The Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics offers a major for students seeking a business orientation in their study of economics. It does not replicate the traditional undergraduate business school curriculum. Instead, it offers a more tightly focused curriculum that is guided by the rigorous logic and integrative perspective of economics. It is designed to prepare students for graduate education in business, economics, and law. The program requires students to include specific courses offered by the department and the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Business Economics major, students will have achieved the following learning objectives:
- Understanding, through application of microeconomics, of the interaction of individuals and organizations in markets; and of the role of public policy in shaping those interactions
- Understanding, through application of macroeconomics, of the functioning of market economies at regional, national, and global levels; and of the role of public policy in shaping those interactions
- Understanding and application of accounting principles to analysis of business problems
- Acquisition and use of data to evaluate hypotheses with tables, charts, and statistical analyses
- Use of appropriate analytical perspectives and approaches to frame problems involving the interaction of people, organizations, markets, and society; identify effective strategic approaches to problem solving; and gather and organize key information to facilitate problem solving
Major Requirements
Courses
- Prerequisite Course Guide (PDF)
- Course Descriptions
Additional Important Information
English Comp 131B
English Comp 131B, a required course for Business Economics majors, is restricted to students in their final quarter. To reserve a seat for English Comp 131B, students must finalize their Degree Expected Term (DET) by February 1st for the following academic year. Writing Programs will provide seats for the academic year, according to what your set DET is by this date. Please note, English Comp 131B is not restricted in the summer so you may choose to take it then, space permitting.
Applying for the Major
All students interested in the Economics and the Business Economics major should be on the Econ-Alert.
For information on how to declare Pre-Business Economics, please visit our Declare Our Majors page.
To apply for the Business Economics major, you must have completed the Pre-Major Courses and you must be on the Econ-Alert. An email notice about the application is sent out in the form of an Econ Alert during the first three weeks of each regular quarter and during the first three weeks of Summer Session A. Notification of acceptance into the Business Economics major will be provided approximately two weeks after the week three deadline — also in the form of an Econ Alert. Students are asked to submit an application only if they meet all the application criteria. Please note that there are specific applications for non-transfer and transfer students, so be sure to complete the appropriate application.
STEM Certification
Please Note: The Bachelor of Arts in Economics is now classified as a STEM major (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics). This change is in effect for students with a Degree Expected Term of Fall Quarter 2019 or later. It does not apply retroactively. Also note that the degree designation remains a “Bachelor of Arts.”
