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What is the Department of Economics at Rutgers University–New Brunswick?
The Department of Economics at Rutgers University–New Brunswick is the economics department of Rutgers' School of Arts and Sciences, based in New Jersey Hall. It combines undergraduate teaching with research across economic theory, data work and policy questions, and it runs both master's and doctoral programs alongside its majors, minors and certificates.
What it offers students
- Major in Economics — the standard undergraduate route into the field.
- Minor in Economics — a lighter option for students in other majors.
- Minor in Quantitative Economics — for students who want more mathematical and data-heavy training.
- Certificates in Economics — short, focused credentials.
- Master's and Ph.D. programs — graduate study within the same department.
Research and events
The department hosts an active workshop and seminar series, with visiting scholars presenting in areas such as micro theory and experimental economics, empirical microeconomics, and macroeconomic theory. These sessions are typically open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates, and they are the clearest way to see what the faculty and their visitors are currently working on.
Choosing a path
The practical decision usually comes down to how much quantitative work you want. A general economics major suits students heading into law, policy, business or public administration; the quantitative economics minor or a certificate signals stronger technical preparation for graduate study, data analysis or research assistant roles. If you are considering graduate school in economics, the quantitative route matters more than the general one.
A useful next step: if you are a current or prospective Rutgers student, contact an advisor before choosing between the major, the minors and the certificates — the department explicitly invites advising conversations, and the right choice depends on your intended career or graduate plans.
How do I declare or change to a major in economics at Rutgers?
The Department of Economics at Rutgers University–New Brunswick handles major declarations through its undergraduate advising team. The department's own site lists a "Major in Economics" link and an advisor contact prompt ("Do you have a question for an advisor?"), which is the correct starting point: Welcome to the Department of Economics. Declaring is not done by emailing a professor or showing up to a workshop — it runs through the department's undergraduate office and the School of Arts and Sciences.
What the process typically involves
- Check the requirements first. The economics major has specific prerequisite courses (introductory micro and macro, plus calculus or its equivalent) and GPA rules. Confirm you meet them before filing, because a declaration filed without the prerequisites will usually be held.
- Contact the department's undergraduate advisors. Use the advisor contact route on the department page to ask about current forms, deadlines and drop-in hours.
- Submit the declaration through your school. For SAS students this is normally done via the school's online major/minor declaration system; the department certifies it afterward.
- If you are changing from another major or another Rutgers school, expect an additional step — a school-to-school transfer application if you are moving into SAS, not just a major change.
Choosing between the related programs
The department lists several distinct credentials, and they are not interchangeable:
| Program | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Economics | General economics degree, policy, law, business, graduate study | Broadest, but less mathematical depth than the quantitative route |
| Minor in Economics | Pairing with a non-economics major | Fewer required courses; limited signal for research or PhD paths |
| Minor in Quantitative Economics | Students in math, statistics, CS or engineering who want formal econ credentials | Heavier math load; less room for elective economics courses |
| Certificates in Economics | Targeted add-on to an existing major | Narrower scope than a minor |
| M.A. / Ph.D. | Graduate study | Separate admissions process entirely |
A practical next step
If you are a current Rutgers student in good standing, email the undergraduate advising contact listed on the department page before the registration period opens, with your RUID, your intended program (major, minor, or quantitative minor), and a list of the economics and math courses you have completed with grades. That single message usually gets you a definitive answer on eligibility and the exact form to file. If you are also changing schools, ask about the school-to-school transfer deadline at the same time, since it is often earlier than the major declaration deadline and can block you even if the department approves.
What is the difference between the minor in economics and the minor in quantitative economics?
The economics minor is the broader, more flexible option; the quantitative economics minor is the more math- and methods-heavy version for students who want stronger analytical training. Both are housed in the same department and both are designed to complement a primary major rather than replace it.
The clearest distinction is how much quantitative coursework each requires. The quantitative minor typically asks you to go further in calculus, statistics or econometrics, and formal modeling than the standard economics minor, which usually allows more room for general economics electives. The standard minor is therefore easier to pair with majors that already carry heavy requirements, while the quantitative minor signals a deliberate technical specialization.
| Consideration | Minor in Economics | Minor in Quantitative Economics |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Broad grounding in economic theory and applied fields | Economic theory plus deeper mathematical and statistical methods |
| Best fit | Students in policy, business, history, political science or similar fields who want economic literacy | Students in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering or data-oriented fields |
| Trade-off | More flexibility, less technical depth | More rigor and stronger preparation for graduate study or quantitative roles |
| Typical use | Complementing a major with economic reasoning | Signaling quantitative capability to employers or graduate programs |
The practical decision usually comes down to your primary major and your next step. If you are majoring in political science and want to understand policy debates, the standard minor is likely enough. If you are majoring in mathematics or computer science and are considering a Ph.D. in economics, data science or quantitative research, the quantitative minor aligns better with that trajectory.
A useful next step is to compare the two sets of requirements side by side, then check them against the courses your major already requires. Overlap can make the quantitative minor less costly than it first appears. If you are unsure, the department's advising page notes that advisors are available to talk through the options — Department of Economics — and that is the fastest way to get a definitive answer for your specific situation.
What are the admission requirements and application process for the Ph.D. program in economics?
The page itself does not list Ph.D. admission requirements or application steps; it only links to a "Doctoral (Ph.D.) Program" section. For the actual criteria and deadlines, go to that program page or the university's graduate admissions site, since requirements are usually set there rather than on the department homepage.
What to expect from a typical U.S. economics Ph.D. application
- Degree background: A bachelor's degree, often in economics, but strong applicants from mathematics, statistics, engineering or related fields are common.
- Math preparation: Multivariable calculus, linear algebra, real analysis and probability/statistics are usually the most important courses.
- Test scores: Many programs now waive or no longer require the GRE; check the specific program's current policy.
- English proficiency: Required for international applicants, usually via TOEFL or IELTS, unless waived by prior study in an English-speaking country.
- Letters of recommendation: Typically three, ideally from economics or math instructors who can speak to research potential.
- Statement of purpose: Explains research interests, preparation and fit with the department.
- Transcripts: Official records from every institution attended.
- Application fee: Often charged, with waivers available in some cases.
How the process usually works
- Create an account in the university's graduate application portal.
- Upload transcripts, statement, CV and contact details for recommenders.
- Submit test scores if required.
- Pay the fee or request a waiver.
- Track the status and respond to any requests for missing materials.
- Interviews, where offered, are usually short and focus on research interests and preparation.
Practical next step
Open the department's Ph.D. page and the graduate school's admissions page side by side, then build a checklist with exact deadlines, required tests and document formats. For broader context on doctoral study in economics, you can also look at American Economic Association, which publishes guidance on graduate study and the job market.
What career paths or job outcomes do economics graduates from Rutgers typically pursue?
The Rutgers Economics site describes the department's programs and research culture but does not publish a career-outcomes report, so treat any specific employer or salary claim as something to verify with the department rather than assume from this page. What the page does show is the training mix that shapes where graduates go: theory, data work, and policy-relevant questions across many fields, plus distinct tracks — a Major in Economics, a Minor in Economics, a Minor in Quantitative Economics, certificates, a master's, and a Ph.D.
Where the degree tends to lead
- Analyst and research roles in banking, insurance, consulting, and corporate strategy, where regression, spreadsheet, and coding skills are the daily tools.
- Government and public-sector economics, including statistical agencies, regulators, and legislative or budget offices that hire for policy analysis.
- Data-adjacent work — data analyst, data scientist, business intelligence — especially for students who pair the major with the Quantitative Economics minor or computer science coursework.
- Graduate study in economics, public policy, law, or business, which the Ph.D. and master's tracks on the site point toward.
- Economic consulting and litigation support, a common first job for students comfortable with applied microeconomics and empirical methods.
A practical way to choose
Use the department's own track structure as a decision tool. If you want maximum flexibility after graduation, the standard major leaves room for a second field such as political science, statistics, or computer science. If you are aiming at data-heavy or doctoral work, the Quantitative Economics minor is the stronger signal, because it forces more math and econometrics.
One concrete next step: attend an Upcoming Workshops session. The listed seminars — micro theory, empirical microeconomics, macroeconomic theory — show the department's active research areas, and sitting in on one tells you quickly whether the field's day-to-day work appeals to you. The site also invites prospective and current students to talk with an advisor, which is the right place to ask about internship pipelines, alumni placement, and which electives employers actually ask about.
How can current students avoid job scams falsely claiming to be from the Department of Economics?
Verify any economics job offer through official Rutgers channels before sharing personal data or spending money. The department's own page states that legitimate offers and HR correspondence—including payroll—come from a "rutgers.edu" email address, and that faculty will never ask you to pay upfront for equipment or other purchases. Treat both conditions as pass/fail tests: if the sender's domain is not rutgers.edu, or if money is requested from you, stop.
Practical steps for students
- Check the full email address, not the display name. A display name can say "Professor Smith" while the actual domain is unrelated.
- Confirm the opportunity independently: ask the faculty member in person, during office hours, or by phone using a number from the department's official site.
- Never pay for training, software, laptops, gift cards or "onboarding" to start a research assistant role.
- Do not send bank details, tax forms, passport scans or your Social Security number until HR contact is verified through an official Rutgers channel.
- Report suspicious messages to the department or university IT/security office, and warn classmates who may receive the same pitch.
Why these scams work on students
Research assistant postings are competitive, hours are flexible, and students often expect to hear from faculty they have never met. Scammers exploit that gap by naming real professors and real courses. A useful habit is to check the department's own listings and workshop pages first, so you know which faculty are active and what genuine departmental communication looks like. The Rutgers department page, Department of Economics, publishes its workshops, advising contacts and degree information, which gives you a baseline for comparison.
A quick decision rule
If an offer arrives by text, a personal Gmail account or a messaging app, and it is urgent, unpaid-then-paid, or asks you to buy anything, assume it is fraudulent until a Rutgers-affiliated staff member confirms it through a channel you initiated.
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