policy
Economics of Global Warming
Environmental Issues in Development Economics
Health Economics
Inequality of Opportunity in the US
Intergenerational Poverty in America
The Economics of Mass Media
The Economics of Social Policy
Economic Development
Culture, History and Comparative Development
Health, Hunger and the Household in Developing Countries
Applied Research Methods for Economists
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
Behavioral Finance
One additional 1000-level economics course. 51
Total Credits13
1

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy (a) and (b).

2

APMA 0330 and APMA 0340 may be substituted with advisor approval, but these are no longer being offered. 

3

Or ECON 1110 with permission. For students matriculating at Brown in Fall 2021 or later, note that if ECON 1110 is used, then one additional course from the mathematical-economics group will be required

4

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy the "mathematical economics," and "data methods" requirements.

5

Note that ECON 1620, ECON 1960, and ECON 1970 (independent study) cannot be used for concentration credit.  However, 1620 and 1960 can be used for university credit and up to two 1970s may be used for university credit. 

6

Requires written approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics. APMA 1910 is not permitted.

Standard program for the Sc.B. degree (Advanced Economics track):

Prerequisites:
Single Variable Calculus, Part II
Linear Algebra
Course Requirements:
Applied Mathematics Requirements
(a) 1
APMA 0350
& APMA 0360		Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
and Applied Partial Differential Equations I 2		2
Select one of the following:1
Introduction to Scientific Computing (preferred)
Introduction to Modeling
Computing Foundations: Data
Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science
Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction
Select one of the following:1
Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
APMA 1650Statistical Inference I1
or APMA 1655 Honors Statistical Inference I
(b) 1
Select two of the following:2
An Introduction to Numerical Optimization
Introduction to Numerical Solution of Differential Equations
Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
Applied Partial Differential Equations II
Applied Dynamical Systems
Statistical Inference II
Statistical Analysis of Time Series
Nonparametric Statistics
Computational Probability and Statistics
Information Theory
Monte Carlo Simulation with Applications to Finance
Recent Applications of Probability and Statistics
Graphs and Networks
Analysis: Functions of One Variable
APMA 193X, 194X Senior Seminar series, depending on topic 6
Economics Requirements:
ECON 1130Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) 31
ECON 1210Intermediate Macroeconomics1
ECON 1630Mathematical Econometrics I1
Three 1000-level courses from the "mathematical-economics" group: 43
Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory
Advanced Macroeconomics: Monetary, Fiscal, and Stabilization Policies
Unemployment: Models and Policies
Bargaining Theory and Applications
Theory of Market Design
Topics in Macroeconomics, Development and International Economics
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Investments II
Crisis Economics
Economics in the Laboratory
Theory of Behavioral Economics
The Theory of General Equilibrium
Game Theory and Applications to Economics
One 1000-level course from the "data methods" group: 41
Economics of Education I
Labor Economics
Health, Education, and Social Policy
Economics of Global Warming
Environmental Issues in Development Economics
Health Economics
Inequality of Opportunity in the US
Intergenerational Poverty in America
The Economics of Mass Media
The Economics of Social Policy
Economic Development
Culture, History and Comparative Development
Health, Hunger and the Household in Developing Countries
Applied Research Methods for Economists
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
Behavioral Finance
Two additional 1000-level economics courses 52
Total Credits16
1

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy (a) and (b).

2

APMA 0330 and APMA 0340 may be substituted with advisor approval, but these are no longer being offered. 

3

Or ECON 1110 with permission. For students matriculating at Brown in Fall 2021 or later, note that if ECON 1110 is used, then one additional course from the mathematical-economics group will be required

4

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy the "mathematical economics" and "data methods" requirements.

5

Students may apply, at most, one Economics course whose number is in the range of 1000 to 1099 toward the concentration. Note that ECON 1620, ECON 1960, and ECON 1970 (independent study) cannot be used for concentration credit.  However, 1620 and 1960 can be used for university credit and up to two 1970s may be used for university credit.

6

Requires written approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics. APMA 1910 is not permitted.

Standard program for the A.B. degree (Mathematical Finance track):

Prerequisites:
Single Variable Calculus, Part II
Linear Algebra
Course Requirements: 13 Courses: 6 Applied Math and 7 Economics
Applied Mathematics Requirements
(a)
APMA 0350
& APMA 0360		Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
and Applied Partial Differential Equations I 1		2
Select one of the following:1
Introduction to Scientific Computing (preferred)
Introduction to Modeling
Computing Foundations: Data
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science
Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction
Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
APMA 1200Operations Research: Probabilistic Models1
APMA 1650Statistical Inference I1
or APMA 1655 Honors Statistical Inference I
(b)
Select one of the following:1
An Introduction to Numerical Optimization
Introduction to Numerical Solution of Differential Equations
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
Applied Partial Differential Equations II
Applied Dynamical Systems
Statistical Inference II
Statistical Analysis of Time Series
Nonparametric Statistics
Computational Probability and Statistics
Information Theory
Monte Carlo Simulation with Applications to Finance (preferred)
Recent Applications of Probability and Statistics
Graphs and Networks
Analysis: Functions of One Variable
APMA 193X, 194X Senior Seminar series, depending on topic 5
Economics Requirements:
ECON 1130Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) 31
ECON 1210Intermediate Macroeconomics1
ECON 1630Mathematical Econometrics I1
Select two 1000-level courses from the "financial economics" group: 22
Investments I
Corporate Finance
Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Entrepreneurship
Investments II
Financial Institutions
Crisis Economics
Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
Behavioral Finance
Select one 1000-level course from the "mathematical economics" group: 21
Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory
Advanced Macroeconomics: Monetary, Fiscal, and Stabilization Policies
Unemployment: Models and Policies
Bargaining Theory and Applications
Theory of Market Design
Topics in Macroeconomics, Development and International Economics
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Investments II
Crisis Economics
Economics in the Laboratory
Theory of Behavioral Economics
The Theory of General Equilibrium
Game Theory and Applications to Economics
Select one 1000-level course from the "data methods" group: 21
Economics of Education I
Labor Economics
Health, Education, and Social Policy
Economics of Global Warming
Environmental Issues in Development Economics
Health Economics
Inequality of Opportunity in the US
Intergenerational Poverty in America
The Economics of Mass Media
The Economics of Social Policy
Economic Development
Culture, History and Comparative Development
Health, Hunger and the Household in Developing Countries
Applied Research Methods for Economists
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
Behavioral Finance
Total Credits13
1

APMA 0330 and APMA 0340 may be substituted with advisor approval, but these are no longer being offered. 

2

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy any two or more of the "financial economics," "mathematical economics," and "data methods" requirements.

3

Or ECON 1110 with permission. For students matriculating at Brown in Fall 2021 or later, note that if ECON 1110 is used, then one additional course from the mathematical-economics group will be required

4

Note that ECON 1620, ECON 1960, and ECON 1970 (independent study) cannot be used for concentration credit.  However, 1620 and 1960 can be used for university credit and up to two 1970s may be used for university credit.

5

Requires written approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics. APMA 1910 is not permitted.

Standard program for the Sc.B. degree (Mathematical Finance track):

Prerequisites:
Single Variable Calculus, Part II
Linear Algebra
Course Requirements: 16 courses: 7 Applied Math and 9 Economics
Applied Mathematics requirements:
(a)
APMA 0350
& APMA 0360		Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
and Applied Partial Differential Equations I 1		2
Select one of the following:1
Introduction to Scientific Computing (preferred)
Introduction to Modeling
Computing Foundations: Data
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science
Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction
Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
APMA 1200Operations Research: Probabilistic Models1
APMA 1650Statistical Inference I1
or APMA 1655 Honors Statistical Inference I
(b)
Select two of the following:2
An Introduction to Numerical Optimization
Introduction to Numerical Solution of Differential Equations
Operations Research: Deterministic Models
Applied Partial Differential Equations II
Applied Dynamical Systems
Statistical Inference II
Statistical Analysis of Time Series
Nonparametric Statistics
Computational Probability and Statistics
Information Theory
Monte Carlo Simulation with Applications to Finance (preferred)
Recent Applications of Probability and Statistics
Graphs and Networks
Analysis: Functions of One Variable
APMA 193X, 194X Senior Seminar series, depending on topic 5
Economics Requirements:
ECON 1130Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) 31
ECON 1210Intermediate Macroeconomics1
ECON 1630Mathematical Econometrics I1
Select three 1000-level courses from the "financial economics" group: 23
Investments I
Corporate Finance
Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Entrepreneurship
Investments II
Financial Institutions
Crisis Economics
Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
Behavioral Finance
Select two 1000-level courses from the "mathematical economics" group: 22
Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory
Advanced Macroeconomics: Monetary, Fiscal, and Stabilization Policies
Unemployment: Models and Policies
Bargaining Theory and Applications
Theory of Market Design
Topics in Macroeconomics, Development and International Economics
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Investments II
Crisis Economics
Economics in the Laboratory
Theory of Behavioral Economics
The Theory of General Equilibrium
Game Theory and Applications to Economics
Select one 1000-level course from the "data methods" group: 21
Economics of Education I
Labor Economics
Health, Education, and Social Policy
Economics of Global Warming
Environmental Issues in Development Economics
Health Economics
Inequality of Opportunity in the US
Intergenerational Poverty in America
The Economics of Mass Media
The Economics of Social Policy
Economic Development
Culture, History and Comparative Development
Health, Hunger and the Household in Developing Countries
Applied Research Methods for Economists
Mathematical Econometrics II
Big Data
Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
Behavioral Finance
Total Credits16
1

APMA 0330 and APMA 0340 may be substituted with advisor approval, but these are no longer being offered. 

2

No course may be used to simultaneously satisfy any two or more of the "financial economics," "mathematical economics," and "data methods" requirements.

3

Or ECON 1110 with permission. For students matriculating at Brown in Fall 2021 or later, note that if ECON 1110 is used, then one additional course from the mathematical-economics group will be required

4

Note that ECON 1620, ECON 1960, and ECON 1970 (independent study) cannot be used for concentration credit.  However, 1620 and 1960 can be used for university credit and up to two 1970s may be used for university credit.

5

Requires written approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics. APMA 1910 is not permitted. 

 
 

Honors 

Applied Math-Economics concentrators who wish to pursue honors must find a primary faculty thesis advisor in either Economics or Applied Math. They will be held to the Honors requirements of their advisor’s department. Joint concentrators in Applied Mathematics-Economics with an Economics thesis advisor should follow the requirements published here, while concentrators with an Applied Math thesis advisor should follow the requirements published here.

Professional Track

The requirements for the professional track include all those of the standard track, as well as the following:

Students must complete full-time professional experiences doing work that is related to their concentration programs, totaling 2-6 months, whereby each internship must be at least one month in duration in cases where students choose to do more than one internship experience. Such work is normally done at a company, but may also be at a university under the supervision of a faculty member. Internships that take place between the end of the fall and the start of the spring semesters cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

On completion of each professional experience, the student must write and upload to ASK a reflective essay about the experience, to be approved by the student's concentration advisor.

  • Which courses were put to use in your summer's work?  Which topics, in particular, were important?
  • In retrospect, which courses should you have taken before embarking on your summer experience?  What are the topics from these courses that would have helped you over the summer if you had been more familiar with them?
  • Are there topics you should have been familiar with in preparation for your summer experience, but are not taught at Brown?  What are these topics?
  • What did you learn from the experience that probably could not have been picked up from course work?
  • Is the sort of work you did over the summer something you would like to continue doing once you graduate? Explain.
  • Would you recommend your summer experience to other Brown students? Explain.