Applied Economics Major

Carmel Boyer School of Business
(440) 260-4000

OVERVIEW

Applied economics is an interdisciplinary program that combines economic theory with practical applications to build skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and quantitative reasoning.

In BW's applied economics major, you will approadch economics from a social science perspective. You’ll gain expertise in interpreting social, business and economic events through microeconomics and macroeconomics, and learn to apply empirical research methods to help manage them.

What can you do with an applied economics degree?

BW's bachelor of science degree in applied economics prepares students for careers in data-driven fields, policy analysis and research. Employment areas include government, data science & analytics, finance, consulting, research and international organizations. As an applied economics major, you can choose from two academic concentrations:

Political science – Focuses on political economics for careers in public and private sectors. It is outstanding preparation for law school.
Quantitative – Emphasizing data analysis and quantitative methods for careers in data-driven fields or pursuing graduate school in economics or related fields.

Two majors focused on economics

Economics is a broad discipline that explores how individuals, organizations and societies make decisions about limited resources. In addition to the applied economics major, BW offers an economics major to accommodate different career paths and academic interests.

The bachelor of science in economics caters to students interested in applying economic theories within business environments. Students develop a strong foundation in both business fundamentals and economic principles, preparing them for careers in corporate settings, financial institutions and business consulting.

CURRICULUM

The undergraduate applied economics major develops quantitative and analytical skills through rigorous coursework and real-world application.

A major in applied economics combines foundational and upper-level coursework with electives and a capstone research seminar.

Students pursuing the political science concentration are encouraged to minor or double major in political science. Individuals interested in the quantitative concentration may consider a minor in mathematics, business analytics, research & data analytics, or statistics, or a double major in data analytics or mathematics.

Applied Economics Key Courses

ECN 121 – Principles of Microeconomics
ECN 122 – Principles of Macroeconomics
ECN 301 – Intermediate Microeconomics
ECN 302 – Intermediate Macroeconomics
ECN 464 – Research Seminar

View the University catalog for a full listing of courses

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Applied economics majors gain valuable hands-on experience through internships, independent study, and faculty-mentored consulting and research projects.

Small class sizes and individual attention are at the core of BW’s applied economics program. It is taught by experienced faculty using industry-standard resources, including 14 Bloomberg terminals – giving students full access to the same data and technology used by economics and business professionals.

Student Organizations

Investment Club

Students experience real-life investing by managing a $1.3 million portfolio of real stocks. The students make decisions based on their own research of equity securities. Members have attended a shareholders meeting, visited the New York Stock Exchange and competed with other colleges in academic competitions.

View all business student organizations and experiential learning programs.