The Business Economics major is a great complement to another major or minor in business, political science, history, accounting or marketing. Economics not only studies economics research and economics financial systems, but also social issues like poverty, pollution, inflation, unemployment, recession and economic growth.
Top market economists are analytical problem solvers who are useful in almost every major industry. They study how the optimal amount of production can be achieved to meet society’s needs. They study market forces that shape financial decision making. They look at how politics affect the commerce marketplace. They look at data to forecast, analyze trends and apply their understanding to a whole range of public issues.
To get an undergrad degree in Business Economics, students attending an accredited economics university will need to take courses like macro economics, microeconomics, financial accounting and reporting, calculus, economics statistics, econometrics, money/banking/credit, business writing, the stock market, labor economics, monetary economics, international trade theory, law and economics, industrial organization, economics and business strategy, organizational psychology, formal organizations and politics and the economy. Students should have a good understanding of math, politics and business. People often choose this major because they want a good job, they want to make a lot of money, they want to be a manager or CPA, they want to have a secure job or they want to get into a good graduate school.
The common starting salary for economists is $38,000 for a bachelor’s degree, $48,000 for a master’s and $70,000 for a PhD, according to a 2002 National Association of Business Economics survey. Those with an economics major enjoy the highest median income compared to other majors, experts say. Economics research also suggests that economics majors earn 20% more than business administration majors, 19% more than accounting majors, 18% more than marketing majors and 15% more than finance majors. When a potential employer sees this major on a resume, he or she immediately understands that you have a solid foundation of math, politics, business and economic theory. Your degree also shows that you have the capacity to process complex subjects and it highlights your problem solving skills, which is valuable in any field.
Individuals with a degree in Business Economics have been recruited by employers like the California State Controller’s Office, Cerner Healthcare Information Technology, Coca-Cola, Consolidated Graphics, Deloitte Services LP, Edward Jones, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst & Young LLP, General Mills, Inc., Insight, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Liberty Mutual Insurance Group (MA), Medix Staffing Solutions, PetSmart, Raytheon, Sherwin-Williams, Travelers Insurance and Wells Fargo Financial. The economics field is expected to grow 7% by 2016, adding another 16,000 workers. People with bachelor’s degrees can get almost any entry-level job in business. Master’s degree holders generally compete for sales and management trainee positions. Those who hold PhD degrees often go on to teach or become top market analysts in their fields.