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 majors 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
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.
Currently Enrolled Major Changers
B.B.A. Degree Program
If you wish to change your major to economics, you must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.500 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.A./B.S. Degree Program
Submit a "Change or Declaration of Major" form to the economics department head in Zane Showker Hall, room 433 and set up an interview with the economics department head. You will also need to bring a copy of your unofficial transcript to this meeting.
Progressing in the Major
B.B.A. Degree Admission and Progression Standards
Students who entered JMU in 2006-07 and 2007-08 must meet the following standards in order to be admitted to the College of Business and COB 300.
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to either the College of Business or the economics major. Final admission decisions are based upon resources. Students should consult the JMU Undergraduate Catalog (for their class year) in order to make sure that they are thoroughly familiar with the progression and admission standards.
Students who entered JMU in 2008-09 or later must meet the following standards in order to be admitted to the College of Business and COB 300.
To be considered for admission to the College of Business and COB 300, declared business majors must complete the ten 100 and 200-level Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) core courses by the end of their sophomore year (including summer session) with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.800. Specific information about the progression standards associated with each of the first two years of study is provided below, followed by detailed information about applying for, and gaining, admission to the College of Business and COB 300 after the sophomore year of study. In addition, students should consult the JMU Undergraduate Catalog (for their class year) in order to make sure that they are thoroughly familiar with the progression and admission standards.
Freshmen
Freshmen must complete four of the following five courses by the end of their freshman year and achieve at least a cumulative GPA of 2.500 by the end of the spring semester of the freshman year in order to continue as a business major for their sophomore year:
Any student who has a cumulative GPA below a 2.400 at the end of the spring semester of the freshman year will be referred to Career and Academic Planning for assistance in selecting a new major outside the College of Business. A student with a cumulative GPA between 2.400 and 2.499 at the end of spring semester of the freshman year will be given the summer to achieve the 2.500 cumulative GPA required to continue as a business major for the sophomore year.
Sophomores
Students who have met the required cumulative GPA of 2.500 will be permitted to register for the remaining core courses shown below, and whichever one of the previous five B.B.A. core course that was not taken during the freshman year:
Admission to the College of Business and COB 300
Students who entered JMU beginning fall semester 2008 or later, must meet all of the following requirements in order to be admitted to the College of Business and COB 300:
B.A. and B.S. Degree Admission and Progression Standards
Progressing in the Major
Students wishing to pursue a B.A or B.S. degree program in economics must be formally admitted to the program in order to enroll in required core courses (ECON 331, ECON 332 and ECON 385). In order to be admitted, you must meet all four of the following criteria:
In addition, students should consult the JMU Undergraduate Catalog (for their class year) in order to make sure that they are thoroughly familiar with the progression and admission standards.
