How many courses may I receive transfer credit for?

Beginning with the students who declared in Spring 2011, there are new rules regarding the number of transfer credits that a student may take to fulfill major requirements. The department now limits the total number of lecture courses that may be taken outside of the department for major credit. All majors, financial economics majors, and joint majors (other than the joint major with philosophy) must take a minimum of 5 lecture courses in the Columbia economics department. Concentrators and joint majors with philosophy must take a minimum of 4 lecture courses in the Columbia economics department. The remaining lecture course requirements may be fulfilled with AP (or IB) credit, Barnard electives, transfer courses or study abroad courses (the last two are subject to departmental review – see the Transfer Credit section of the FAQ page for more information). The following table summarizes the new requirements:

Notes:
1. Lecture courses do not include seminars which must be taken in the department. The lecture course counts are counts of economics courses only, they do not include math, statistics or courses in other departments. There is also no change in the rule that no more than one course may be taken at the 2000 level.
2. There is no change in the rule that at least 2 of the 3 3000 level core courses must be taken in the department and no corresponding Barnard courses will be accepted. UN3025 and UN3265 will continue to be counted as departmental courses regardless of the instructor.
3. Outside courses include AP (IB) credits for Principles (1 class), transfer credits for Principles (1 class even if it was a two semester sequence), Barnard 2000 and 3000 level elective courses and transfer credits from other universities.
4. At least one of the core finance courses, UN 3025 and GU 4280, must be taken at Columbia.