Two degrees in economics are offered: the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts.

Both degrees are designed to offer the student flexibility in fashioning the major. Students are taught to think critically about typical issues faced in business and social policy and how to analyze their implications. Emphasis is placed on exposing the student to decision-making tools used in a variety of career paths. All economics majors are required to take at least 36 hours of economics courses.

Economics is also considered to be a traditional pre-law degree since students with an economics degree enter law school with well-refined analytical tools and an ability to think critically. The Wall Street Journal has quoted Edward Tom of UC Berkeley School of Law as stating that “of all the majors, economics ranks in the top four or five consistently year after year for both applications and offers made. Logical reasoning and analytical skills are critical to legal studies.” Furthermore, research has shown that economics majors tend to perform well on the LSAT exam. Research published in the Journal of Economics Education reports that of the 14 majors that had more than 2,000 students taking the exam, economics students received the highest average score in both of the time periods studied.

 

Bachelor of Science

There are three curricular tracks offered for the Bachelor of Science in Economics, each of which has a different emphasis. The first track, Business Economics Concentration, focuses on economics while requiring students to take supporting courses in accounting, finance, computing, and statistical methods. It is designed to prepare students for analytical positions in a variety of businesses.

The second track, the Public Policy Concentration, allows students to study Economics while focusing on public policy and social issues. Economics is combined with Political Science and Sociology to provide a Liberal Arts orientation.

The third track, the Bachelor of Science degree without a specific concentration, provides the most flexibility in both course work and career choices.

• Course Descriptions and Advising Sheets

Bachelor of Arts

There is one curricular track offered for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in International Economics. This concentration provides a wide-ranging international experience. As part of this program, the student is required to take international economics courses, the International Studies Minor, and a foreign language as a requirement of the BA degree. In addition, Longwood's Office of International Studies offers many study-abroad experiences that complement this major.

• Course Descriptions and Advising Sheets

Minor in Economics

The College of Business and Economics offers a minor in Economics.

To be admitted to the Economics minor, students must earn at least a 2.33 cumulative GPA and complete ECON 217 & 218 with at least a 2.33 minor GPA. Students should apply for admission to the Economics minor during the semester in which they meet the admission requirements (Oct. 15 for fall semester and March 1 for spring semester).