Business Economics (B.A./B.S.)

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Nicole Klein, Associate Director
Ness School of Management and Economics
Harding Hall
605-688-4141

Program Information

The major in Business Economics combines the analytical rigor of an economics degree with the practical skills of a management degree. Students can tailor the program to their interests by choosing from a variety of electives in areas such as accounting, business law, decision science, entrepreneurship, economics, finance, management, and marketing. Career opportunities for Business Economics majors include management, finance, banking, sales, real estate, and marketing. The Business Economics major also serves to prepare students for graduate work in law, economics, and business.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

Be able to use analytical methods to make effective decisions. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
Be able to communicate effectively. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
Be able to evaluate matters of ethics in the profession and the culture more broadly. (Cross-curricular Skills: Ethical Reasoning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
Have the requisite body of knowledge in management and economics.

Academic Requirements

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in CSC /MGMT 325 - Management Information Systems (COM) , FIN 310 - Business Finance (COM) , HRM 460 - Human Resource Management (COM) , and MGMT 360 - Organization and Management (COM) .

If a student chooses to double major in two majors offered through the Ness School of Management and Economics (Economics, Agricultural Business, Business Economics and Entrepreneurial Studies), the second major needs to have at least 18 credits that are distinct from the first major.

Course Delivery Format

The program offers courses on campus, with limited online coursework, usually during the summer.

Requirements for Business Economics Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
and
ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity: SGR #3 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity: SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 121-121L - Survey of Calculus and Lab (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 5
or
MATH 123 - Calculus I (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 4
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: SGR #6 Electives Credits: 6

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements

One declared minor outside of the major prefix OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
Capstone course in the major discipline
Upper division coursework Credits: 33

Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 9+

Modern Foreign Language Including the 202-Level Credits: 6+
AHSS 111 - Introduction to Global Citizenship and Diversity Credits: 3

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 13+

Natural Sciences Credits: 10+
- Any two lab sciences.
- Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
- MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement.
AHSS 111 - Introduction to Global Citizenship and Diversity Credits: 3

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science specifications.

Major Requirements

ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
ACCT 211 - Principles of Accounting II (COM) Credits: 3
BADM 101 - Survey of Business (COM) Credits: 3
BADM 321 - Business Statistics II (COM) Credits: 3
or DSCI 424 - Operations Research (COM) Credits: 3
BADM 485 - Business and Financial Decisions in a Global Economy Credits: 3 (Capstone)
BLAW 350 - Legal Environment of Business (COM) Credits: 3
ECON 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 1
ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
ECON 301 - Intermediate Microeconomics (COM) Credits: 3
or ECON 431 - Managerial Economics Credits: 3
ECON 302 - Intermediate Macroeconomics (COM) Credits: 3
or ECON 330 - Money and Banking (COM) Credits: 3
ECON 319 - Seminar with Industry Leaders Credits: 1
FIN 310 - Business Finance (COM) Credits: 3
HRM 460 - Human Resource Management (COM) Credits: 3
MGMT / CSC 325 - Management Information Systems (COM) Credits: 3
MGMT 360 - Organization and Management (COM) Credits: 3
MKTG 370 - Marketing (COM) Credits: 3
Upper-division electives prefixed ACCT, AGEC, BADM, BLAW, ECON, ENTR, FIN, HRM, MKTG, or MGMT or DSCI 424 or DSCI /ECON 453-553 Credits: 15

Supporting Coursework

ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
System General Education Requirements	31-32 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements*	9+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	62 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	6 Credit Hours
Electives**	17-18 Credit Hours
Bachelor of Science in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
System General Education Requirements	31-32 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements*	13+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	62 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	6 Credit Hours
Electives**	13-14 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.