Economics: Programs: Economics: Four Degree Options

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Economics: Four Degree Options

Four degree options... giving you more flexibility to tailor your Economics degree to your needs.

Undergraduate advisor: Shelby Frost

	Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics (B.A.)	Bachelor of Arts with a major in IEML (B.A.)	Bachelor of Science with a major in Economics (B.S.)	Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A./offered through the Robinson College of Business)
Freshman/Sophomore Years (60 hours)
Areas A-E*	Approximately the same requirements across all degrees (identical number of hours required).
Area F	Econ 2105, Econ 2106 Math 1070 1000/2000 Elective 2 Foreign Language classes in a sequence	Econ 2105, Econ 2106 Math 1070 1000/2000 Elective 2 Intermediate Foreign Language classes in a sequence	Econ 2105, Econ 2106 Math 1070 1000/2000 Elective Math 2211, 2212	Econ 2105, Econ 2106 CIS 2010 BusA 2106 Acct 2101, 2102
Junior/Senior Years (60 hours)
Major Courses	Econ 3900, Econ 3910, Econ 4999 15 Hours of 4000-level Economics electives (5 classes)	Econ 3900, Econ 3910, Econ 4600, Econ 4800, Econ 4810 9 Hours of 4000-level Economics electives (3 classes)	Econ 3900, Econ 3910, Econ 4999 15 Hours of 4000-level Economics electives (5 classes)	Econ 3900, Econ 3910, Econ 4999 12 Hours of 4000-level Economics electives (4 classes)
Minor (B.A. & B.S.) or Business Core (B.B.A.)	Minor: Choose 15-18 hours of classes concentrated in one department other than economics (9 hours must be at 3000/ 4000 level)	No minor required	Minor: Choose 15-18 hours of classes concentrated in one department other than economics (9 hours must be at 3000/ 4000 level)	Business core: DSc - 6 hrs Fi - 3 hrs Mgt - 3 hrs Mk - 3 hrs Communication - 3 hrs
Areas H and I	Policy/ Business - 6 hrs Unrestricted - 12-15 hrs (6 hrs must be at 3000/ 4000 level)	Modern Languages core - 24 hrs in either French, German or Spanish Unrestricted - 12 hrs at 3000/ 4000 level	Policy/Business - 6 hrs Unrestricted - 12-15 hrs (6 hrs must be at 3000/ 4000 level)	Business - 9 hrs Arts & Sciences - 9-12 hrs

* Areas A-F refer to the requirements for the Undergraduate "Core Curriculum" as required by the University. Please check your General Catalogue (in the index under "core curriculum") for a complete description of the courses required during your Freshman and Sophomore years. (See Georgia State Undergraduate Catalog)

The Main Difference Between the Degree Options is whether you complete a "minor" in courses other than economics (BA/BS), or a modern languages core (BA-IEML), or the "business core" (BBA). The minor requires a concentration of coursework in an area of your choice outside of economics. The modern languages core requires intensive study in either French, German, or Spanish. The business core requires coursework in a broad number of business-related topics such as accounting, marketing, and finance. The difference between the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees is that the BA degree requires two foreign language classes in Area F, while the BS degree requires two math classes instead. All degrees require the same number of hours for graduation (120 hours).

How to Choose? Consider your goals.

There are no hard-fast rules. Clearly, your academic interests should play a key role in your choice of a degree, as well as your choice of a major. Below, is some information based on career goals that may be helpful.

Joining the Workforce: Employers are looking for bright, motivated people who can learn quickly. The best way to signal a potential employer that this describes you is to earn a high GPA, no matter what degree you choose to earn. In addition, involving yourself with extra-curricula activities such as internships can be very helpful.
Law School: Students entering law school typically hold an undergraduate BA or BS degree. For example, of a recent class of students entering GSU's Law School, approximately 90% had a BA or a BS degree.
MBA: About 40% of MBA students at GSU hold undergraduate BBA degrees. In addition to good grades, work experience is an important plus for admission to an MBA program.
MA/MS in Economics: About 83% of students entering the MA/MS in Economics program at GSU have a BA or a BS degree. The BS degree, focusing a little more heavily on math than the BA degree, is helpful preparation for graduate-level work.
MS in a specialized business field: 60% of students getting a MS in a specialized business field (such as accounting, real estate, and computer information systems) hold a BBA degree.
PhD: Almost 85% of students entering the Ph.D. program in economics at GSU held undergraduate BA or BS degrees. However, it is important to note that no matter which degree you choose, it is very important to have the appropriate number of math courses completed (at a minimum, three semesters of calculus). It is easier to obtain the recommended level of math within the 120 hours need for graduation with a BS or BA degree.

What have recent GSU economics majors done??

Recent graduates with a BBA degree have accepted positions with Arthur Andersen (a top-three consulting firm) in their Valuation Services Group and have been accepted to the Ph.D. program in economics at the University of Georgia and GSU.

Recent graduates with BA/BS degrees have accepted positions as: Financial Analyst, Hatfield Philips Incorporated (a real-estate financing firm); Financial Analyst, SunTrust Bank, Inc; General Manager, Def Jam South (recording label). They have also been accepted to Law School at the University of Pennsylvania and to the Ph.D. programs in Economics at the University of North Carolina and GSU.

NEED MORE INFORMATION? Call your Student Advisement Center adviser (404-463-9500), or call Academic Assistance (404-651-3504) and ask for Sue Fagan or Wanda Cooley.