All economics concentrators are encouraged to complete a capstone project in their senior year. A capstone project is a culminating opportunity to synthesize and apply the tools and knowledge they have gained in the discipline. For students undertaking an ScB in computer science-economics, the capstone must comprise a capstone course in either the computer science department or the economics department. All seniors doing capstones must fill out the Capstone Recognition Form by May 1st. Please submit the form to assure that you can be recognized in our departmental commencement program. Capstones in economics can take the following form:

• Honors Thesis
• Research Assistantship
• Teaching Assistantship
• Concentration-Related Internship
• Capstone Course:
  • 1355      Environmental Issues in Development
  • 1385      Intergenerational Poverty in America
  • 1430      The Economics of Social Policy
  • 1450      Economic Organizations and Systems
  • 1487      Translating Evidence into Economic Policy
  • 1530      Health, Hunger, and the Household
  • 1680      Machine Learning, Text Analysis, and Economics
  • 1720      Corporate Finance
  • 1780      Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
  • 1825      Behavioral Economics and Public Policy

In lieu of a designated capstone course in economics, a student can also complete a capstone using any 1000-level economics course by completing a research-based project, beyond the original course requirements, that is supervised by the course instructor.

Honors at the university level (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) are determined by the College based on a student’s grades. Honors within the department is based on the completion of an honors thesis. Outside of Brown, there is an international honors society for economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon. Students who receive six or more A’s in economics courses before their senior year are invited to join ODE.

For questions about honors and other capstones, please reach out to the following people.