This page is not intended as a substitute for the catalog.
Please consult with your advisor and the catalog for the year in which you were admitted.
As an economics major at JMU, you’ll gain a solid foundation of economic theory and policy that can lead to a wide variety of career options, including financial analysis and trading, consumer advocacy, economic analysis, communications and public administration. Our curriculum will develop your skills in critical thinking, research, writing and analysis. We emphasize a commitment to lifelong learning, which is critical in an ever-changing global economy.
Internships and externships are important steps in preparing for a career in your field of study. They can also enhance your transcript and even be used for academic credit.
Requirements for all ECON degrees:
- ECON 200 – Introduction to Macroeconomics*
- ECON 201 – Introduction to Microeconomics*
- COB 191 or MATH 220 – Statistics*
- COB 291 or ECON 284 – Quantitative Methods
- MATH 205 or MATH 235 – Calculus*
- ECON 284
- ECON 331 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory**
- ECON 332 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory**
- ECON 385 – Econometrics**
- ECON 488 – Senior Capstone Seminar in Economics
- ECON Electives (15 credit hours) Selected in consultation with advisor
- 120 credit hours minimum
- 60 credit hours from a 4-year university
- 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA
- 2.0 or higher major GPA
* Prerequisites for ECON 331, ECON 332 and ECON 385 with minimum of “C”
** Minimum “C” or better required to take ECON 488
Required B.B.A. Lower-Level Core Courses:
- COB 191 – Business Analytics I
- COB 202 – Interpersonal Skills
- COB 204 – Computer Information Systems
- COB 241 – Financial Accounting
- COB 242 – Managerial Accounting
- COB 291 – Business Analytics II
- ECON 200 – Macroeconomics
- ECON 201 – Microeconomics
- MATH 205 or 235 – Calculus
Required B.B.A. Upper-Level Core Courses:
- COB 300A – Integrated Business: Management
- COB 300B – Integrated Business: Finance
- COB 300C – Integrated Business: Operations
- COB 300D – Integrated Business: Marketing
- COB 318 – Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
- COB 487 – Strategic Management
Considerations:
Math 220 (Statistics) may be substituted for:
- COB 191 and MATH 205 are prerequisites for COB 291
- COB 241 is a prerequisite for COB 242
- COB 318 is a prerequisite for COB 487
CoB B.B.A. Acceptance:
Students are formally admitted into the College of Business as a B.B.A. major and permitted to register for COB 300 when the following requirements are met:
- Credit is earned for all nine lower B.B.A. core courses: COB 191, COB 202, COB 204, COB 241, COB 242, COB 291, ECON 200, ECON 201 and Calculus
- No B.B.A. core course is attempted more than twice.
- A 2.7 average GPA is earned in the lower B.B.A. core. Only grades earned at JMU are included in the GPA calculation. Calculus is not included in the GPA calculation.
- A COB 300 application is submitted to the COB Academic Success Center by Nov. 1 for Spring and April 1 for Fall.
The B.A. in economics is intended for students who wish to sharpen their communication and writing skills, especially through a foreign language.
Upper-level economics courses are the same for all three degrees and students are equally prepared to pursue graduate studies.
The differences with the B.A. degree are:
- Foreign language required through intermediate level
- Philosophy course
The B.S. in economics is intended for students who wish to foster their analytical skills.
Upper-level economics courses are the same for all three degrees and students are equally prepared to pursue graduate studies.
The differences with the B.S. degree are:
- Additional quantitative requirement
- Additional scientific literacy requirement
The Department of Economics offers six concentrations:
- The Environmental and Natural Resource Economics concentration is a multi-disciplinary program of study helping students learn how economics can be combined with the hard sciences to analyze environmental and natural resource controversies.
- The Financial Economics concentration provides students with a better understanding of financial markets, corporate finance, personal wealth management and the government’s role in markets.
- The International Economics concentration is designed for students who have a particular interest in learning more about the international economic environment, theory and practice in the international market and careers in global business.
- The Political Economy concentration exposes students to political and economic philosophies and to the consequences of specific public policies, combining political and economic inquiries and approaches.
- The Socioeconomics concentration focuses on how economic activity affects and is affected by social processes.
- The Quantitative Economics concentration is intended for majors who want to strengthen their quantitative skills. It is especially suitable for students going on to graduate study in economics or finance.
Students may select an economics concentration in consultation with an advisor. Courses required in the concentration will satisfy the ECON electives requirement. For specific course listings, refer to the undergraduate catalog.
Optional Pathway (B.B.A.):
First Year: COB 191, COB 204, ECON 200, ECON 201, MATH 2015, GenEd
Second Year: COB 202, COB 241, COB 242, COB 291, GenEd
Third Year: COB 300 A-D, COB 318, ECON 331, ECON 332, ECON 385
Fourth Year: COB 487, ECON Electives, ECON 488, GenEd, Electives
Optional Pathway (B.A. or B.S.):
First Year: ECON 200, ECON 201, Calculus, Statistics, GenEd
Second Year: ECON 331, ECON 332, Foreign Language (B.A.), GenEd
Third Year: ECON 385, ECON Electives, Foreign Language (B.A.), GenEd, Philosophy (B.A.)
Fourth Year: ECON 488, ECON Electives, GenEd, Electives
Doreen Liccione
(540) 568-5012
licciodl@jmu.edu
Advising and Support Center
Phil Heap
(540) 568-3031
heapps@jmu.edu
Department of Economics