Economics to Allow Cum Laude Without Thesis

In an effort to increase the number of students receiving honors, the economics faculty has approved a plan to allow concentrators to graduate cum laude without writing a senior thesis.

According to Professor of Economics Gary Chamberlain, the full faculty of the economics department yesterday endorsed a "no-thesis alternative based on additional coursework" for those wishing to graduate cum laude.

The proposal now must be approved by the Education Policy Committee (EPC) before it becomes official policy, according to Andrew Metrick, assistant professor of economics and the department's head tutor. The EPC will consider the proposal on April 9, Metrick said.

This "advanced course track" which would substitute for the senior thesis consists of a class in econometrics and a writing course, Metrick said. Theses will still be required for those wishing to graduate magna or summa.

"I hope that we'll draw more people who are right now non-honors," Metrick said. "I think it would be difficult to interpret this as a watering-down. The fact that econometrics is going to be required is if anything a beef-up."

The unanimous decision came after 45 minutes of discussion, Metrick said.

"I fully support [the proposal]," said Jason M. Sobol '97. "It still allows for people who decide to write a thesis to graduate with some sort of superior distinction."

An earlier proposal by the Economics Department's Student Advisory Committee would have allowed students to graduate magna cum laude without writing a thesis.

According to Chamberlain, discussions at the faculty meeting about removing the thesis requirement for magna honors were "inconclusive."

The issue "might come up again," Chamberlain said.

"I like the proposal better the way it was," Nayantara D. Hensel '97 said. "I think that people are basically now going to have to make the choice to do recruiting and not do magna and summa or not do recruiting and write a thesis and have a chance at getting magna or summa."

David R. Hirsch '97 said that he thought that the proposal might help those writing theses since there would be less competition for advisors.