Bachelor of Arts
with a major in
Economics
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Shelby Frost, Faculty Advisor
See the Advisement website

Choices and consequences

“In all recorded History there has not been one economist who has had to worry about where the next meal would come from.” – Peter Drucker

Economics involves deciding the best way to use resources – whether money, people, land or machines – and it’s great preparation for a variety of careers. If you’re interested in…

• knowing about how the economy works – and why sometimes it doesn’t
• developing a better understanding of how the international economy affects businesses in the United States
• how the ups and downs of Wall Street affect you
• pursuing a master’s in business administration or law degree
• a career that places you at the heart of the global economic action

then economics is the major for you!

Economics is about important and interesting stuff.

Economics majors learn how to analyze complex questions relevant to business, government, and nonprofit organizations. We have entire courses devoted to the important and controversial issues of today, including globalization, welfare reform, environmental problems, health care for the poor and elderly, school privatization, arts and entertainment, and urban issues like congestion and race. Among the many other topics discussed in economics courses are the minimum wage, recessions, unemployment, inflation, racial and gender discrimination, taxes, crime, the distribution of income, housing policy, the Federal Reserve System, economic growth, Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid… and the list goes on.

Still think economics sounds boring? Think again. Upper
division classes cover “realworld” questions such as:

• How do we affect the environment through our living habits? How can we promote economic development while maintaining the quality of the environment? What policies best protect the environment?
• Why have inner-city areas declined in economic prosperity while suburban areas grow in wealth? What can we do about urban sprawl? How can cities balance economic development with quality of life? How do governmental policies influence the way cities grow?
• Are there still gender and racial income gaps? What can government do about it?
• What can leaders of developing countries do to speed up economic growth?
• What are the economic characteristics of huge cultural industries such as sports and entertainment?

Where are the jobs?

Employers and graduate schools find the techniques used in economic analysis extremely useful. So economics majors have all kinds of careers. In the private sector, economists are employed in economic and marketing research firms, management consulting firms, banks, securities and commodities brokerages, and computer and data-processing companies. Economics graduates also work at all levels of state and federal government. Economists hold positions at non-profit organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations. Recent Georgia State graduates have gone to work for IBM, Bank of America, Georgia state government, Wachovia Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the National Wildlife Federation. Several students have been admitted into excellent Ph.D. programs, and some students have pursued advanced degrees in law, medicine or business.

Show me the money!

Data show that economics majors have higher earning potential than other business or social science majors. A recent U.S. Census Bureau study showed that college graduates who majored in economics were among the highest-paid employees, with the field ranking as the third most lucrative major. CNN ranked economics as one of the top 10 most-sought majors by employers, with an average salary offer of $40,000!

The Personal touch

Georgia State’s Department of Economics is dedicated to helping you meet your educational goals, and it shows:

• Omicron Delta Epsilon is a national honor society open to students majoring in economics with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Students majoring in economics are invited to participate in the Economics Club. Its goals are to build collegiality between economics majors and to support all students taking economics courses and considering a career as an economist or in a related field.
• Our Office of Academic Assistance is available to answer questions about classes, course schedules, and registration.
• Students can get help with their economics studies free of charge in our tutoring lab.
• Our Freshmen Learning Communities make it easier for you to register for courses tailored to particular topics, and give incoming freshmen a chance to take a common set of core courses together with other students who share the same interests.
• The Environmental Policy Program has two experimental economics laboratories.

The curricula

The Department of Economics is housed in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, and offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science degree in economics. The B.A. includes a foreign language requirement and 24 hours of coursework in the major area. The B.S. requires a mathematics component and 24 hours of coursework in the major area. Students seeking B.A. or B.S. degrees in economics may choose any recognized Georgia State major as a minor field (15 hours of coursework). A bachelor of business administration degree in economics is also available through the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Students in this program take a business-related core curriculum and 21 hours of economics coursework. Also, by selecting certain combinations of upper level economics courses, students (both economics majors and non-majors) can earn a certificate in one or more of several different concentrations, including International Economics, Development Economics, Public Policy, Human Resource Economics, The Economics of Urban Growth and the Quality of the Environment, Business Policy Analysis, Economic History, and Analytical Economics.

Read more about degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Economics, or see the Georgia State Undergraduate Catalog.

Who we are

Georgia State’s Department of Economics has won national acclaim for its insightful research into practical economics topics. Its concentrations in environmental and labor economics, urban and regional economics, and public finance are setting new academic standards in programs of study that combine solid research with practical policy education. The department features innovative research resources, and maintains a strong disciplinary approach to policy analysis.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

As one of the six colleges at Georgia State University, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is home to two departments, Economics, and Public Administration and Urban Studies. Students also have the opportunity to work with several active research centers, whose programs foster excellence in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policy. These centers include the Environmental Policy Program, the Fiscal Research Center, the International Studies Program, and the Georgia Health Policy Center. Faculty in these centers work closely with local, state, national, and international organizations to provide the solid information needed to address today’s complex policy issues. Governments and the private sector now turn regularly to these centers for advice.

Questions?

For more information, contact the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ Office of Academic Assistance at:

Office of Academic Assistance
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
Telephone: (404) 651-3504
Fax: (404) 651-3536
Email: ayspsacademicassist@gsu.edu

Professor Shelby Frost, Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Economics
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
Tel: (404) 651-4224
Email: sfrost@gsu.edu
Advisement website