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How hard is econometrics? Should i take it or not?

I am trying to decide if i want to do econometrics 2 module at uni and was wondering how doable it is considering everyone says it is very hard and mathematical. I am decent at maths, but not a wizz so I was wondering if anyone had advice on whether to take it or not. I wanted to take it if I can manage it so that it will look good to employers ie investment banks for ib, trading etc but also want to ensure that I don't sabotage myself as I want to get high marks .

This is the module content:

Week 1: Introduction and preliminaries reviewing linear regression models,
OLS assumptions, properties of OLS estimator, hypothesis testing.
• Week 2-3: Stationary time series covering time series data, autocovariance,
autocorrelation, stationarity, forecasts, autoregressive models, autoregressive
distributed lag models, Granger causality, information criteria, empirical
examples.
• Week 4-5: Nonstationary time series covering nonstationarity, stochastic and
deterministic trends, random walk, integration and cointegration, tests for unit
root, cointegration, and breaks, empirical examples.
• Week 6-7: Regression analysis with panel data covering panel data, fixed
effects regression, time fixed effects regression, hypothesis testing,
confidence interval, empirical examples.
• Week 8-10: Regression modelling with a binary dependent variable covering
binary dependent variables, linear probability model, probit and logit
regressions, maximum likelihood estimation, inference, empirical examples.

Please could someone advise. Many thanks.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Investment banks hire classics and anthropology graduates alongside economics graduates for graduate analyst roles. They don't care whether you studied econometrics or not.

I suspect if you are not confident in your mathematical ability (which, given you are questioning whether to take it, you evidently are not) it's probably best to skip.

Also be practical - if you aren't confident in your mathematical skills do you want to take a course relying on it, to hypothetically pursue a career predicated on those exact skills? That makes no sense. Do what you are good at, then follow that into a career doing what you are good at.

Reply 2

UEA Rep Grace

Original post

by happygirl04

I am trying to decide if i want to do econometrics 2 module at uni and was wondering how doable it is considering everyone says it is very hard and mathematical. I am decent at maths, but not a wizz so I was wondering if anyone had advice on whether to take it or not. I wanted to take it if I can manage it so that it will look good to employers ie investment banks for ib, trading etc but also want to ensure that I don't sabotage myself as I want to get high marks .
This is the module content:
Week 1: Introduction and preliminaries reviewing linear regression models,
OLS assumptions, properties of OLS estimator, hypothesis testing.
• Week 2-3: Stationary time series covering time series data, autocovariance,
autocorrelation, stationarity, forecasts, autoregressive models, autoregressive
distributed lag models, Granger causality, information criteria, empirical
examples.
• Week 4-5: Nonstationary time series covering nonstationarity, stochastic and
deterministic trends, random walk, integration and cointegration, tests for unit
root, cointegration, and breaks, empirical examples.
• Week 6-7: Regression analysis with panel data covering panel data, fixed
effects regression, time fixed effects regression, hypothesis testing,
confidence interval, empirical examples.
• Week 8-10: Regression modelling with a binary dependent variable covering
binary dependent variables, linear probability model, probit and logit
regressions, maximum likelihood estimation, inference, empirical examples.
Please could someone advise. Many thanks.

Hi,

I wasn't confident in my maths/science skills AT ALL and ended up taking a course with an econometrics module. I was absolutely fine! I would just say make sure you check how the module is graded. A closed book exam is going to be a lot harder than an open book or an assignment. Stuff like time series is used in a lot of industries so I would definitely recommend taking it, but knowing how you'll be assessed will help you evaluate whether you can get those high marks or not.

Good luck! Let me know if you've got any other questions.

Reply 3

BenRyan99

Careers Forum Helper

Original post

by happygirl04

I am trying to decide if i want to do econometrics 2 module at uni and was wondering how doable it is considering everyone says it is very hard and mathematical. I am decent at maths, but not a wizz so I was wondering if anyone had advice on whether to take it or not. I wanted to take it if I can manage it so that it will look good to employers ie investment banks for ib, trading etc but also want to ensure that I don't sabotage myself as I want to get high marks .
This is the module content:
Week 1: Introduction and preliminaries reviewing linear regression models,
OLS assumptions, properties of OLS estimator, hypothesis testing.
• Week 2-3: Stationary time series covering time series data, autocovariance,
autocorrelation, stationarity, forecasts, autoregressive models, autoregressive
distributed lag models, Granger causality, information criteria, empirical
examples.
• Week 4-5: Nonstationary time series covering nonstationarity, stochastic and
deterministic trends, random walk, integration and cointegration, tests for unit
root, cointegration, and breaks, empirical examples.
• Week 6-7: Regression analysis with panel data covering panel data, fixed
effects regression, time fixed effects regression, hypothesis testing,
confidence interval, empirical examples.
• Week 8-10: Regression modelling with a binary dependent variable covering
binary dependent variables, linear probability model, probit and logit
regressions, maximum likelihood estimation, inference, empirical examples.
Please could someone advise. Many thanks.

Two things - econometrics is the easier mathematical content in economics (I'm sure you'll be fine), secondly IB's couldn't care less whether you've done econometrics (or an economics degree for that matter).