Before the PhD · Build your foundation

Your undergraduate degree

Admissions committees read the math on your transcript, not the name of your major. Here is how the common combinations compare.

2 min read · By Marc Sleiman

Students often ask me which major is best for an economics PhD. The honest answer is that committees care about the mathematics on your transcript, not the name of your degree. A student who majored in economics but took real analysis, linear algebra and mathematical statistics looks stronger than a math minor who stopped at calculus. Still, some combinations make it much easier to build the right transcript.

The three common paths, from strongest to weakest

1. A joint math-economics major, or a double major

If your university offers a joint major in mathematics and economics, it is often the most efficient route, because it was designed for exactly this purpose. These programs are less common than students expect. Where none exists, a double major in mathematics and economics gives you both signals with no tradeoff: the mathematical depth committees look for and clear evidence of serious interest in economics.

2. A math major with an economics minor

This gives you the strongest mathematical signal, and additional mathematics is rarely viewed negatively. The risk is the opposite one: too little contact with economists. You will need letters from economists, and you will need to show that your interest in economics is real. The solution is to do research with an economist, through a research assistantship or a supervised thesis, so that someone in the field can speak to your work.

3. An economics major with a math minor

This path works well if the minor includes the courses that matter: real analysis, linear algebra and probability or mathematical statistics. It is weak if the minor is mostly calculus. If you are on this path, plan your minor deliberately around those courses rather than around whatever fits your schedule.

The rule that matters

Whatever your degree is called, by the time you apply your transcript should show real analysis, linear algebra and mathematical statistics, with good grades. The math and coursework page lists the full set of courses.

What if you already chose a different path?

It is not too late. Students regularly reach strong PhD programs after a master’s that fills the gaps in their undergraduate preparation, or after a predoc during which they take additional math courses. The graduate degree page explains which kind of master’s fits which background. And depending on your foundation, a policy or business PhD may be a better fit than economics.