The economics degree is a specialized bachelor’s degree earned by students who want to study the management and organization of business. Additionally, the program can be used as a stepping stone for students who want to pursue an advanced business degree in fields like financial management, accounting or marketing.
How to Become a Economist?
- Undergraduate degree in economics
- Graduate degree in economics
- Work experience, including internships and part-time jobs
- Master’s degree (Master of Laws) or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in economics
- Certification: CPA, CIA, etc. (Certified Public Accountant; Certified Internal Auditor; Chartered Insurance Analyst) Professional experience
Economics Courses
At the undergraduate level, you will take courses in the following areas:
- Introduction to Economics
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Statistics
- Finance
Your degree may also include elective courses in specific subfields of economics or other disciplines such as mathematics and statistics. For example, a course on game theory (which considers strategic interactions among rational players) could be offered as an elective for a business economics major.
Economics Degree
Economics is the study of how people, firms and societies choose to allocate scarce resources. It has a large range of applications, from sports teams choosing their rosters to national governments deciding how to spend their budget.
A common misconception about economics is that it’s just about money, but in fact it’s about allocating resources efficiently for the benefit of society as a whole. An economist will help you make better decisions by identifying prices that reflect scarcity and creating incentives that encourage people to work together rather than against each other (like when we pay taxes).
Undergraduate Degree in Economics
An undergraduate degree in economics is a bachelor’s degree. It’s a very popular field of study, with students studying topics ranging from macroeconomic theory to international trade policy to financial management. An undergraduate degree in economics can be earned online or on campus at a community college, university or technical school. This type of education may also be pursued as an associate’s degree program if you plan to transfer into an advanced graduate-level program later on down the road (an MA/MBA).
Graduate Degree in Economics
A Master of Science in Economics is designed for students who want to become professional economists or teach at the college level. This degree is appropriate for students who are interested in a career as an economist and have already completed a bachelor’s degree.
The master’s program requires 30 credit hours, which includes coursework that provides instruction on economic theory and methods, quantitative analysis, econometrics (the use of statistical methods to solve economic problems), labor economics and other topics. Students will also learn how to apply their skills through a capstone project or thesis paper.
The Master of Arts in Economics is geared toward those interested in pursuing careers outside academia—such as government work—or those looking for further study beyond a bachelor’s degree. This program is offered online as well as on campus at various universities across the country such as Harvard University or Columbia University.
Online Economists Degrees
If you’re considering an online economics degree, know that it is a good option if:
- You can’t attend a traditional school. Online degrees have become an increasingly popular option for students who are unable to find time in their busy schedules to attend classes at a brick-and-mortar university. The cost and availability of these programs make them attractive to students working full time or with family responsibilities that prevent them from attending classes on campus.
- You are already working in the field and want to further your education. If you’ve been working as an economist for some time, but don’t have a degree yet, getting your bachelor’s online could be perfect for you!
- You love what you do and want more knowledge about it so that you can grow as an economist and gain more opportunities within the field.
You can pursue specific academic fields with or without a four-year degree
You can pursue specific academic fields with or without a four-year degree. You could get a masters degree in business economics, for example, which is helpful if you are looking to advance in your field and want to become an expert on the subject.
Top Schools Offering Business Economics Degree
The following schools offer the best Business Economics Degree:
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is nonsectarian, but has been historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school was founded by Henry Martyn Conant in 1839 as a Baptist-sponsored institution of higher learning. Today it is one of the largest universities in the United States and has four campuses: two urban campuses (BU East and BU West) and two suburban campuses (BU Dedham, and BU South End).
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Central Washington University is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington, United States. Founded in 1891, Central Washington University is one of the oldest universities in the state and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The school has more than 150 undergraduate majors with nearly 30 areas of study for master’s candidates to choose from. The university also offers doctoral programs through its College of Graduate Studies, which includes departments including business education, communication arts and sciences, communication studies (which includes digital media design), elementary education and curriculum leadership degree completion program that allows students to earn their teaching certificates while they complete their doctorates.
The school’s faculty members have earned several national awards over the years including Distinguished Teaching Awards from Kappa Delta Pi; Outstanding Faculty Awards from both Phi Kappa Phi Lecturers’ Association and Society for Teaching Excellence; Excellence in Scholarship Recognition Award from National Council on Measurement In Education; Outstanding Research Scholarly Contributions Award by Northwest Association for Communication Disorders; Professor of Year by National Collegiate Honors Council (Northwest); Outstanding Service Recognition Award by American Psychological Association Division 50 Section 8 Pacific Northwest Region Chapter members at annual convention held each year during fall semester break week-long event features workshops activities providing information about career paths available support network opportunities available for students who wish pursue careers helping others as well as ways how individuals can improve their own lives community service opportunities throughout region around country world campus focused on global issues facing humanity today
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIV
- Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Cost: $6,972 per year in-state; $22,312 out-of-state (average tuition across all majors)
- Admission Requirements: In addition to the standard application requirements, you must submit two letters of recommendation and a writing sample. The admissions committee looks for strong academic performance in high school courses related to economics and business administration. All applicants are required to take the SAT or ACT exam prior to admission. Acceptance rate for freshmen was 75% for fall 2017 (latest data available).
- Programs Offered: Bachelor’s degrees are offered in business administration with concentrations in accounting; marketing; management information systems; human resources management; international business; real estate development and management; entrepreneurship/small business management
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. It is a senior member of the Illinois State University System and part of the University of Illinois System. It is also affiliated with the Carbondale-based John A. Johnson Foundation and has been accredited by The Higher Learning Commission since 1913. As of Fall 2015, total enrollment was 21,069 on this campus, which is spread over 305 acres (125 ha).
As an academic institution offering graduate programs through its five colleges: arts and sciences; business administration; education; nursing; and applied health sciences
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public research university located in Monroe, Louisiana. It was founded in 1905 as Ouachita Parish Junior College by the Louisiana General Assembly and began offering courses its first year. In 1930, it became the first public institution to offer graduate programs outside of Baton Rouge with the establishment of a Master’s program in education at ULM. Today, ULM has over 18,000 students on its main campus with an additional 7,000-plus students studying at satellite campuses throughout Louisiana and around the world through online courses offered by Global Campus.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
George Mason University is a public research university located in Fairfax, Virginia. Established in 1957 as a branch of the University of Virginia, it became an independent institution in 1972. The university’s motto is “Freedom & Excellence”, and its mission statement includes the following: “George Mason University provides high quality learning experiences that engage students actively to gain knowledge and abilities to further their personal development while advancing scientific understanding of society.”
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
West Virginia University is a public, land-grant, space-grant, research-intensive university. WVU is the state’s flagship and largest university, with a student body of 30,000 and a faculty of 2,000.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in Champaign, Illinois. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system and is commonly known as UIUC or U of I.
UIUC was founded in 1867 under the name “Illinois Industrial University” and adopted its present name that same year after lobbying by state senator Lyman Trumbull and former governor Richard James Oglesby. The University opened its doors to students on March 2nd with a total enrollment of 996 students who were taught by 12 professors; there have been over 100 Nobel laureates produced from this school’s faculty throughout history (including a record 19 winners from 2012). UIUC has also produced more astronauts than any other university in the country: 29 out of 60 total American astronauts are alumni from here!
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Grand Valley State University’s business economics degree is a four-year undergraduate program that requires students to complete 120 credits. The curriculum focuses on acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to understand how businesses operate in today’s marketplace. Students will learn to analyze economic situations, develop strategies for managing resources, manage finances and understand how markets function.
Students who graduate from this program will be able to:
- Apply economic principles in a wide range of business settings;
- Develop solutions that are well grounded in theory;
- Use quantitative methods such as mathematical models;
Students can expect to pay $10,812 per year at Grand Valley State University (without financial aid).
NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Northeastern Illinois University is a public university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1895 as Lind University by John Andrew Lind, a Swedish teacher. In the 1950s, it became known as Northeastern Illinois State College and remained so until joining the University of Illinois system in 1968. The school gained university status in 2011 and changed its name to Northeastern University at Chicago to reflect this change.
Northeastern Illinois University is part of the University of Illinois System and offers bachelor’s degrees through its College of Business Administration.
