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Program of Economics
Learn more about the College of Business.
Bachelor of Arts in Economics |
Dr. Ehsan Ahmed, Director
Phone: (540) 568-3215/(540) 568-3216
E-mail: ahmedex@jmu.edu
Web site: cob.jmu.edu/economics/
Professors
E. Ahmed, W. Fields, R. Horn, A. Kohen, B. Rosser, M. Rosser, W. Wood
Associate Professors
J. Doyle, S. Elwood, R. Jerome, D. Kreutzer, S. Milliman, V. Smith
Assistant Professors
B. Brunton
Instructors
P. Heap, B. O’Roark, D. Stevens
Mission Statement
The Program of Economics is committed to students’ intellectual development by fostering an understanding and appreciation of economic forms of explanation and their relationships to other social sciences. The Program of Economics also stresses the importance of economic explanation by promoting interdisciplinary perspectives. Economics faculty are dedicated to sound and effective pedagogy, to scholarship of the highest quality and to outreach to the local and business community. The department provides an intellectual foundation for appreciation and understanding of economic theory and policy at a level appropriate to each program of study. This foundation is developed within a broader educational perspective that stresses the importance of imaginative thinking, free inquiry and the pursuit of life-long learning. In this way, the program prepares students with the economic literacy necessary to cope with the challenges inherent in a world of accelerating change.
Goals
- Help students to develop analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Promote interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary forms of instruction.
- Seek continuous improvement in the quality of classroom instruction.
- Serve the community cost-effectively through outreach services.
- Help students to pursue careers and additional education.
Marketable Skills
- Analytical thinking capabilities highly valued by business, government and the nonprofit sector.
- Writing and research skills with wide applicability in a variety of careers.
- Statistical and econometric skills used in business and finance.
- Preparation in critical thinking valued by graduate schools, including law, business and arts and sciences.
- Analytical skills valued by employers for internships in business, government and consulting.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
- Economics Club (open membership)
- Omicron Delta Epsilon (national honor society in economics)
Degree and Major Requirements
Economics majors may choose from a B.A., B.S. or B.B.A. degree. The
B.A. and B.S. degrees are traditional liberal arts degrees that lead
to a variety of career and graduate school options; the B.B.A. is designed
to prepare students for careers in business administration.
The B.B.A. degree in economics requires a minimum of 120 credit hours
of undergraduate work. Fifty percent of this work, 60 credit hours,
must be taken outside of the College of Business.
In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, B.B.A. students
may include all hours taken in General Education (usually 41), up to
a total of nine hours in economics (GECON courses must be counted as
economics) and three hours of COB 191, Business and Economic Statistics.
The remaining hours must be taken from any department outside the College
of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives
to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers
and personal lives.
Each economics major must participate in assessment to graduate. Assessment
is conducted in the required 401 class.
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
The minimum requirement for a B.A. degree in economics is 30 credit hours of economics, including 16 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of electives.
Degree Requirements
Required courses |
Credit Hours |
General Education 1 |
41 |
Foreign Language classes (Intermediate level required) 2 |
0-14 |
Philosophy course(s) (In addition to General Education courses) |
3 |
Major requirements (listed below) and electives |
63-74 |
120 |
|
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements
each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill
these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may
be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the
intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically
232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign
Language’s placement test.
Major Requirements
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
3 |
|
Economics electives (at least six credits must |
15 |
|
|
30 |
|
For a B.A. degree in economics, students must complete the foreign language and philosophy requirements found on Page 31. Also, all students must complete the General Education program described on Pages 61-71.
Recommended Schedule for B.A. in Economics Majors
First Two Years
During the first two years, students should complete most of the General
Education program and the following required courses in economics:
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics
Other required course work that should be completed during the freshman or sophomore years includes:
COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics
CIS 301 Information Technology Tools and Methods
MATH 205. Introductory Calculus I
MATH 235. Analytic Geometry and Calculus
Third and Fourth Years
B.A. economics majors should complete ECON 331, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and ECON 332, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, by the end of their junior year. While most majors will complete the 400 level requirements in economics during their senior year, students may take a 400-level course during their junior year if the prerequisite for the course has been met.
First Year |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
3-4 |
|
|
General Education courses, free electives and |
9 |
|
|
15-16 |
|
First Year |
Credit Hours |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
|
General Education courses, free electives |
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics |
3 |
CIS 301. Information Technology Tools and Methods |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
3 |
|
|
|
General Education courses, economics elective, |
7 |
|
|
16 |
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one from the following: |
3 |
|
|
General Education courses, economics elective, |
9-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
0-3 |
|
|
|
Economics electives |
3-6 |
| General Education courses, free electives and |
3-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
0-3 |
|
|
| Economics electives |
3-6 |
| General Education courses, free electives and |
3-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
Economics electives (400 level) |
3-6 |
General Education courses, free electives and |
9-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
Economics electives (400 level) |
3-6 |
|
General Education courses, free electives and |
9-12 |
|
|
ECON 401 Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
15 |
|
Bachelor of Science in Economics
The minimum requirement for a B.S. degree in economics is 30 credit hours of economics including 16 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of electives.
Degree Requirements
Required courses |
Credit Hours |
General Education 1 |
41 |
Mathematics course 2 |
3 |
Social science or natural science course(s) |
3-4 |
Major requirements (listed below) and electives |
73-77 |
120 |
|
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 In addition to course work taken to fulfill General Education requirement.
Major Requirements
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
3 |
|
Economics electives (at least six credits must |
15 |
|
|
30 |
|
For a B.S. degree in economics, students must complete six credit hours of math and an additional three to four credit hours in either the social or natural sciences. Information on these degree requirements is found on Page 31. Students must also complete the General Education program requirements described on Pages 61-71.
Recommended Schedule for B.S. in Economics Majors
First Two Years
During the first two years, students should complete most of the General Education program and the following required courses in economics:
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics
Other required course work that should be completed during the freshman or sophomore years includes:
COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics
CIS 301 Information Technology Tools and Methods
Choose one of the following:
MATH 205. Introductory Calculus I
MATH 235. Analytic Geometry and Calculus
Third and Fourth Years
B.S. economics majors should complete ECON 331, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and ECON 332, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, by the end of their junior year. While most majors will complete the 400 level requirement in economics during their senior year, students may take a 400-level course during their junior year if the prerequisite for the course has been met.
First Year |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
3-4 |
|
|
General Education courses, free electives and |
9 |
|
|
15 |
|
First Year |
Credit Hours |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
| General Education courses, free electives and B.S. |
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics |
3 |
CIS 301. Information Technology Tools and Methods |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
3 |
|
|
| General Education courses, economics elective, |
7 |
|
|
16 |
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one from the following: |
3 |
|
|
General Education courses, economics elective, |
9-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
0-3 |
|
|
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
|
Economics electives |
3-6 |
| General Education courses, free electives and |
3-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
0-3 |
|
|
| Choose from the following: |
|
|
0-3 |
| General Education courses, free electives and |
0-9 |
|
|
15 |
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
Economics electives (400 level) |
3-6 |
General Education courses, free electives and |
9-12 |
|
|
15 |
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
Economics electives (400 level) |
3-6 |
|
General Education courses, free electives and |
9-12 |
|
|
ECON 401 Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
15 |
|
Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics
The minimum requirement for a B.B.A. degree in economics is 30 credit hours of economics including 19 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of electives. B.B.A. students also complete the core business requirements outlined on Page 163. The credit hour requirements for each of the components are as follows:
Degree Requirements
Required courses |
Credit Hours |
B.B.A. core courses1 |
44-45 |
Economics major requirements |
24 |
Free electives 2 |
3 |
General Education courses 3 |
44-45 |
Non-business electives4 |
4-8 |
120 |
|
1 Up to seven credit hours of core requirements in economics
and calculus may also be taken for General Education credit. Students
who take the General Education packages and courses recommended by the
College of Business will have only 38 credit hours of additional B.B.A.
core requirements.
2 Any course offered by the university.
3 The General
Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill.
The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may
vary.
4 May include no more than one 200-level economics course in addition
to ECON 201, GECON 200 and any other course(s) not offered by the College
of Business.
Major Requirements
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 345 Industrial Organization |
3 |
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
| ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
Economics electives (at least three credits must
be at |
12 |
30 |
|
The B.B.A. degree in economics requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work. Fifty percent of this work, 60 credit hours, must be taken outside of the College of Business. In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, B.B.A students may include all hours taken in General Education (usually 41), up to a total of nine hours in economics (GECON courses must be counted as economics) and three hours of COB 191, Business and Economic Statistics. The remaining hours must be taken from any department outside the College of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.
Recommended Schedule for B.B.A. in Economics Majors
First Two Years
Students planning to major in economics must complete the 29- to 30-hour, lower-division B.B.A. core curriculum on Page 160 prior to enrolling in upper-division core courses, normally taken in the first semester of the junior year. It is expected that the lower-division core curriculum will be completed during the first two years of study along with all, or most, of the university General Education curriculum. Failing to complete all lower-division core requirements on time will delay enrollment in upper-division core and major courses until at least the second semester of the junior year.
Third and Fourth Years
Economics majors will follow the course schedule below to complete the final two years of their program. It is possible to deviate from this program but care must be taken to ensure that all course prerequisites are met.
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
COB 300A. Integrated Functional Systems: Management |
3 |
COB 300B. Integrated Functional Systems: Finance |
3 |
COB 300C. Integrated Functional Systems: Operations |
3 |
COB 300D. Integrated Functional Systems: Marketing |
3 |
| Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
Choose one of the following (if not completed): |
3 |
|
|
| Economics electives |
3 |
| General Education or non-business electives |
6 |
15 |
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
Economics elective |
3 |
Economics elective (400 level) |
3 |
General Education or non-business electives |
6 |
15 |
|
Concentration
Concentration in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Microeconomics |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 305. Environmental Economics |
3 |
ECON 340. Natural Resource Economics |
3 |
| ECON 385. Econometrics |
0 |
One 200- or 300-level economics elective |
12 |
One 400-level economics elective |
3 |
ECON 490. Special Studies in Economics |
3 |
ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
Other required courses (pick one option) |
3-4 |
Option A (for students with specific interests |
|
|
|
41 |
|
Option B
(for students with a more general interest in |
|
GEOG 210. Physical Geography and Lab |
4 |
GEOG 240. Natural Resource Conservation |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
2-3 |
|
|
39-40 |
|
Concentration in Financial Economics
The minimum requirement for a B.A., B.S. or B.B.A. degree in economics with a concentration in financial economics is 24 credit hours of required economics courses and 12 credit hours of required finance courses (in addition to the other requirements for these degrees described on the previous page).
Required Economics Courses |
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 372. International Finance |
3 |
ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
| ECON 430. Monetary Theory and Policy |
3 |
Economics elective (400 level, not including |
3 |
|
|
ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
24 |
|
Required Finance Courses |
Credit Hours |
FIN 345. Managerial Finance 1 |
3 |
FIN 360. Money and Capital Markets |
3 |
FIN 365. Intermediate Finance |
3 |
FIN 380. Elemental and Derivative Securities |
3 |
12 |
|
1 May be taken as a part of COB 300.
Concentration in International Economics
Students who elect a major in economics (B.S., B.A. or B.B.A.) with a concentration in international economics are required to complete the following courses:
|
Credit Hours |
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) |
3 |
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory |
3 |
ECON 370. International Trade |
3 |
ECON/FIN 372. International Finance |
3 |
| ECON 385. Econometrics |
3 |
Choose two of the following: |
3 |
|
|
Two 400 level economics electives |
6 |
ECON 401 Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
30 |
|
In addition, students completing this course of study must have a genuine international experience (such as an internship or semester abroad) and must complete a foreign language through the civilization course, including all of the prerequisites for that course.
Concentration in Socioeconomics
Students who elect a major in economics with a concentration in socioeconomics are required to complete the following courses:
Choose four of the following: |
Credit Hours |
ECON 301. Economies in Transition |
3 |
ECON 306. The Economics of Women and The Family |
3 |
ECON 360. Labor Economics |
3 |
ECON 365. Economic Development |
3 |
ECON 382. Urban Economics |
3 |
ECON 460. Human Resources |
3 |
| Choose four of the following: |
3 |
GANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology |
3 |
SOCI 236. Race and Ethnic Relations |
3 |
SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies |
3 |
SOCI 337. Sociology of Gender |
3 |
SOCI 339. Sociology of Women |
3 |
SOCI 344. Work and Society |
3 |
SOCI 345. Sociology of Occupations and Professions |
3 |
SOCI 346. Leisure in Contemporary Society |
3 |
Two 400-level economics electives |
6 |
ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics |
0 |
30 |
|
Minor Requirements
Economics Minor
The minimum requirement for a minor in economics is 18 credit hours in economics, including ECON 201, Principles of Economics (Micro); GECON 200, Introduction to Macroeconomics, and at least six credit hours of either 300- or 400-level economics courses. Students may not receive credit towards the minor in economics for both ECON 270 and ECON 370.
Preparation for Graduate Study in Economics
While not formal requirements, students intending to pursue graduate work in economics are encouraged to select as many of the following courses as possible:
|
Credit Hours |
ECON 431. Advanced Microeconomic Theory |
3 |
Choose one of the following: |
3 |
|
|
ECON 484. Mathematical Economics |
3 |
MATH 235-236-237. Analytic Geometry and Calculus I-II-III |
12 |
| TSC 210. Introduction to Technical and Scientific Communication |
3 |
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations |
4 |
MATH 318. Introduction to Probability Theory and Statistics |
4 |
MATH 336. Elementary Differential Equations |
3 |
PHIL 250. Introductory Logic |
3 |
Credit by Examination
Credit in ECON 201, Principles of Economics (Micro) will be granted to students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test in Microeconomics administered by the Educational Testing Service. Credit in GECON 200, Introduction to Macroeconomics will be granted to students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test in Macroeconomics.
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Publisher:
JMU
Academic Affairs
MSC 8002, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
For more information contact:
JMU Catalog Office at
ug-catalog@jmu.edu
Copyright © 2004 James Madison University. All rights reserved.
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