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Business Economics

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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 (BS) 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.

Students are limited to three business majors/degrees within the Ivy College of Business, or a total of three business majors/minors within the college.  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.

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

Curriculum:

In addition to the basic business requirements, business economics majors must also complete:

Required Courses (10 credits):
ECON 301Intermediate Microeconomics4
ECON 353Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions3
ECON 431Managerial Economics3
ECON 492Graduating Senior SurveyR
Elective Courses (9 credits):
Select one course of ECON 230-289, 300-389, or 400-4893
Select two additional 400-489 level ECON courses6

NOTES:

Business Economic majors must take STAT 326 Introduction to Business Statistics II as part of the supporting courses.

Business Economic majors take MATH 160 and ECON 207 instead of MATH 150 and MATH 151.

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

Business Economics, B.S.

Sample 4-Year Plan (Your plan may differ)

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BUSAD 102 or 1031STAT 2263
ECON 1013ACCT 2843
COM S 1133ENGL 2503
ENGL 1503ECON 1023
MATH 1604BUSAD 2031
LIB 1601HUM/SOC SCI3
 15 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECON 2073PHIL 2303
SP CM 2123STAT 3263
ACCT 2853Business Core Course3
Natural Science3ECON 3014
Business Core Course3Global/International Perspective@3
 15 16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ACCT 2153ECON Electives6
HUM/SOC SCI3Business Core Courses6
Business Core Courses6US Diversity#3
ECON 3533 
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECON 4313ECON 492R
ENGL 3023ECON Elective3
Global/International Perspective@3MGMT 478*3
General Elective3HUM/SOC SCI3
Business Core Course3General Electives6
 15 15
Total Credits: 122

Students must be admitted to the professional program in business to major in business economics.  The requirements to enter the professional program are:

1.  Completion of at least 30 credits, Foundation Courses, ENGL 150, and all ENGL 101/99 courses if required.

2.  A minimum GPA of 2.50 either cumulative or in the Foundation Courses. Early admission is allowed for Honors-eligible students. (See your advisor for specific information)

Graduation Requirements:

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

        2.  42 credits of 300+ 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 250 required, and also in one other required ENGL course.

        7.  All 300-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.