Declaring the Major | Progressing in the Major
Description of the Major
As part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business, the economics major fosters an understanding and appreciation of economic forms of explanation and their relationships to other social sciences. The major will provide you with an intellectual foundation for the appreciation and understanding of economic theory and policy that stresses the importance of imaginative thinking, free inquiry and the pursuit of life-long learning. In this way, the program prepares you with the economic literacy necessary to cope with the challenges inherent in a world of accelerating change.
Economics Title are generally educated students, who go on to develop their analytical, investigative and research skills. With this major, you will use your understanding of economics relationships and markets to work for manufacturing firms, financial services firms, consulting firms, the health care industries, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Economists with strong statistical backgrounds conduct research, analyze data and develop forecasts. Students with a good background in this field are competitive in the job market.
Degrees Offered
B.B.A.
B.A
B.S.
Concentrations
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Financial Economics
International Economics
Political Economy
Socioeconomics
Minors
Economics
Declaring the Major
New Freshmen and Transfer Students
Declare the economics major when you register for orientation. If you plan to pursue the B.A. or B.S. degree program, you should also set up an interview with the economics department head during your first semester at JMU.
If you plan to pursue the economics B.B.A. degree program, please scroll down and read the section "Progressing in the Major" to learn about full admission to the College of Business.
Currently Enrolled Major Changers
If you wish to change your major to economics you must be in good academic standing (have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher) on the date you submit a "Change or Declaration of Major" form, which is available in the Academic Services Center located in Zane Showker Hall, room 205.
B.B.A. Degree Program
Declaring a College of Business major does not guarantee full admission to the major. You will not be fully admitted to the major until requirements are met as listed below in the section "Progressing in the Major."
B.A./B.S. Degree Program
Set up an interview with the economics department head, Dr. Ehsan Ahmed, (540)568-3215, ahmedex@jmu.edu. The Economics Departmental office is located in room 434 of Zane Showker Hall.
Progressing in the Major
B.B.A. Degree Admission and Progression Standards
Declaring a business major does not guarantee full admission to the College of Business.
You must formally apply for full admission to the College of Business by submitting an application for admission during the semester in which you are completing the lower-level B.B.A. core courses.
Students are formally admitted into the College of Business as a B.B.A. degree seeking major and permitted to register for COB 300. Integrated Functional Systems when the following requirements are met:
The B.B.A. core GPA is calculated using grades earned in the B.B.A. lower-level core courses excluding calculus (MATH 205 or MATH 235). Only grades earned at JMU will be used. The university policy for calculating repeat-credit and repeat-forgiveness will be followed.
Students with a 2.7 B.B.A. core GPA are assured admission into the College of Business and COB 300. Students who meet all of the requirements above but fail to achieve a 2.7 B.B.A. core GPA will be admitted to the College of Business and COB 300 based on B.B.A. core GPA ranking, and pending resources and space availability.
