Economics

J. Horowitz, Chairperson

bsu.edu/economics

Economics studies how markets coordinate the activities of people and societies as they make the best use of scarce resources.  Economics provides a framework to analyze a wide variety of issues in business, society and politics. For example, economists study everything from business, politics, health, education, poverty, and the environment. Economics majors excel in careers in business, government, law, and education.

The Department of Economics offers courses in a variety of topics including microeconomics, macroeconomics, money and banking, public finance, labor economics, health economics, international economics, economic development, game theory, and econometrics. Economics majors often double major in related fields such as accounting, actuarial science, finance, management, marketing, mathematics, and political science. For information on the many careers available to economics majors and minors, go to the departmental Web site www.bsu.edu/economics.

Students majoring in economics may choose from three concentrations and an interdepartmental major in mathematical economics.

• Business concentration: Designed for students planning careers in business especially in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. This option requires completion of the core business classes and students can choose from a wide variety of economics classes.

• Financial analyst concentration: Designed for students planning careers in financial portfolio management. The Department of Economics is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) recognized department. This option requires completion of the core business classes and students specialize in classes on money and banking and finance.

• Liberal arts concentration: Students in this concentration have three options 1) general economics, 2) law and economics and 3) financial economics. This concentration does not require completion of the core business classes and students can choose from a wide variety of economics classes based on the option they choose.

• Mathematical economics: This interdepartmental major is offered in conjunction with the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Mathematical economics prepares students for careers as economic analysts and for graduate work in economics or related fields. A mathematical economics major also facilitates a double major in either mathematical economics and actuarial science or mathematical economics and mathematical sciences (See Interdepartmental Programs).

Minors in economics are available to majors in the Miller College of Business and all other majors throughout the University. Students in the Social Studies Teaching Major may also select economics as a licensing area.