Why are most seats in 300-level classes reserved for sophomores and juniors?
Most seniors have satisfied the prerequisites for 400-level electives in economics, but most sophomores and some juniors have not. If seniors and advanced juniors fill the 300-level courses, then less-advanced students cannot progress toward a major in economics. One of the purposes of 300-level courses is to provide students who are not concentrators, and therefore have not completed 400-level prerequisites, an opportunity to study economics. In many cases, the department offers courses on a particular topic (such as international economics or environmental economics) at the 300-level and at the 400-level. Once a student has completed the 400-level prerequisites, the student should plan to take the 400-level courses designed for concentrators.
