2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Economics
Requirements for a Major in Economics
Economics majors may earn a B.S. or B.A., while business economic majors may earn a B.B.A. degree. Completion of the B.A. degree requires demonstrated third-semester proficiency in a foreign language. Students who wish to earn a B.B.A. in business economics should consult the business section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog. Majors earning a B.S. or B.A. must complete 30 hours of economics, including ECO 210, ECO 211, ECO 300, ECO 312, ECO 313, and ECO 495. All B.A. and B.S. economics majors are required to take STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics as a degree requirement. In addition, students must take either PHI 103 - Logic, MTH 122 - College Algebra, MTH 125 - Survey of Calculus, or MTH 201 - Calculus I.
Because economics is a department in the Seidman College of Business, students must achieve a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, have completed 55 semester hours, and achieved a 2.5 or higher combined GPA in ECO 210, ECO 211, and STA 215 to be admitted to the economics program. To graduate, upper-division economics majors must achieve a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA and a 2.5 minimum GPA in all economics courses. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 will not be permitted to take additional 300- and 400-level economics or business courses. However, such students may repeat 300- and 400-level economics and business courses for which they received a low grade. Students may repeat up to three different economics and business courses in their undergraduate career, but no single economics or business course can be repeated more than once. Exceptions are made only with the approval of the associate dean of the Seidman College of Business. Economics majors are eligible to participate in the business internship program.
Students who plan to enter a graduate program in economics or a related field are highly encouraged to take the following courses: MTH 201, MTH 202, MTH 203, and MTH 204. These students should also consider a mathematics or statistics minor and consult with their advisors at an early date to explore alternatives and plan their coursework.
Social studies group majors who choose an emphasis area in economics should make their economics course selections with the advice of an economics faculty member.
Required Courses
- ECO 210 - Introductory Macroeconomics (3 credits))
- ECO 211 - Introductory Microeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 300 - Data Analytics for Economics and Business (3 credits)
- ECO 312 - Applied Microeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 313 - Business Cycles and Growth (3 credits)
- ECO 495 - Senior Economic Project (Capstone) (3 credits)
- ECO elective at the 300- or 400-level (3 credits)
- ECO elective at the 300- or 400-level (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Quantitative group - choose one:
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits)
- MTH 125 - Survey of Calculus (3 credits)
- MTH 201 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- PHI 103 - Logic (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Students may elect economics or non-economics courses to fulfill their elective course requirements. Students may apply up to six hours of internship and independent research credit, in any combination, toward their degree requirements. Economics majors may not take any of the major courses, except the internship and study abroad courses, on a credit/no-credit basis.
Requirements for an Honors Emphasis in Economics
The undergraduate honors emphasis in economics is for students pursuing a B.S., B.A., or B.B.A. degree in economics. Students must achieve a minimum 3.2 GPA in their economics courses and a 3.2 GPA overall to receive the honors emphasis designation. Courses cannot be taken on a credit/no-credit basis. Students are required to complete the following classes, with an honors section of either ECO 210, ECO 211, or both (honors-designated sections require good standing with the Meijer Honors College or a 3.5 GPA overall):
- ECO 210 - Introductory Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 211 - Introductory Microeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 300 - Data Analytics for Economics and Business (3 credits)
- ECO 312 - Applied Microeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 313 - Business Cycles and Growth (3 credits)
- ECO 495 - Senior Economic Project (Capstone) (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for Economics
Year 1:
Fall
- Life Science with Lab (GE) (4 Credits)
- Philosophy & Literature (GE) (3 Credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits) (GE) or WRT 120 and WRT 130 (6 Credits)
- Art (GE) (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (1 Credits)
Winter
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- Physical Science without Lab (GE) (3 Credits)
- Social & Behavioral Science, Non-ECO (GE) (3 Credits)
- U.S. Diversity (GE) (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (1-2 Credits)
Year 2:
Fall
- Global Perspectives (GE) (3 Credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits) (GE)
- ECO 211 - Introductory Microeconomics (3 credits) (GE)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
Winter
- ECO 210 - Introductory Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits) or PHI 103 - Logic (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
Year 3:
Fall
- ECO 300 - Data Analytics for Economics and Business (3 credits)
- ECO 312 - Applied Microeconomics (3 credits)
- 300-400 Level Economics Course (3 Credits)
- 300-400 Level Economics Course (3 Credits)
- Issues (GE) (3 Credits)
Winter
- ECO 313 - Business Cycles and Growth (3 credits)
- 300-400 Level Economics Course (3 Credits)
- 300-400 Level Economics Course (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Issues (GE) (3 Credits)
Year 4:
Fall
- 300-400 Level Economics Course (3 Credits)
- ECO 495 - Senior Economic Project (Capstone) (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
Winter
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)
- Free Elective (3 Credits)