Economics (ACCT, AGEC, BADM, ECON, ENTR, MGMT)

Eluned Jones Department Head
Jason Zimmerman, Assistant Department Head
Department of Economics
Scobey Hall 138
605-688-4141
e-mail: eluned.jones@sdstate.edu
jason.zimmerman@sdstate.edu
http://www.sdstate.edu/econ/

Faculty

Professor Jones, Head; Professors, Cumber, Diersen, Fausti, Janssen, Klein, Langelett, Lyons, O’Brien, Pflueger, Santos, Van der Sluis, Warmann, Zimmerman; Professors Emeriti Allen, Dobbs, Greenbaum, Kim, Lamberton, Lundeen, Murra, Peterson, Shane, Taylor, Thompson; Associate Professors Adamson, Davis, Gustafson, Qasmi, Taylor; Assistant Professors Chang, Miller, Wang; Instructors, Heller, Koch, Kuhl, Meyer, Swain,Wipf; Field Specialists Davis, Gessner, Guthmiller.

Programs

The Department of Economics offers course in Accounting (ACCT), Agricultural and Resource Economics (AGEC), Business Administration (BADM), Economics (ECON), Entrepreneurial Studies (ENTR), and Management (MGMT). These programs provide students with experience in agribusiness, agricultural finance, banking, business finance, business management, entrepreneurship, farm and ranch management, marketing, public service, research, sales, and related fields.

The Department of Economics’ teaching objectives are to:

present the economic principles necessary for understanding the complexities of the global economy;
educate students to apply economic concepts and techniques for decision-making in agricultural business, agricultural and resource economics, economics, business, and entrepreneurship; and,
provide a foundation for graduate work in economics, agricultural and resource economics, business administration, management, finance, law, entrepreneurial studies and other related areas of study.

The Department of Economics offers majors leading to a:

Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.
Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a Business Specialization from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurial Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences.

The major in Agricultural and Resource Economics provides a rigorous education in economic theory and quantitative methods applied to agriculture and resource management. Students develop analytical and critical-thinking skills, and are well prepared for careers in agricultural policy analysis, natural resource stewardship, or future graduate study. The curriculum emphasizes economic theory, agricultural economics, quantitative methods, and agricultural and biological science electives.

The major in Agricultural Business prepares students to excel in the challenging environment of the modern agricultural industry. Graduates are creative, adaptable, and well educated in economics and management. The program combines education in management and economics with a solid technical knowledge in production agriculture and skills in problem solving. The curriculum emphasizes economic theory, agricultural business management, quantitative methods, and agricultural and biological science electives.

The major in Economics provides rigorous training in economic theory and quantitative methods. Students develop analytical and critical-thinking skills, and are well trained for careers in policy analysis, business, or for future graduate study. The major allows students to customize their program of study tailored to their interests by choosing electives from economics, business, accounting, agricultural economics, or entrepreneurship or a Business Economics Specialization . Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in economics or related fields are well prepared with an economics degree.

The major in Entrepreneurial Studies is designed to enhance entrepreneurial talent by providing students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to create value for society. Curricular and extracurricular opportunities in the program train students to think creatively and develop the ability to be innovative. Students acquire the abilities to understand business structure and finances, comprehend advanced market and business planning strategies, and discover alternative methods to raising capital to finance innovative ideas. They apply these concepts through writing business plans, presenting their ideas to professionals, and starting their own ventures. Students may be interested in starting a new business or growing an existing business, working independently as a creative artist or inventor, consulting or management of an organization, development, sales, or marketing of new products.

Minors

The following minors are available through the Department of Economics: Accounting , Agricultural Business , Agricultural Marketing , Economics , Entrepreneurial Studies , and Management . A minimum GPA of 2.0 over courses taken in the minor is required for each departmental minor.

Certificates

The Entrepreneurship Certificate offers specialized courses enabling individuals to gain the skills to start their own businesses and pursue entrepreneurial product and service development ideas. All courses are offered through interactive video at networked sites across South Dakota and are scheduled during evenings and/or weekends. The courses are usually four to six weeks long and offer a practical side of the different aspects of entrepreneurship.

The Agricultural and Environmental Law Certificate program provides an opportunity to learn about a variety of legal concepts while achieving a 15-credit certificate. The program focuses on legal issues that arise in agriculture, rural communities, and the food industry. Legal concepts pertaining to water quality, land-use and other environmental concerns will also be studied to help students appreciate the challenges of directing immediate and long-term implications of food production, renewable energy and an expanding population. The goal of the program is to provide undergraduate students an opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of the laws that may impact their careers and personal activities.

Accelerated Master’s Program

The Department of Economics offers an accelerated Master’s program, which allows qualified students to study towards a Master’s degree while completing their undergraduate degree. By combining course requirements for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, students enrolled in the accelerated Master’s program may be able to complete a Master’s degree within five years.

Students may apply for admission into the accelerated Master’s program as early as the end of their sophomore year, but must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in Department of Economics courses to be considered for acceptance in the accelerated program. Students interested in the accelerated program should contact the Department of Economics graduate coordinator to obtain application requirements. Application and admission to the Graduate School is required.

Entry Requirement

Formal application is required for admission into each departmental major, except for Entrepreneurial Studies. To be admitted, students must have completed at least 64 semester credits toward graduation, earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.1 for all courses taken, and attained at least a 2.1 grade point average for the following courses: ECON 201, ECON 202, ACCT 210, ENGL 101, and MATH 121 (or MATH 123). Students remain enrolled in Pre-Economics in the appropriate college until the above requirements are met.