How to Apply to Economics at Georgetown: Economics in the College of Arts & Sciences and International Economics in the School of Foreign Service, Apply to the School and Declare in Sophomore Year, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Economics at Georgetown University is taught by the Department of Economics, and there are several routes at the undergraduate level: the Economics major in the College of Arts & Sciences, the Political Economy major, also in the College, and the International Economics (IECO) major in the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), with International Political Economy as a further SFS major. At Georgetown you apply directly to one of the undergraduate schools. This guide follows Georgetown’s own pages for fall 2027 entry and speaks to U.S. applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer applicants. This site has a separate guide for business (McDonough), so I do not go further there.

1. Degrees and tracks

• Economics major (College, AB degree): the department page says the AB in Economics “is recognized as a STEM degree” and links to the Office of Global Services STEM OPT list. That is the department’s own wording; I did not read the list.
• Political Economy major (College, AB degree): an interdisciplinary major jointly managed by the Department of Economics and the Department of Government, with 11 courses.
• International Economics major (SFS, BSFS degree): SFS has eight majors, and IECO is one of them; International Political Economy is another. Whether IECO is a STEM major is not stated in the pages I read.
• Honors: the Economics major, IECO and Political Economy each have honors requirements (below).
• Economics minor: the department page lists the minor as open to students in COL, MSB, NHS and SFS; I did not read its requirements.
• BA versus BS: the College’s economics degree is an AB, and the pages I read show no BS version. The department says students who expect to study economics in graduate school should take the full calculus sequence (MATH 1350, 1360, 2370) plus MATH 2250 Linear Algebra and MATH 3310 Analysis I.

2. How admission works: apply to a school, declare in sophomore year

• At application: the admissions page says applicants must apply directly to one of the six undergraduate schools (including the College of Arts & Sciences, SFS and the McDonough School of Business; there are also joint-degree programs), which becomes the academic home.
• College of Arts & Sciences: students interested in humanities and social science majors, including Economics and Political Economy, formally select their major in sophomore year. They enter the College in a pre-major status and are advised by College deans.
• School of Foreign Service: most students declare a major in sophomore year, and applicants are encouraged to indicate a tentative choice. The IECO declaration window is in sophomore year, from after add-drop in September to the Friday before Spring Break.
• Conditions to enter the Economics major: the economics and admissions pages I read do not give a GPA threshold or a cap on the number of majors. This is not published in the pages I read. Ask the department (the page names David Burk as Director of Undergraduate Studies, department email econdesk@georgetown.edu).
• Switching schools internally: not described in the pages I read; see the College’s Undergraduate Bulletin.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school preparation: all applicants are expected to have four years of English, at least two years each of social studies, language and mathematics, and one year of natural science. The College suggests four years of math and at least three of science for science and math majors; the pages list nothing separate for humanities and social science majors, which includes economics. SFS applicants are advised to have a modern language or Latin.
• Economics major (students entering in fall 2024 or later): 11 courses, at least 6 of them taken in the Economics department at Georgetown; the rest can come from transfer credit and AP credit:
  • ECON 1001 Principles of Microeconomics and ECON 1002 Principles of Macroeconomics (2 courses). The combined ECON 1003 can be used instead but requires one extra elective, and students who already have 1001/1002 credit cannot take it.
  • One math course: ECON 1357 Essential Mathematics for Economics (the prerequisite for all 2000-level economics courses) or MATH 1360 Calculus II, including equivalent AP or IB credit.
  • ECON 2101 Intermediate Microeconomics and ECON 2102 Intermediate Macroeconomics.
  • One statistics course: ECON 2110 Economic Statistics or MATH 2140 Intro to Mathematical Statistics.
  • ECON 2120 Introduction to Econometrics, to be completed before the start of senior year.
  • Four economics electives at the 2000 level or above, at least two at the 4000 level.
• Students who matriculated before fall 2024 follow the older version of the major, with MATH 1350 Calculus I as a prerequisite and 30 credits in total.
• ECON 1357: the prerequisite is ECON 1001, 1002 or 1003. The department suggests students who have not taken MATH 1350 and are concerned about their foundation take the math department’s calculus readiness assessment; if it recommends MATH 1350 they may go on to ECON 1357, and if it recommends MATH 1310 they should take that first. Students who have already taken MATH 1360 are advised to take another math course instead.
• Writing and other rules: the major has an integrated writing requirement, and a senior thesis is an option. Economics Internship and Guided Research are variable-credit (1 to 3), Pass/Fail courses open only to Economics majors (College) and IECO majors (SFS), capped at 3 credits in total. Since 2023-24, students may take two economics courses in the same semester starting in sophomore fall.
• Political Economy major (11 courses): three of four foundational Government courses; four economics foundation courses (ECON 2101, ECON 2102 or ECON 2544, ECON 2110 and ECON 2120); four political economy courses (PECO 3010, two electives and the PECO 4980 capstone). The intermediate courses have Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics and Calculus I as prerequisites.
• International Economics major (SFS): prerequisites of Calculus I and II (or AP credit or equivalent) or ECON 1357, plus ECON 1001 and 1002; corequisites ECON 2543 International Trade and ECON 2544 International Finance (ECON 2542 does not count as a corequisite); core courses ECON 2101, 2102, 2110 and ECON 2120 (0–3 credits); three applied courses (at least one an approved 4000-level economics course carrying the IECO Applied attribute); and one senior seminar (IECO 4980 or an approved 4000-level economics course), which must be a different course from the 4000-level applied course. The SFS page lists 3 prerequisite, 6 corequisite, 12 core, 9 applied and 3 senior seminar credits. SFS students also take the SFS core, which the AP table describes as including three economics courses.

4. AP and IB credit

• AP economics: a 5 on Microeconomics earns 3 credits for ECON 1001, and a 5 on Macroeconomics earns 3 credits for ECON 1002. A 5 on both lets you go straight to upper-level courses, and you cannot take 1001, 1002 or 1003. With a 5 on only one exam you normally take the other principles course. Taking ECON 1003 forfeits AP economics credit.
• IB Higher Level economics: a 6 or 7 earns 3 credits each for ECON 1001 and 1002. IB credit is given only for Higher Level, not Standard Level. If you hold both AP and IB credit in one subject, you may apply one, not both.
• Calculus: the admissions credit table says AP Calculus AB with a 5 earns 4 credits for MATH 1350 (Calculus I); BC with a 4 earns MATH 1350 and BC with a 5 earns MATH 1350 and 1360 (8 credits); IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL with a 7 earns MATH 1350. For the SFS International Economics major, AP/IB calculus credit can satisfy the calculus prerequisite. The economics department page, by contrast, says AB or BC scores of 4 or 5 are accepted in place of MATH 1350, which does not match the table’s requirement of a 5 on AB. Check with the department and the registrar.
• Statistics: the economics department says AP Statistics does not let you skip ECON 2110. The SFS credit table says AP Statistics credit may not be applied toward the International Economics major.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Action: November 1 for the application, writing supplement and supporting credentials; decisions by December 15. It is non-binding, but Early Action applicants may not apply to any binding Early Decision program; other non-binding Early Action programs are allowed.
• Regular Decision: January 1; decisions by April 1; the reply date is May 1. The mid-year report is due February 10 and the financial aid application February 1.
• Applications: the Georgetown Application (opens June 1) or the Common Application (opens August 1).
• Application fee: the pages I read state no amount, only that waivers are available. This is not published in the pages I read. Check the application system or admissions.
• Materials: high school transcript and school profile; one counselor letter and one teacher letter (a second teacher letter is optional; teachers should have taught a core subject, preferably in the last two years of high school); the Georgetown Writing Supplement of two 250-word short essays, a 650-word personal or creative essay and a 500-word school-specific essay (the College’s prompt asks about your interest in studying in the College); and an alumni interview (Georgetown aims to offer one to every applicant, assigned as applications arrive; some internationally based students may not be assigned one and are not penalized).
• Testing: SAT or ACT is required: at least one full test, with no superscoring. Georgetown considers only the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections and does not consider the ACT writing section. Official scores come from the testing agency (SAT code 5244, ACT code 0668). Submitting AP scores is highly recommended.

6. By reader

U.S. applicants

• Rounds, materials and testing are the same as above.
• In-state versus out-of-state tuition: the financial aid office’s cost table lists one set of figures and does not distinguish residency. Whether applying from the District of Columbia or your home state affects admission is not published in the pages I read.
• Aid: Georgetown offers only need-based aid and no academic or merit scholarships. It meets 100% of demonstrated need for U.S. citizens and permanent residents through grants, scholarships, employment and federal loans. You file both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile by February 1. Admissions says applying for aid does not negatively affect your chance of admission.

International applicants

• Deadlines are the same as for U.S. applicants (November 1 and January 1). Admissions says citizenship has no impact on the review.
• English proficiency: Georgetown recommends but does not require an English test for students whose school does not teach in English, and accepts Duolingo, IELTS and TOEFL. No score minimums and no waiver conditions are stated in the pages I read.
• Credentials: submit credentials from the whole secondary school experience (for fall 2027, starting from the 2023-2024 academic year). Transcripts in another language need English translations, which the school may provide, accompanied by the originals. Applicants taking A-Levels, the IB or the French Baccalaureate must submit projected or final results sent directly by the school. No credential evaluation service is named in the pages I read.
• Testing exception: international applicants also must submit the SAT or ACT. Only where someone is physically unable to reach a test center can an application be accepted without scores, with an explanation.
• Aid: admitted students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who request aid are considered for a very limited number of need-based scholarships. You indicate your intent on the application and submit the CSS Profile. The aid office says that if you do not receive a scholarship in your first year you will not be offered one later, that any award is re-evaluated each year, and that private education loans may need a U.S. co-signer. Aid decisions are communicated by the first week of April. International transfer applicants are not eligible for need-based aid.
• Visa: after admission, request the I-20 or DS-2019 by following the Office of Global Services instructions.

Applicants from China

• The first-year application page and the international applicants page do not say whether the gaokao is considered, what school-exam records to send, or give any China-specific note. This is not published in the pages I read. Ask Undergraduate Admissions (202-687-3600).
• The international page says only that international applicants follow the same process as U.S. students, send translated transcripts, and submit the SAT or ACT.

7. Costs

• The aid office’s 2026-2027 first-year undergraduate estimate (living on or off campus): tuition and fees $74,732, average housing $13,944, food $8,236, books and supplies $1,000, transportation $780, personal expenses $2,132 and loan fees $40, for a total of $100,864; the total for students living with parents is $87,740. Nursing tuition and fees are slightly higher ($75,091).
• No separate surcharge for the Economics major is listed in the pages I read.

8. Honors, internships and research

• Economics major honors (College): an A or A- in ECON 2101 and 2102, a 3.67 average in economics courses at Georgetown, and three 4000-level electives.
• IECO honors: a thesis based on original research in IECO 4980 in senior year, judged honors quality by the faculty; a major GPA of at least 3.67 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, without rounding up; and an A or A- in ECON 2101 and 2102. The thesis course is open to all IECO majors but is not required, since a 4000-level economics course can be substituted.
• Political Economy honors: a cumulative GPA of 3.33 and a major GPA of 3.67, plus an honors-quality thesis in PECO 4980 with a grade of A.
• Internships and research: the department keeps a list of jobs, internships and research positions that needs a Georgetown NetID (not accessed). Career information is on the Cawley Career Education Center’s Handshake. The department and the Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL) offer a “DC Semester in Economics”: a credit-bearing internship in Washington plus required and elective major courses (fall 2026: Economic Statistics and a Race & Gender in Economics course; spring: Econometrics and an elective).

9. Transfer

• Deadlines: fall 2027 entry, March 1, 2027, with decisions by June 1 and a reply date of June 15; spring 2027 entry, November 1, 2026, with decisions December 1 (the spring round is for first- and second-year students and has no alumni interviews).
• Eligibility: at least one full-time semester after high school (at least 12 transferable credits) and no more than four full-time semesters; students still enrolled in high school dual enrollment apply as first-years. A cumulative B+ average or higher is recommended.
• Apply to a specific major: transfer applicants select a major when applying and apply only through the Georgetown Transfer Application. For the College: rising sophomores are advised to have foundational coursework in the intended major, and juniors some intermediate-level coursework. For SFS: coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics and either statistics or calculus (or AP/IB equivalents) is encouraged.
• Materials: the transfer application and supplement, a secondary school report (at minimum an official transcript), all college transcripts, a Dean’s Report and a Professor’s Report (ideally from your proposed area of study). SAT or ACT is required for applicants who graduated from high school within the past five years. Alumni interviews take place in March and April and are not guaranteed.
• Credit transfer: after admission, the dean’s office of the school you join evaluates credit. Credit for required courses is given if the course is similar to the Georgetown course; grades must be at least one level above the minimum passing grade (C or better for Pass/Fail). The maximum is one-half of the degree credits (60), you must be full time, and you must spend at least four full-time semesters at Georgetown; summer sessions and study abroad do not count toward that.
• Transfer credit into the economics major: the department says that once matriculated, students may transfer a maximum of three courses into the major, including study abroad and summer study. Courses taken abroad may be substituted for ECON 2101, 2102, 2110, 2120 or electives only with department approval beforehand. Asynchronous online courses are not approved. At least six major courses must still be taken in the Georgetown Economics department.
• Aid: international transfer students are not eligible for need-based aid; U.S. citizens and permanent residents have 100% of demonstrated need met.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Apply to the College (Economics) or SFS (IECO); SAT or ACT required, no superscoring; EA November 1 or RD January 1
• Choose a major in sophomore year; Economics needs ECON 1001/1002, 1357 or Calculus II, 2101/2102, 2110, 2120 and four electives
• If you need aid, file the FAFSA and CSS Profile by February 1

International applicants (including China):

• Same deadlines; SAT or ACT required; English test recommended but not required; translated transcripts
• If you need aid, say so on the application and file the CSS Profile; scholarship numbers are very limited
• China: gaokao and school-exam requirements are not published; ask admissions

Transfer applicants:

• Fall entry March 1; choose a major when applying; at least 12 credits and no more than four full-time semesters; B+ recommended; at least four full-time semesters at Georgetown

Sources: Georgetown University, Economics: undergraduate program; Major in Economics (College); Economics honors; Credit outside the department; Political Economy program; Political Economy requirements; SFS: International Economics; Bulletin: International Economics; AP/IB credit; First-year applicants; Application requirements; How to prepare; Academic offerings; International applicants; Admissions: financial aid; Transfer applicants; Transfer requirements; Preparing to transfer; Aid office: cost and aid; Aid office: international students. The transfer page states fall 2027 dates (March 1, 2027); first-year deadlines are not tagged with a year, though the international page uses fall 2027 entry as its example. Check Georgetown for the latest details and confirm the entry year.