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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Economics Major, B.S.
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About the Program
Economics extends beyond just the concepts of money, profits, and the stock market. It provides a unique lens-focusing on incentives, choices, and markets-to discern the root causes and uncover solutions for enduring societal challenges. Through this lens, we can illuminate pressing topics like production, education, crime, the environment, international trade, immigration, health care, economic growth, poverty, and beyond.
The Bachelor of Science in Economics is structured around essential economic theories and empirical methods. It equips students entering careers in the private, non-profit, and public sectors with the tools essential for their professional roles.
Beyond the foundational Business and Economics courses, the program boasts ten distinctive interdisciplinary concentrations. These concentrations empower students to mold the curriculum in alignment with their policy interests and post-graduate industry aspirations.
Student Outcomes
Although many positions as a professional economist necessitate graduate training, the BS in Economics offers students a robust, interdisciplinary education. This equips them with foundational knowledge and sharp analytical and quantitative skills. Graduates are well-prepared for diverse careers in various sectors and industries. Additionally, they are positioned favorably for admission into graduate programs in fields such as economics, entrepreneurship, finance, political science, sociology, or law.
Upon completing the B.S. in Economics, students will be able to:
- Apply economic reasoning and interdisciplinary tools to interpret social phenomena, pinpoint the root causes of enduring societal challenges, and propose informed solutions.
- Locate, organize, and analyze relevant data employing statistical analysis and causal inference methods to uncover and predict economic relationships and phenomena.
- Articulate research findings effectively to diverse audiences, including academics, the business community, policymakers, and the general public.
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General Degree Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
Program Requirements
- A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
- To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, a student must successfully complete 30 or more credit hours of business coursework at MSU Denver. This 30-hour residency requirement can be met by completing any business courses with the prefix ACC, ACCM, BNK, BUS, CIS, ECO, FIN, MGT, MKT, and REL and a course number of 2000 or higher. A student must complete at least twelve (12) upper-division semester hours in Economics at MSU Denver.
- A 2.0 GPA average is required in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
- Students must select two concentrations and maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside each concentration. In lieu of two concentrations, students can take 6 economics elective courses that were not already taken; students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average across these 6 economics elective courses.
General Studies Requirements: 33 credits
Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.
- Written Communication (6 credits)
- Oral Communication (3 credits)
- Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
- Historical (3 credits)
- Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)
** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.
Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits
- Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
- Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.
College of Business Additional Requirements: 7 credits
Business Core: 45 credits
All business majors require foundation course work in all significant areas of business theory and practice. The following courses are required for all students with a BS in a business discipline. Students must maintain a 2.0 average inside the Business Core.
Economics Major Core: 9 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the Economics major core.
Concentration Requirements: 18 or 19 credits
Students must select two concentrations and maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside each concentration. In lieu of two concentrations, students can take 6 economics elective courses that were not already taken; students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average across these 6 economics elective courses.
Environmental Policy Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn an Environmental Policy concentration by completing all three courses.* Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is connected to Environmental Policy.
Urban Policy Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn an Urban Policy concentration by completing all three courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is connected to Urban Policy.
Applied Economic Policy I Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn a concentration in Applied Economic Policy I by taking three courses not taken in another concentration among the following Economic courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of one of the courses listed in Applied Economic Policy I.
Applied Economic Policy II Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn a concentration in Applied Economic Policy II by taking three courses not taken in another concentration among the following Economic courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of one of the courses listed in Applied Economic Policy II.
Applied Economic Policy III Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn a concentration in Applied Economic Policy III by taking three courses not taken in another concentration among the following Economic courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of one of the courses listed in Applied Economic Policy III.
Business and Economic Analytics Concentration: 10 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship involved engaging in Business or Economic Analytics in the private or public sector.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy Concentration: 9 credits
Students can earn a concentration in DEI policy by picking 1 course in each discipline. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average within the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy.
Money, Banking, and Finance Concentration: 9 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of Money, Banking, and Finance.
Law, Economics, and Society Concentration: 9 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of Legal studies, the Law, or Public Administration.
Government Public Finance Concentration: 9 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is in the area of Public Finance.
Business and Globalization Concentration: 9 credits
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA average inside the concentration.*
*ECO 3980 - Internship in Economics can be used to replace one course if the internship is for a business with an international division or an international non-governmental organization.
Senior Experience: 3 credits
Summary of Requirements
| General Studies Requirements |
33 credits |
| ESSJ Requirement |
0-3 credits |
| College of Business Additional Requirements |
7 credits |
| Business Core |
45 credits |
| Major Requirements |
9 credits |
| Concentration Option |
18-19 credits |
| Senior Experience |
(counted in business core) |
| Unrestricted Electives |
4-23 credits |
| Total for the Economics Major, B.S. |
120 credits |
Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.
Program modified on July 1, 2024.
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