Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
The program leading to the B.A. degree is designed for students who wish to combine fundamental training in economics with a liberal arts education. In addition to the general education and related requirements, students have in excess of forty credit hours of unrestricted electives.
Economics students are taught to identify the costs and the benefits of a decision, which are often not obvious. The economist has the skill to identify the real consequences of a decision. That skill is valued highly in many aspects of business and government. Economics is a useful major for anyone interested in a career in banking, business, foreign service, law, public policy, and any other field in which the ability to make or analyze decisions is important. The demand for people with degrees in economics, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, is high. In recent years firms such as Amazon and Microsoft have hired a number of economists to improve pricing, strategy, and evidence-based decision-making within the company.
All students must earn at least one minor to earn the degree. For more information, please consult the list of available minors and their requirements. Please note that a student may not earn a minor in their major field.
Faculty
Chair
- Feng Yao - Ph.D. (Oregon State University)
Theoretical Econometrics, Applied Econometrics
Professors
- Roger Congleton - Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
Public Economics, Public Choice, Constitutional Political Economy - Joshua Hall - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Public Economics, Public Choice, Urban and Regional Economics - Brad Humphreys - Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University)
Urban and Regional Economics, Sports Economics - Jane Ruseski - Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University)
Health Economics, Sports Economics - Feng Yao - Ph.D. (Oregon State University)
Theoretical Econometrics, Applied Econometrics
Assistant Professors
- Nathaniel Burke - Ph.D. (University of Arkansas)
Experimental Economics, Economics of Education, Group Identity - Cathleen Johnson - Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic and State University)
Experimental Economics, Economic Education - Kole Reddig - Ph.D. (Carnegie Mellon University)
Health Economics, Industrial Organization, Applied Microeconomics - Palak Suri - Ph.D. (University of Maryland)
Urban Economics, Labor Economics
Adjunct Professors
- David Martinelli - Ph.D. (University of Maryland)
- Victor Chow - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
- Randall Jackson - Ph.D. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- Alicia Plemmons - Ph.D. (Georgia State University)
- Brad Price - Ph.D. (University of Minnesota)
- Peter Schaeffer - Ph.D. (University of Southern California)
- Paul Speaker - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
- Heather Stephens - Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
- Meg Tuszynski - Ph.D. (George Mason University)
Service Associate Professor
- Edward Timmons - Ph.D. (Lehigh University)
Labor Economics, Health Economics
Professors Emeriti
- Brian Cushing
- Stratford Douglas
- Clifford Hawley
- Ming-jeng Hwang
- Patrick Mann
- William Reece
- Tom Witt
Admissions for 2025-2026
For specific information regarding the admissions requirements for First Time Freshmen to the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, please visit Chambers admissions.
Students who are direct admitted to the major as first-time freshmen must possess an overall university GPA of at least 2.5 and have completed the course prerequisites listed in the table below with minimum grade of C-, unless otherwise noted, to be eligible to enroll in upper-division course work.
Students who are not direct admitted to the major (i.e. Business) will declare the major during the semester in which they satisfy the course prerequisites listed below. Applicants also must possess an overall GPA of at least 2.5 to be considered for admission to the major.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BCOR 121 | Introduction to Business Applications | 2 |
| ECON 201 & ECON 202 | Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics * | 6 |
| ECON 225 | Elementary Business and Economics Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
| Accelerated Academic Writing | ||
| Choose one of the following; a minimum of D- is needed in MATH 150, MATH 154, or MATH 155 | 3-6 | |
| Algebra with Applications and Applied Calculus | ||
| Pre-Calculus Mathematics and Calculus 1 | ||
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | ||
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 17-23 | |
- *
At minimum, one B- and one C- are required in ECON 201 and ECON 202 for admission to the program.
- **
A minimum grade of D- is required in MATH 150 for admission to the program. A grade of D- in MATH 154 or higher college calculus course also satisfies the calculus requirement for admission to the program.
Major Code: 2138
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of upper-division coursework in economics. Additional recommended courses can be taken in consultation with an adviser.
- Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. Economics majors are required to take ECON 482 in order to satisfy the Capstone requirement.
- Writing and Communication Skills: Economics Bachelor of Arts students fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103) and BCOR 299.
- Calculation of the GPA in the Major: Economics majors must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in all Economics Major Requirements coursework and earn a grade of C- or better in ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 425. Students must receive a D- or higher in MATH 150.
- Minor: All B.A. in Economics students must have a minor.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 55 | |
| Economics Program Requirements | 17 | |
| Economics Major Requirements | 48 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 2, 5, 6, and 7 | 13 | |
| BCOR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 41 | |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
Economics Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BCOR 199 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| BCOR 121 | Introduction to Business Applications (Minimum Grade of C-) | 2 |
| BCOR 299 | Business Communication | 3 |
| Select one of the following (Minimum Grade of C-; may fulfill GEF 1): | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
| Accelerated Academic Writing | ||
| Select one of the following; minimum grade of D- in MATH 150, MATH 154 or MATH 155 (may fulfill GEF 3): | 3-6 | |
| Algebra with Applications and Applied Calculus | ||
| Pre-Calculus Mathematics and Calculus 1 | ||
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | ||
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Economics Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Economics Courses | 18 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics (Minimum Grade of one B- and one C- in ECON 201 and ECON 202; may fulfill GEF 4) | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics (Minimum Grade of one B- and one C- in ECON 201 and ECON 202; may fulfill GEF 4) | ||
| Elementary Business and Economics Statistics (Minimum Grade of C-) | ||
| Intermediate Micro-Economic Theory (Minimum Grade of C-) | ||
| Intermediate Macro-Economic Theory (Minimum Grade of C-) | ||
| Introductory Econometrics (Minimum Grade of C-) | ||
| Economics Electives | 12 | |
Select 12 hours of Economics at the 300 or 400 level | ||
| Required Minor | 15 | |
All B.A. Economics majors must complete a minor | ||
| Capstone Requirement | 3 | |
| Applied Economic Research | ||
| Total Hours | 48 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BCOR 199 | 3 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| BCOR 191 | 1 | ECON 201 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| BCOR 121 | 2 | GEF 2B, 5, 6, or 7 | 3 |
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | General Elective | 6 |
| GEF 2B, 5, 6, or 7 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 202 | 3 | BCOR 299 | 3 |
| ECON 225 | 3 | ECON 301 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | Economics Elective | 3 |
| GEF 2B, 5, 6, or 7 | 3 | Minor Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 302 | 3 | ECON Elective | 3 |
| ECON Elective | 3 | Minor Elective | 3 |
| Minor Elective | 3 | General Elective | 9 |
| GEF 2B, 5, 6, or 7 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 425 | 3 | ECON 482 | 3 |
| Minor Elective | 3 | ECON Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 9 | Minor Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 6 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Area of Emphasis
Law and Economics Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 425 | Introductory Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 441 | Public Economics | 3 |
| ECON 443 | Law and Economics | 3 |
| ECON 445 | Government and Business | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
*Economics electives exist now in the plan of study. Those wanting to do this AoE will take these four classes to fulfill their major.
Major Learning Outcomes
Economics
Upon successful completion of the B.A. degree, Economics majors will be able to:
- Explain definitions and interpretations of macroeconomic data.
- Analyze the causes and consequences of unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and monetary and fiscal policy.
- Diagram market equilibrium and predict the impacts of exogenous changes on equilibrium outcomes for individuals, firms, and markets.
- Assess the efficiency of competitive market outcomes relative to alternative arrangements.
- Evaluate the theoretical and empirical literature on an economic topic in written form.
- Produce an original research report that formulates a research question, proposes a methodology to answer that research question, and interpret the results' statistical significance and economic importance.