Best Economics Programs in Rhode Island for 2027

Brown does not offer one economics concentration but a menu: the standard track, a business track, a public policy track, and joint paths such as Applied Math-Economics, Mathematics-Economics and Computer Science-Economics. The department says a joint concentration is recommended if you want a PhD. The standard track runs from Econ 0110 through intermediate micro (1110) and macro (1210), Econ 1620, and econometrics (1629 or 1630), plus five 1000-level electives and a calculus course. Because there is no required thesis, a senior capstone project or honors thesis is strongly encouraged but optional, and independent study cannot count toward the concentration.

Tracks

Standard, Business and Public Policy, plus joint concentrations

Core

Intermediate micro and macro, Econ 1620, econometrics

Electives

Five 1000-level economics courses

Capstone

Senior capstone or honors thesis recommended, not required

Program Sources: Standard Track (A.B.), Brown EconomicsConcentrations, Brown Economics

URI's economics BA asks for 30 to 48 credits in the subject: a seven-course core (ECN 201, 202, 305, 306, 327, 328 and 445) plus at least three more economics courses at the 300 level or above. You need a C in both principles courses, ECN 201 and 202, before you can major, and at least one 400-level course is required. A math course such as MTH 103, 111, 131, 141 or BUS 111 must be passed with a C or better, and up to three credits from other departments can be substituted with the chair's approval. Overall and major GPAs of 2.00 are required to graduate.

Economics Credits

Minimum 30, maximum 48

Core Courses

ECN 201, 202, 305, 306, 327, 328, 445

Math Requirement

MTH 103, 111, 131, 141 or BUS 111 with a C or better

Upper Level

At least one 400-level course

Program Sources: B.A. in Economics, URI Department of Economics

At Providence College every economics major takes ECN 214, an econometrics course with a computing lab, and finishes with the ECN 488 Economics Senior Capstone. Between them come principles, microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis, a calculus course and a statistics or probability course. Four upper-division electives round out the major, and at least one has to be at the 400 level. The catalog describes the major as preparation for entering a profession or for graduate work in economics, business or related fields, and students choose electives tied to the career path they have in mind.

Core Courses

ECN 101, 102, 201, 202, 214 and 488

Capstone

ECN 488 Economics Senior Capstone

Electives

Four upper-division courses, at least one at the 400 level

Math

Calculus plus statistics or probability

Program Sources: Program: Economics, Providence College Catalog

Bryant's Business Economics major leans on applied work from the first year. In freshman year every student joins the Applied Economics Competition, a semester-long team project that assesses a country's progress on a Sustainable Development Goal and proposes policy. Later courses include Research Methods in Economics, Intermediate Micro and Macro, Machine Learning Applied to Economics, and a consulting-style capstone in data analysis. Students can compete in the College Fed Challenge, which models the Federal Open Market Committee, and Business Economics majors are eligible for the 3+1 Accelerated MBA, finishing bachelor's and MBA in four years.

First-Year Project

Applied Economics Competition on a Sustainable Development Goal

Sample Courses

Research Methods in Economics, Machine Learning Applied to Economics, Econ Capstone: Consulting Data Analysis

Accelerated Option

3+1 MBA

Competitions

College Fed Challenge

Program Sources: Business Economics, Bryant University

Salve Regina's BA in Economics is built to pair with another major; the catalog highlights double majors in political science, history or psychology without needing a dual degree. The major is 33 credits: intro macro and micro, intermediate macro and micro, econometrics, a required Public Policy Analysis course (ECN 490), and four upper-level economics electives. The program is rooted in the university's liberal arts tradition and points toward careers in business, government and public policy, or graduate study in economics and law.

Major Credits

33 credits of economics

Required Policy Course

ECN 490 Public Policy Analysis

Electives

Four upper-level economics courses

Pairing

Easy double major with political science, history or psychology

Program Sources: Economics (B.A.), Salve Regina University Catalog

Rhode Island College's economics BA is built mostly from four-credit courses, with intermediate micro and macro theory, introductory econometrics, and a closing Seminar in Economic Research or a second independent study. Students also take an elective on a topic such as race and gender, global economics, climate and sustainability, labor, urban or environmental economics. The department's honors program accepts majors with a 3.00 GPA who have 60 credits and at least 30 left to go. The finance lab has Bloomberg Terminals for real-time market data, and eligible Rhode Island students may receive free tuition in junior and senior year through the Hope Scholarship.

Required Sequence

Principles, intermediate theory, econometrics, research seminar or independent study

Honors Program

3.00 GPA, applied for after 60 credits

Lab

Finance Lab with Bloomberg Terminals

Program Sources: Economics Bachelor's Degree, Rhode Island CollegeHonors Program in Economics and Finance, Rhode Island College

Roger Williams offers three versions of the economics major, so the track matters. The liberal arts BA prepares for graduate work in economics, public administration and law. The Mathematical Economics BA adds calculus, programming and statistics along with a game theory course (ECON 395) for graduate school and consulting careers. The Business BS requires the full School of Business core in accounting, finance, management and marketing, plus an international and a data analytics course, and links to accelerated MBA options. All routes share intermediate micro and macro and ECON 303 econometrics, and faculty collaborate with students on research.

Tracks

Liberal Arts BA, Mathematical Economics BA, Business BS

Shared Core

ECON 211, 212 and 303

Math Track Extra

ECON 395 Introduction to Game Theory

Business Track Extra

Full business core plus international and data analytics requirements

Program Sources: Economics Major, Roger Williams University

Brown includes applied economic analysis and mathematics in the first year of its economics PhD, alongside the three core theory and econometrics sequences. Students then choose two fields and take an oral field examination. The research milestones include a third-year poster presentation and paper, followed by seminar presentations in subsequent years. Three advanced courses beyond the field requirements give students room to broaden the tools they bring to their dissertation.

First-Year Core

Microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, plus an applied economic analysis course (Economics 2020)

Fields

Two fields of two advanced courses each, an oral field exam, and three further advanced courses for seven in all

Dissertation Phase

Two to three years of research with participation in research workshops, then a final oral examination

Program Sources: Graduate | Economics | Brown UniversityGraduate | Economics | Brown University

URI's doctoral program in environmental and natural resource economics totals 64 credits, with required courses (EEC 501, 502, 528, 534, 535, 576, 602, 624, 628, 630, 634, 676 and 699) built around economic theory applied to natural resource use. Students admitted without a related master's degree sit a PhD qualifying exam, and everyone writes and defends a dissertation on an environmental or resource problem. Faculty focus on fisheries management, marine pollution, water quality and renewable energy in the coastal zone. Electives can come from fields like oceanography, statistics and political science.

Credits

64 total

Gate

Qualifying examination for students admitted without a related MS

Capstone

Dissertation and defense

Research Focus

Fisheries, marine pollution, water quality, renewable energy, coastal zone

Program Sources: PhD Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Curriculum, URIPhD Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, URI