In the broadest sense, economics is the science of decision-making. In economics, students learn how to identify the costs, benefits, and consequences of a decision. Often identified with the study of market behavior, economists also study issues that affect the market such as criminal behavior, poverty, law, environmental control, population, voting, and political behavior. Two colleges at West Virginia University offer a major in economics. Students may earn a bachelor of arts (BA) in Economics from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and a bachelor of science (BS) degree in Economics from the College of Business and Economics. The bachelor of arts (BA) program emphasizes a broad liberal arts education, while the bachelor of science program includes training in the various disciplines of business, including accounting, business law, finance, management, marketing, and information systems. Majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Biochemistry B Biology B, M, D Chemistry B, M, D Communications Studies B, M, D Computer Science B Creative Writing M Criminology & Investigations B Economics B English B, M, D Environmental Geoscience B Foreign Languages B, M Forensic & Investigative Science B Geography B, M, D Geology B, M, D History B, M, D Individualized Major B Industrial Mathematics and Statistics B International Studies B Legal Studies M Liberal Arts and Sciences B Liberal Studies M Mathematics B, M, D Philosophy B Physics B, M, D Political Science B, M, D Professional Writing and Editing M Psychology B, M, D Public Administration M Regents Bachelor of Arts B Religious Studies B Slavic Studies B Social Work B, M Sociology M Sociology and Anthropology B Statistics M Women's Studies B B = Bachelor's; M = Master's; D = Doctorate Majors in the College of Business and Economics Accounting B, M Business Administration M Business/Foreign Language B Business Management B Economics B, M, D Finance B Industrial Relations M Management Information Systems B Marketing B B = Bachelor's; M = Master's; D = Doctorate Visit: www.as.wvu.edu/newroot/econ.html or www.be.wvu.edu/econ/index.htm

West Virginia University offers a bachelor of arts degree in economics through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and a bachelor of science degree in economics through the College of Business and Economics. Interested students should review the following information and contact Dr. William Trumbull at 304-293-7860 to determine which program best meets their interests.

The WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit within West Virginia University. A faculty of 450 and a staff of 125 support more than 6,700 students (nearly one-fourth of the WVU student body) who are majoring in one or more of the 63 undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the College’s 16 academic departments and divisions.

The College provides the majority of the curriculum for all WVU undergraduates and a wide variety of required and elective courses for the entire student body. In addition, many departments offer minors for students majoring in other schools and colleges. Arts and Sciences majors may, with permission, major in more than one discipline, and when appropriate, design highly individualized degree programs.

Eberly College undergraduate degree programs prepare students for many specific professions, while also providing a broad-based education that will remain relevant beyond the first job after graduation. Many Eberly College alumni go on to complete graduate and professional degrees. By providing students with analytic and communication skills, reasoning abilities, and a broad knowledge of the humanities and the behavioral and natural sciences, the Eberly College equips graduates for lifelong learning and prepares them to meet the challenges of an ever-changing job market.

The WVU College of Business and Economics
Finding your niche in the global marketplace may seem daunting; on Wall Street a long shot. Finding your place on Main Street might not be as easy as imagined. The challenges may seem great, and they are. We’ll help you meet those challenges and build the strengths and skills you need. We will help you bring together the professionalism you’ll need for Wall Street, West Virginia, or the world. At the College of Business and Economics, we help our students move mountains.

The College prides itself on the care it takes to support its students up to and beyond graduation. Advisors in the College’s undergraduate advising center have often been awarded the National Honor Society’s Golden Apple Award, given by students to faculty and staff for extraordinary assistance. The Center for Career Development coaches students in résumé writing and interview strategies, helps students find internships, and plugs them into the College’s extensive network of potential employers. Students and businesses interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial approach to business leadership can turn to the Entrepreneurship Center. Students interested in global issues can choose from among the College’s several study abroad programs.

The College offers its students and faculty a full array of sophisticated computer and communication technologies. All College curricula include hands-on experience with computer technologies that students need to succeed. A wireless network enables students with laptops to access software from many places in the College building. The College is a state leader in developing distance learning technologies so that it can serve West Virginia citizens across the state.

Admission
High school students interested in studying business or economics should complete at least three units (four preferred) of mathematics, four of English, three of social studies, and three of science. Any student meeting WVU admissions requirements may begin taking the freshman and sophomore level courses required for admission into the College of Business and Economics. Students apply for admission to the College of Business and Economics at the beginning of the second semester of the sophomore year (expecting to have successfully completed 58 credit hours by the end of that semester). To be eligible for application to the College, these 58 credit hours must include two economics classes, two accounting classes, one statistics class, one computer science class, two math classes (including calculus), and two classes of English composition and rhetoric. A minimum cumulative GPA at or above 2.50 is required to apply, but because of high demand, a GPA substantially higher than 2.50 is generally necessary to gain admission.

To declare a major in Economics for the BS in Economics degree, students must earn a grade of C or better in calculus and a 2.5 average in the two principles of economics courses.

Curriculum (for BS degree)
Students earning a bachelor of science in Economics must take required courses in economics (Intermediate Microeconomic Theory, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, and American Economic History). In addition, they must take elective courses in economics, such as International Economics, Economic Development, Comparative Economic Systems, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, Labor Economics, Money and Banking, and Public Economics. In addition to the courses in economics, BS Economics students must take elective hours from the College of Business and Economics. Many students elect to take the introductory courses in each of the business areas, such as finance, management, marketing, and business law, in order to get a basic introduction to business. Others concentrate in one or two areas in which they have a particular interest. There is a great deal of flexibility to design a curriculum best suited to each student’s interests.

Accreditation
WVU is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Business programs of the College of Business and Economics are fully accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business International.

Career Opportunities
Graduates with degrees in Economics are needed in both government and the private sector. Government economists assess economic conditions in the US and abroad and estimate the economic impact of specific changes in legislation or public policy. Economists in private industry work largely for marketing research firms, management consulting firms, banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.

Graduate School Opportunities
Graduate training is increasingly required for many economist jobs and for advancement to more responsible positions. Economics includes many specialties at the graduate level, such as economic theory, international economics, and financial economics. A PhD is necessary for top positions in many organizations and in academia. Advanced degrees in business, economics, law, or public policy are all viable options. The College offers a PhD in economics, and has an excellent record of placing economics students in other graduate schools. Economics graduates with some work experience are also excellent candidates for MBA programs and for law school. The College offers both a full-time MBA program and an Executive MBA program for working professionals.

Salary Range
The Summer 2006 Salary Survey compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that 40% of all job offers to baccalaureate candidates are to business students. The recent average yearly salary offer to students with a bachelor’s degree in economics/finance was $45,112. Some examples of offers include:

Financial/Treasury Analysis $47,614
Market Research $38,000