The economics major at Ball State will prepare you for demanding and wide-ranging roles across sectors in business, government, nonprofit, education, law, banking, and more. You will understand how economic systems work and how they shift in changing circumstances. Our intensive program features small class sizes taught by full-time professors, a thriving student economics club, internships, hands-on learning opportunities through such endeavors as the Federal Reserve Challenge Competition, and other key learning opportunities through the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute and the Center for Business and Economic Research.
Achieving Academic Excellence
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS?
On top of the dozens of scholarships that Ball State offers to all of its students, our department has several we award to our own students to recognize their accomplishments. Learn more.
A bachelor's degree in economics is divided into four groups of courses: The University Core Curriculum, business school foundation or liberal arts foundation courses (depending on which option you choose), specialized economics coursework, and general electives. We strongly recommend that all economics majors take at least one course in calculus.
As an economics major, you will have the opportunity to select from three options that best fit your interests and career goals: business, financial analyst, and liberal arts.
Options
Business
Our option in business provides outstanding training and a strong pathway for economics majors to pursue careers in the business world of finance, management, marketing, and more. This option is also a great choice if you plan to pursue a master of business administration (MBA).
In addition to the economics courses for this option, you’ll be required to meet the Miller College of Business core requirements and take required business courses.
For a complete list of classes in this major and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
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Health Economics & Public Policy
The option in health economics and public policy prepares students for a wide variety of careers in business, public policy, health, and government industries. This focus does not require completion of the core business classes and students can choose from a variety of economics classes that examine health economics and public policy, as well as electives from the College of Health.
For a complete list of classes in this major and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
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Political Economy
The political economy option is designed to appeal to liberal arts students in the College of Science and Humanities as well as Economics majors looking for a concentration outside of business. It is modeled after a number of successful Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics programs (PP&E) that are offered at a growing number of universities around the world. Students are required to take a basic core of economics but are not required or directed to take other business or mathematics courses.
For a complete list of classes in this major and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
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Liberal Arts
As an economics major choosing the liberal arts option, you will be well prepared for a general career in economics, business, or law.
With the liberal arts option, you can pick from three concentrations:
- General: Provides a broad overview of economics and strong foundation for a career as an economist.
- Economics and Law: Provides a solid foundation for pursuing a law degree. As a pre-law student, you might find a double major in economics and political science to be useful.
- Financial Economics: Provides a strong grounding in economics and finance. This concentration is an excellent choice if you want to pursue an advanced degree in economics and business, or if you’re seeking a double major in economics and mathematical sciences or actuarial sciences.
If you choose the liberal arts option, you are not required to take all of the core business courses.
For a complete list of classes in this major and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
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Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about our economics bachelor's degree, complete our online form. Or one of the best ways to get a true feel for Ball State is to see it for yourself, so schedule a visit today! And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.