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Business Economics

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The Ivy College of Business has partnered with the Department of Economics to offer a Business Economics major.  

Where business studies the organizations and functions that deliver goods and services to customers, economics studies those good and services with respect to production, distribution, and consumption, and the choices we make about how to best utilize the resources we have.

Undergraduate Major in Business Economics

For undergraduate curriculum in business, major in business economics.

Through a partnership between the Ivy College of Business and the Department of Economics, a major in Business Economics is offered.  Students will complete the general education requirements (including business foundation courses), supporting courses/major prerequisites, business core requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, and 19 additional credits in the major.

The objective of the Business Economics major is to provide a high-quality education with a balanced emphasis in both business and economics. Such an education should equip graduates with a unique set of skills distinguishing them from other graduates. In particular, they will have the ability to use both business and economic reasoning to think critically and address complex issues using tools and decision-making models of economics, business, mathematics, statistics, as well as concepts from the biological, physical, and social sciences; to make decisions and to communicate effectively.

For more information on the undergraduate major in Business Economics, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/degree/business-economics/.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, undergraduate students majoring in Business Economics will:

  1. Be effective communicators.
  2. Be effective collaborators.
  3. Be problem solvers.
  4. Understand business concepts.
  5. Recognize ethical and legal responsibilities to organizations.

Curriculum:

In addition to the basic business degree requirements (https://catalog.iastate.edu/collegeofbusiness/#curriculuminbusinesstext), business economics majors must also complete:

Required Courses (10 credits):
ECON 3010Intermediate Microeconomics4
ECON 3530Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions3
ECON 4310Managerial Economics3
Graduating Senior Survey
Elective Courses (9 credits):
Select one course of ECON 2300-2890, 3000-3890, or 4000-48903
Select two additional 4000-4890 level ECON courses6

NOTES:

Business Economic majors must take STAT 3260 Introduction to Business Statistics II as part of the supporting courses.

Business Economic majors take MATH 1600 and ECON 2070 instead of MATH 1500 and MATH 1510.

Students majoring in business economics are not permitted to take agricultural business or economics as a double major, or economics as a minor.

Students are limited to three business majors/degrees/minors within the Ivy College of Business. This limit is on business majors/degrees/minors only and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.

Business Economics, B.S.

Sample 4-Year Plan (Your plan may differ)

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BUSAD 1020 or 10301ACCT 28403
ECON 10103STAT 22603
COMS 11303ENGL 25003
ENGL 15003ECON 10203
MATH 16004HUM/SOC SCI3
LIB 16001BUSAD 20301
 15 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECON 20703PHIL 23003
SPCM 31203STAT 32603
ACCT 28503Business Core Course3
Business Core Course3ECON 30104
Natural Science3Global/International Perspective@3
 15 16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ACCT 21503ECON Elective (2000+ level or above)3
ECON 35303ECON Elective (4000-level)3
Business Core Courses6Business Core Courses6
General Elective3U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)#3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECON 43103ECON 4920R
ENGL 30203ECON Elective (4000-level)3
HUM/SOC SCI3HUM/SOC SCI3
Global/International Perspective@3MGMT 4780*3
Business Core Course3General Electives6
 15 15
Total Credits: 122
@

Courses in these requirements may also be used as Global Perspective.

#

U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) courses may be used to satisfy HUM/SOC SCI.

*

Must have credit or enrollment in all core courses listed above, except for MGMT 3720, plus senior standing, in order to enroll in MGMT 4780.

Graduation Requirements:

        1.  Grade of “C” or higher in at least 30 credits of Core and Major courses.

        2.  42 credits of 3000+ level courses from a four-year institution.

        3.  50% of required Business courses must be earned at ISU.

        4.  At least 32 credits and the LAST 32 credits must be earned at ISU (exceptions for study abroad and internship may be requested).

        5.  122 Credits minimum and a Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 with no quality point deficiencies.

        6.  A grade of C or better in ENGL 2500 required, and also in one other required ENGL course.

        7.  All 3000-level and higher business credits must be earned at a four-year college.

        8.  Multiple business majors must have at least 15 distinct credits in each of the major requirements; when applicable, one course can be shared between business majors; see your advisor regarding multiple business degree requirements.