2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Sep 29, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Economics Major


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors and Minors

Professors: Bryan, MacLeod
Associate Professors: Rahman, Skosples, Vollrath, Yazar
Assistant Professors: Georgic, Hurst, Nauman, Younkman

Primary Economics Faculty: Georgic, Rahman, Skosples, Yazar

Emeritus Faculty: Gitter

The economics major emphasizes theory and its applications, along with the institutional makeup of the economy.

Learning Objectives


For the economics and management economics majors, the department of economics and business reviews student learning with respect to the following learning goals:

• Development of analytical and critical thinking skills

• Knowledge in core areas with an integrative view of economic concepts.

• Ability to interpret, analyze and present data

• Demonstrating command of the knowledge through effective communication of written and

spoken word, and asking pertinent and constructive questions.

Major Requirements


A total of 10 units consisting of the following:

Required Courses


5 units consisting of ECON 110 , ECON 251 , ECON 252 , ECON 255  or ECON 259 , and [MATH 105  or MATH 230  or PSYC 210 ]. In addition, students majoring in Economics are required to complete a Senior Capstone. Senior Capstone can be completed in either 1) ECON 499  if the course is offered during a student’s senior year or 2) in a qualifying Economics elective course if ECON 499 is not offered. A grade of C- or better is required in a course in which Senior Capstone is completed.

It is recommended that the statistics course be completed by the end of the sophomore year, as it is a prerequisite for ECON 251  and ECON 252 .

Elective Courses


5 upper-level (numbered 250 or above) Economics (ECON) units. Of these five additional units, at least one must come from Group I (Advanced) and one from Group II (International), with the remaining units coming from any other ECON course.

Note(s):


(NOTE: If both ECON 255  and ECON 259  are taken, one will serve as the required course, and the other may be used as one of the electives.)

A maximum of two units from ECON 490 \ECON 491 , and ECON 495  may count toward the major. Only one unit of ECON 495  can be counted and BUS 495  does not count toward the Economics major.

Recommended: Substantial work in mathematics is required if considering graduate work in economics.

Other Information


Majors and minors should be declared no later than the sophomore year. In order to declare a major or minor in Economics, a student must have either a) a 2.5 cumulative University grade point average, or b) a 2.0 cumulative University grade point average and have earned a minimum B grade in a course taken in the intended major or minor track.

Some major/ minor combinations are permitted in the Economics and Business department, but a minor in business or economics may not be combined with a major in management economics, or international business.  

Students may not count more than three courses in a program when combining programs within the Economics and Business department. For example, an Economics major (10 units) completing a Finance major (13.5 units), may not count more than three courses for both programs, so additional coursework (beyond 17 units) may be necessary to complete the requirements for this combination of programs. This implies that a student would need to graduate with more than 34 total graduation units.  

It is recommended that the statistics course (MATH 105  or MATH 230  or PSYC 210 ) be completed by the end of the sophomore year. MATH 105  may not be taken for credit after receiving credit for MATH 110  or above.  (This includes credit for AP calculus or equivalent.)

Students considering a second economics course should consider courses numbered in the 200s.

All elective courses must be upper-level (numbered 250 and above.)  Only one unit of 495 may be counted and a maximum of two units from 490, 491, and 495 may be counted toward any major in the Economics and Business department. BUS courses do not count toward the economics major, and ECON courses will not usually count toward the business administration major.

Students must attain a minimum 2.0 grade point average in their major to graduate. Courses eligible to be counted in the major or minor cannot be taken credit/no entry. All pre-requisite courses must be successfully passed with a grade of C- or better to qualify for enrollment in the subsequent course. A grade of C- or better is required in a course in which Senior Capstone is completed.

A maximum of 13 units of credit in any one discipline (accounting, business, or economics) and 17 total units of credit in the Economics and Business department may be counted in the 34 units required for graduation.

Competencies

ECON 110  meets the Reason Formally and Quantitatively competency. 

ECON 251  meets the Question Scientifically competency.

ECON 260  meets the Act Responsibly competency.

ECON 277  meets the Examine Power and Inequalities competency.

ECON 282  meets the Act Responsibly competency.

ECON 353  meets the Act Responsibly competency.

A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Other Credits

Students who pass A-Levels in Economics with a C or better will receive a total of two credits; one for ECON 110  and one general unit of lower-level Economics credit.

Information on credit for International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement may be found in the Academic Regulations and Procedures section of this Catalog.

Students may use a proficiency examination or an advanced placement examination to meet the requirements of ECON 110 . Information on the proficiency examination for ECON 110  will be given during new student orientation. Advanced Placement Rules are listed in the Academic Regulations and Procedures section of this Catalog.

Students who transfer courses to Ohio Wesleyan University should consult with the department chair regarding the appropriate credit to be awarded. If several courses are transferred at less than 1.0 unit (3.7 credits), additional courses may be required. For all majors and minors in the department, a majority of the courses must be completed at OWU.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors and Minors