What is the Senior Project?
What are the Options for Fulfilling the Senior Project?
Important

What is the Senior Project?

The College of Liberal Arts, of which the Department of Economics is a unit, requires students to write at least one paper in their major field -- most likely, during their senior year. The goal of the College is to have every student produce a significant piece of written work in the subject matter of the major. This project should demonstrate that the student can think critically and creatively; can gather, recognize, and interpret data; can solve problems; can interpret and communicate findings; and can attain understanding and proficiency in the modes of inquiry common to the discipline.

For the senior project paper, the Department of Economics asks that students be able to:
a. define an economic problem;
b. review some relevant literature related to the problem;
c. use economic data and analysis to describe or explain the problem; and
d. present a conclusion or resolution.

Note that survey papers are not acceptable. You must make some contribution to the field of study.

What are the options for the Senior Project?

You have four options to complete the major project requirement:

1. Most students register for Econ 3951 (2 credits). Students must receive a grade of A or B. Students choosing this option need to register for Econ 3951 if the instructor is going to help them write a paper to fulfill the Senior Project requirements. When the requirement is fulfilled, the instructor fills out the Senior Project Verification Form and gives the student a grade at the end of the semester. Grades are submitted to the Registrar’s office and the Senior Project Verification Form is submitted to the student’s CLA Student Community.
2. If a student undertakes an Independent Study (up to 3 credits of Econ 3991) supervised by an instructor and receives a grade of A- or better, the student can submit the original paper to the Senior Project instructor for review. If the paper is accepted, the student is exempt from writing the senior project paper. The student does not need to register for Econ 3951. Please contact the Senior Project instructor.
3. If a student receives a grade of 90/100 or more on a paper written for an Economics Writing Intensive class, the student can submit the original paper to Senior Project instructor for review. If the paper is accepted, the student is exempt from writing the senior project paper. The student does not need to register for Econ 3951. Please contact the Senior Project instructor.
4. If a student completes an Honors Thesis (3 credits or more) and receives an A grade, the student can submit the original paper to Senior Project instructor for review. If the paper is accepted, the student is exempt from writing the senior project paper. The student does not need to register for Econ 3951. Please contact the Senior Project instructor.
   

For Options 2, 3, and 4, the paper must be examined examined by the Senior Project instructor to see if it fulfills all the Senior Project requirements. It should be at least 10-12 pages long with economic analysis. If your paper has an A- or better grade (at least 90/100), and is deemed acceptable, you will be exempt from the Senior project.
NOTE: Students who register for Econ 3951 must write a new paper. Students cannot use a paper from another course. If you do so, you will receive an “F” for the course, and will be reported to CLA for scholastic dishonesty.

The Senior Project instructor submits the Senior Project verification form to CLA for each unregistered student who has fulfilled the requirement. It is the duty of students to contact the instructor and make sure this is done on time.

All University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus students are required to take at least two upper-level Writing Intensive courses. Students may find EngC 3027W to be helpful in developing their writing skills. Students who choose this course should take it at least one semester before writing the Senior Project Paper.


Important!

Students who register for Econ 3951 must write a new paper. Students cannot use a paper from another course. If you do so, you will receive an “F” for the course, and will be reported to CLA for scholastic dishonesty.