What Is Economics?

Economics is not really about wealth or money or how the stock market works. We do study those things, but that’s not the heart of the matter. Economics tells us the logic of human action. It is the logic of business management and of riches and poverty. It is even the logic of love and marriage, of war and peace.

Economics is a way of thinking. Game theory started as a branch of economics. (Game theory was recently made famous by the movie "A Beautiful Mind.") It is now used in a many areas. It is used in business, political science, and biology. And speaking of biology... It was an economist who inspired Darwin's theory of evolution. These examples show that economics is a powerful way of thinking, a way of thinking that applies well beyond the world of business and finance.

Why Study Economics?

An economics major from Becton College gives you an arts and sciences degree with a business-related major. This can be an especially powerful combination if you add in a business minor. Economics is a challenging major and people know it. An economics degree shows that you have mastered a difficult subject. It shows that you have what it takes to get the job done.

Economics gives you tools of analysis. These tools let you understand human interactions in many social settings. For some, business is the social setting of interest and an economics degree is a ticket to a successful management career. Others are interested in social problems or politics. Your interest might be poverty or the environment. It might be inflation and sound money. It might be joblessness and homelessness. Whatever your interests, the economics major give you the keys to the operation of the "real world." Economics tells you how markets operate and how change happens. That is useful knowledge when technology is speeding ahead and the globe is shrinking. As a citizen, the economics major leaves you well informed. When launching a career, the economics major leaves you well trained. When planning for change, the economics major leaves you well armed.

What do you do after graduating with your economics degree? Whatever you like! Some of our economics majors go into business management. Others start businesses of their own. Still others go on to law school or to graduate studies in business, economics, public policy, or other social sciences. All have benefited from our curriculum in economics and our liberal arts core.

Do I Need a Graduate Degree or MBA?

With a degree in economics, you're good to go into a wide variety of jobs. An undergraduate economics degree may be followed by an M.B.A. or an M.A. or Ph.D. in economics. An M.A. or Ph.D. in economics may be necessary to be an economist for a government agency or a Congressional committee.

What about a Double Major?

Glad you asked. The B.A. in economics allows plenty of free electives – enough in fact that you can double major, choosing from among many disciplines. See some examples below.

Degree Requirements

To major in Economics you must complete between 30 and 42 credits in economic theory. Economics majors can also apply finance and accounting courses toward their major requirements. Becton College core courses in the arts and sciences comprise an additional 35-50 credits. The remaining credits (48-63) are free electives.

Students can use free electives to gain a second major or one or more minors. A second major requires that you complete 30-42 credits in another discipline. A minor requires 18-24 credits. With a little planning, you can build an exciting course of study and a strong resume. You should discuss the options with our admissions counselors or your academic advisor.

Required Courses

• Introduction to Microeconomics
• Introduction to Macroeconomics
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• US Economic History
• History of Economic Thought
• Econometrics 

Concentrations and Double Majors

Use your free electives wisely to expland your repetoire, your resume, and your horizons! Concentrate your free electives in an area to build a minor such as pre-law or history, math or marketing, psychology or sociology. Why not, in fact, pick up a second major?