Academics > Colleges/Schools and Departments > Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business > Departments and Programs > Economics and Finance > Programs in Economics and Finance > Major in Economics

Undergraduate Programs in Economics

The economics major is a four-year liberal arts degree program leading to either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science. The first two years are spent completing a set of general education requirements that include courses in English, mathematics, physical and social science, humanities and fine arts. The bachelor of arts also requires study of a modern foreign language. The last two years are used to complete the required upper-level courses in economic theory and applications to various fields, such as money and banking, international trade, and comparative economic systems. As with all major degree programs at Murray State, an outside minor must also be completed to broaden the student's undergraduate education. Economics majors can choose from a wide variety of minors, including international studies; history; political science; mathematics; English; or any of the traditional business disciplines, such as accounting, marketing, management or finance. In addition, the economics major allow for a significant number of upper-level elective courses, giving students a great deal of flexibility in designing their own personalized degree program in consultation with their adviser.

For those students wishing to major in another field, the Department of Economics and Finance also offers minors in economics, international economics and business economics. These minors would nicely complement any other liberal arts major and provide the student with a solid core of economics courses that could be counted toward most M.B.A. degree programs after graduation.

Note: The College of Business strongly encourages students in its business programs to study abroad. The courses marked with an asterisk are commonly taught in summer study abroad programs such as KIIS and CCSA and each fall in the Semester in Regensburg program in Germany. BPA 396: Seminar in International Business, a business elective, is frequently taught in all these settings as well as in the International Business Seminar programs over the Christmas break and in the summer. ACC 586: International Experience in Accounting is routinely offered over Spring Break as an Accounting Elective. Consult your academic advisor to determine the study abroad opportunity which best fits your needs and schedule.

Major in Economics

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University Studies Requirements for BA: 44 - 47 hrs

University Studies Requirements for BS: 41 - 46 hrs

Required Courses: 26 hrs

ACC 200 Principles of Financial Accounting -- 3 hrs (for B.S. only)
BPA 099 Transitions -- 1 hr
ECO 305 Money and Banking -- 3 hrs
ECO 330 Intermediate Macroeconomics -- 3 hrs
ECO 331 Intermediate Microeconomics -- 3 hrs

ECO 460 International Trade and Finance -- 3 hrs
ECO 498 Research Methods in Economics -- 3 hrs
ECO 499 Senior Seminar in Economics -- 3 hrs
MAT 135 Introduction to Probability and Statistics -- 4 hrs
or CIS 243 Business Statistics I -- 2 hrs and CIS 343 Business Statistics II -- 2 hrs
Required Limited Electives: 9 hrs

300-level or higher (except ECO 310), ECO electives approved by advisor.
Required Minor: 21 hrs

Economics majors may select a minor from any business or non-business discipline, excluding any economics minor. If any course is required in the major and minor, a substitute course must be approved by an advisor to gain the total degree program hours.
Unrestricted Electives: 17 - 23 hrs
Total Curriculum Requirements: 120 hrs

Major in Eco./Social Studies Cert. (Gr. 8-12)

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University Studies Requirements for BA: 44 - 47 hrs

All Bachelor of Arts degree candidates should follow the course of University Studies instruction indicated below.

Note: Certification requires a grade of B or better in one English composition course and a C or better in a University Studies math course, public speaking, and EDU 103 or equivalent course. Additional requirements for admission to teacher education and student teaching must be met. See advisor and/or Office of Teacher Education Services for details.

Oral and Written Communication	7 hrs
COM 161 -- 3 hrs ENG 105 [or ENG 104] -- 4 hrs
Global Awareness, Cultural Diversity, and the World’s Artistic Traditions	9 hrs
A single foreign language culminating in proficiency at 202-level or above -- 6 hrs ⁽¹⁾ One University Studies elective in this category -- 3 hrs
Scientific Inquiry, Methodologies, and Quantitative Skills	7-10 hrs
One University Studies science course with lab -- 4-5 hrs MAT 220 -- 3 hrs or MAT 250 -- 5 hrs
Social and Self-Awareness and Responsible Citizenship	6 hrs
One Ethics, Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement category course -- 3 hrs *ECO 230 -- 3 hrs
World’s Historical, Literary, and Philosophical Traditions	9 hrs
CIV 201 or CIV 202 [or HON 201 or 202] -- 3 hrs *HUM 211 [or HON 251] -- 3 hrs One University Studies elective in this category -- 3 hrs
University Studies Approved Electives	6 hrs
CSC 199 -- 3 hrs (With a grade of C or better) *ECO 231 -- 3 hrs

⁽¹⁾ To reach proficiency at the 202-level, a student may have to complete up to six hours of 100-level prerequisites.

University Studies Requirements for BS: 41 - 46 hrs

All Bachelor of Science in Business degree candidates should follow the course of University Studies instruction indicated below.

Oral and Written Communication	7 hrs
COM 161 [or HON 165] with a grade of C or better -- 3 hrs ENG 105 [or ENG 104] with a grade of C or better -- 4 hrs
Global Awareness, Cultural Diversity, and the World’s Artistic Traditions	3 hrs
*One University Studies elective in this category -- 3 hrs
Scientific Inquiry, Methodologies, and Quantitative Skills	10-15 hrs
One University Studies science course with lab -- 4-5 hrs MAT 220 -- 3 hrs or MAT 250 -- 5 hrs One University Studies science or mathematics course -- 3-5 hrs
Social and Self-Awareness and Responsible Citizenship	6 hrs
One Ethics, Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement category course -- 3 hrs *ECO 230 -- 3 hrs
World’s Historical, Literary, and Philosophical Traditions	6 hrs
CIV 201 or CIV 202 [or HON 201 or 202] -- 3 hrs *HUM 211 [or HON 251] -- 3 hrs
University Studies Electives	9 hrs
CSC 199 -- 3 hrs (With a grade of C or better) *ECO 231 -- 3 hrs One University Studies courses -- 3 hrs No more than two courses from any one category and no more than one enrichment elective.

Required Courses: 26 hrs

ACC 200 Principles of Financial Accounting -- 3 hrs (May be used as a University Studies elective for B.S.)
BPA 099 Transitions -- 1 hr
ECO 305 Money and Banking -- 3 hrs
ECO 330 Intermediate Macroeconomics -- 3 hrs
ECO 331 Intermediate Microeconomics -- 3 hrs

ECO 460 International Trade and Finance -- 3 hrs
ECO 498 Research Methods in Economics -- 3 hrs
ECO 499 Senior Seminar in Economics -- 3 hrs
MAT 135 Introduction to Probability and Statistics -- 4hrs
or CIS 243 Business Statistics I -- 2 hrs and CIS 343 Business Statistics II -- 2 hrs
Required Limited Electives: 9 hrs

300-level or higher (except ECO 310), ECO electives approved by advisor.
Required Courses for Certification: 38 hrs

COM 472 Communication in Educational Environments -- 3 hrs

EDP 260 Psychology of Human Development -- 3 hrs (May be used as a University Studies elective for B.S.)
EDU 103 Issues and Practices of American Education -- 3 hrs
EDU 303 Strategies of Teaching -- 3 hrs
EDU 403 Structures and Foundations of Education -- 2 hrs
EDU 405 Evaluation and Measurement in Education -- 2 hrs
EDU 422 Student Teaching Seminar -- 3 hrs (Optional)
SEC 420 Practicum in Secondary Schools -- 2 hrs
SEC 421 Student Teaching in the Secondary School -- 14 hrs
SED 300 Educating Students with Disabilities -- 3 hrs
Required Minor: 21-24 hrs

Choose either geography, history, political science or social science minor. Social science minor is strongly recommended.

Note: If any course is required in the major and minor, a substitute course must be approved by an advisor to gain the total degree program hours.
Total Curriculum Requirements: 135-144 hrs

Oral and Written Communication	7 hrs
COM 161 -- 3 hrs ENG 105 [or ENG 104] -- 4 hrs
Global Awareness, Cultural Diversity, and the World’s Artistic Traditions	9 hrs
A single foreign language culminating in proficiency at 202-level or above -- 6 hrs ⁽¹⁾ One University Studies elective in this category -- 3 hrs
Scientific Inquiry, Methodologies, and Quantitative Skills	7-10 hrs
One University Studies science course with lab -- 4-5 hrs MAT 220 -- 3 hrs or MAT 250 -- 5 hrs
Social and Self-Awareness and Responsible Citizenship	6 hrs
One Ethics, Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement category course -- 3 hrs *ECO 230 -- 3 hrs
World’s Historical, Literary, and Philosophical Traditions	9 hrs
CIV 201 or CIV 202 [or HON 201 or 202] -- 3 hrs *HUM 211 [or HON 251] -- 3 hrs One University Studies elective in this category -- 3 hrs
University Studies Approved Electives	6 hrs
CSC 199 -- 3 hrs *ECO 231 -- 3 hrs