BA Degree with Emphasis in Economics
Mission: The mission of the economics program is teaching and instruction, supported by faculty involvement in basic and applied research as well as research that supports the teaching mission. The economics faculty is committed to offering a high quality baccalaureate economics program that provides students with not only a broad general education background but also a thorough professional education. The economics program offers courses in the University's general education program as well as required and elective courses in other programs on campus, including those offered by the School of Business.
Learning objectives for the economics concentration:
- find facts and interpret them consistent with economic thinking;
- demonstrate an understanding of how decision makers allocate scarce resources to achieve economic efficiency;
- apply economic tools to analyze decisions made by consumers, firms, and policy makers; and
- use economic models to analyze the impact of various fiscal monetary, and trade policies on a nation's economy.
University Requirements
1. Six hours of English Composition (EN 101 Freshman Composition & EN 300 Advanced Composition).
2. Two hours of Physical Education (PE 198 Lifetime Wellness)*.
3. Three hours of Mathematics (MA 116 College Algebra). MA 116 is a prerequisite for EC 211 Statistics for Business and Economics.
4. Completion of the 102 level course, or the equivalent**, in one of the languages offered by the Department of International Studies.
General Education Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree
Each candidate for the degree is required to complete the following:
· A minimum of 124 hours, 84 of which must be graded and 40-45*** of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.
· Eighty-four hours must be outside of the major discipline.
· Candidates must also complete a minimum of 99 hours of credit in courses that either are offered in the College of Arts and Sciences or would normally be taught by a discipline in a college of arts and sciences. (Technical courses do not count towards degree.)
· Fifteen hours in Arts and Humanities with at least 3 of those hours selected from the areas of Art, Music, or Theatre. The remaining credit hours from at least two other disciplines.
· Twelve hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The credit hours must include courses from at least two disciplines other than Mathematics and MA140 Statistics (prerequisite to EC211).
· Fifteen hours in Social Sciences. No more than 6 hours may be counted for General Education credit from any one discipline.
· Completion of the 102 level course, or the equivalent**, in one of the languages offered by the Department of International Studies. Course work taken to fulfill this requirement may not be applied toward general education requirements for the B.A. degree.
Degree Requirements: BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS
Each candidate for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in economics must meet the University requirements for the degree in addition, offer at least twenty-four (24) hours in economics. At least fifteen of the twenty-four hours offered for the major must be represented by courses numbered 300 or above. The following courses must be included within the twenty-four hours: Economics 201, 202, 211, 300 and 301. A grade point average of 2.0 is required before enrollment is permitted in Economics 300 and 301.
Candidates for the degree are encouraged to elect courses in mathematics, political science, history, sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Students planning graduate study in economics are strongly urged to take the BA degree with a minor field of concentration in mathematics.
*The exception to this requirement is Washburn students who completed an associates degree under a catalog prior to 1995 (when the PE 198 Lifetime Wellness requirement was initiated) satisfied the previous PE requirement as part of their associates degree program, and are therefore granted a waiver of the PE 198 requirement. Transfer students who completed associates degrees prior to 1995, and who completed at least two hours of physical education as part of their associates degree program, are also granted waiver of the PE 198 requirement.
**Equivalents of the course work are defined as follows: 1) successful completion of a similar course of study in a foreign language taken at an accredited post-secondary institution. 2) successfully challenging the departmentally administered 102 level examinations or a score of "4" or higher on the AP or CLEP foreign language examinations. (Native speakers of any of the languages taught by the department may not receive credit for any 100 level courses). 3) acceptance into a regular credit-bearing academic program of study by students whose native language is not English.
***40 hours is required in the catalog years up to the summer of 2003, beginning with the Fall 2003 catalog students must have 45 hours of upper division.
Minor in Economics
The minor in Economics can be earned by candidates for any bachelor's degree offered by Washburn University. The economics faculty has approved the following requirements for the optional minor: (1) Economics 200 and 201, (2) nine hours of economics courses numbered 300 or above, and (3) an approved course in statistics.
Honors in Economics
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Economics, may qualify for Honors in Economics provided the following criteria are met:
- Accumulate a GPA of at least 3.50 in all economics courses applied to the BA degree, and
- Demonstrate superior research and/or independent study skills while enrolled in Economics 405, and
- Be approved for honors designation by a two-thirds vote of the School of Business faculty.
In fulfilling conditions (2) and (3), the stuent will be expected to provide any academic data requested and to provide the School with an extra copy of written work prepared for credit in Economics 405. Written notice of intent to graduate with honors must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Dean, School of Business early in the semester in which the student expects to graduate.
For help in determining your degree track please make an appointment with an advisor every semester. Freshman and Sophomore students should visit with Stacy Woltje.
