B.B.A. in Economics
Harrisonburg, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 6,434 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* in-state tuition fee | $15,076: out-of-state tuition fee. Additional fees may apply
Introduction
Economists are invaluable because of their ability to use reasoning and data analysis to study the full range of human activity and their expertise in understanding the material world.
As a JMU economics major, 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.
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 students 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 lifelong 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.
Economics majors have generally educated students, who go on to develop their analytical, investigative, and research skills. With this major, students will use their 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.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
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.
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 an 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 a minimum of “C”
** Minimum “C” or better required to take ECON 488
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
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.
Concentrations
The Department of Economics offers six concentrations:
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – This concentration focuses on the conservation and stewardship of healthy and sustainable ecosystems.
- Financial Economics – This concentration provides students with a better understanding of financial markets, corporate finance, personal wealth management, and the government’s role in markets.
- International Economics – This 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.
- Political Economy – This concentration exposes students to political and economic philosophies and to the consequences of specific public policies, combining political and economic inquiries and approaches.
- Socioeconomics – This concentration is designed for students who want to better understand how to think analytically about issues of justice and how perspectives on justice can be joined with the pursuit of it.
- Quantitative Economics – This concentration is intended for majors who want to strengthen their quantitative skills.
Students may select an economics concentration in consultation with an advisor. Courses required in the concentration will satisfy the ECON electives requirement.
Optional Pathways
- 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
Minors
- Economics Minor
Career Opportunities
A successful career and a meaningful life is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an internship, a great first job or a top graduate school appointment, JMU Dukes make their dreams ignite. You will, too.
Here are current openings available to JMU students.
Job titles held by some of our graduates
- Consultant
- Financial Analyst Investment Banker
- Pension Fund Manager
- Portfolio Analyst
- Portfolio Manager
- Pricing and Cost Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- Bank Examiner
- Financial Manager Bank Manager
- Financial Product Designer
- Rate Analyst Financial Risk Manager
- Real Estate Analyst
- Budget Analyst
- Real Estate Consultant
- Real Estate Developer Commodities Trader Underwriter
- Research Analyst
- Consultant Risk Consultant
- Controller
- Investment Analyst
- Loan Officer
- Securities Trader Credit Analyst
- Credit Manager
Scholarships and Funding
Madison awards more than 400 one- to four-year scholarships each year to incoming students. The primary criterion for merit-based scholarships is exceptional academic performance. Other selection criteria may include leadership, involvement, and career goals.
The Madison Scholarships Hub is the application center for all JMU Foundation scholarships at James Madison University. To access the Madison Scholarships Hub, log in to MyMadison. Under the Applicant tab, click on the Madison Scholarships Hub logo.
All students are encouraged to fill out the General Application in the Madison Scholarships Hub to be considered for various scholarship opportunities. Qualifications for the majority of our scholarships are based on the General Application information as well as information pulled directly from your admissions application.
Review the criteria carefully for any recommended scholarship opportunities you are presented with and if you meet the qualifications, click apply to submit the additional required information. Deadlines vary across departments so be sure to complete the General Application as soon as possible to receive full consideration. Some scholarship opportunities become available starting in the fall while others open later so be sure to check back in January, February and March.
Accreditations
English Language Requirements
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