Economics, BA

Program Description:

Economics is a social science that studies how people manage resources and how they can make the best use of available resources. Economics majors learn to make decisions that are vital to the success of government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits.

An economics degree is widely regarded as one of the most versatile of all collegiate majors. Economics students are well prepared for a wide array of occupations, giving them many career options and tremendous flexibility on the job market. This versatility is especially valuable in a constantly changing world and is demonstrated by our graduates’ ability to be placed and pursue careers in many occupational fields including economics, government, financial services and banking, marketing and demand forecasting, management, analytics, and supply chain management. Some graduates pursue graduate studies in economics, business, law, or public administration.

Economics students learn a logical and ordered way of looking at problems faced by individuals, private organizations, government, and society. The field of economics teaches students critical and analytical skills that are valued by most professions. Studying economics also exposes students to a broad spectrum of economic and social issues, providing a valuable perspective to their professional and personal lives.

Economics graduates are able to make or help make most of the key administrative decisions that are faced by modern government and business organizations. Examples include: leading a cultural nonprofit to maximize its community impact; balancing resources for a county’s poverty programs; improving the production efficiency of a small business; or initiate a large company’s effort to identify new markets for its products.

Candidates for a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in economics are required to take a minimum of 33 credit hours in the Department of Economics. Basic courses are supplemented by economics electives. A grade of C or higher must be earned in EC 2040 and EC 2050 prior to registering for 3000-level courses.

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 39 Hours

Element One: 6 Hours

Element Two: 4 Hours

Required:

MTH 2280 - Business Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4

Element Three: 6 Hours

Element Four: 3 Hours

Element Five: 6 Hours

Required:

EC 2040 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3 or
EC 2050 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3

Element Six: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

Required: Select either

EC 2040 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3 or
EC 2050 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
(one course: 3 hours) not taken for Element Five

II. Departmental Requirements: 33 Hours

EC 3010 - Economics of Global Money Markets Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 3150 - Intermediate Microeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 3170 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 3190 - Institutional Economics Credit Hour(s): 3
EC Electives Credit Hour(s): 21

III. Related Requirements: 13 Hours

MTH 1280 - College Algebra Credit Hour(s): 4
PLS 3100 - Quantitative Methods in Political Science Credit Hour(s): 3 (College Requirement, Research Methods)
Two 3000 or 4000 level courses in one area: PLS, PSY, SOC, GEO, ATH, HST, URS Credit Hour(s): 6

IV. College Requirements: 15-19 Hours

Foreign Language

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language: 12-16 Hours

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other. Students taking American Sign Language should be advised that ASL 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 meet for (4) rather than (3) credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3

V. Electives: 16-20 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.