Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

   
    Nov 25, 2024  
American University Catalog 2024-2025 
    
American University Catalog 2024-2025

Economics (BS)


Economics, B.S. 

Offered by the Department of Economics , College of Arts and Sciences .

Admission to the Program


Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and the approval of the department undergraduate advisor. Intended majors must also have a 2.5 GPA in ECON-100 Macroeconomics (3) ECON-150 Economics for Business (3)  or ECON-200 Microeconomics (3) , STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) STAT-203 Basic Statistics with Calculus (4) , or STAT-204 Introduction to Business Statistics (4) , and MATH-221 Calculus I (4)  (or MATH-211 Applied Calculus I (3)  with approval).

University Requirements


AU Core Requirements


For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements


  • 47 credit hours with grades of C or better
    • No more than 6 credit hours of economics courses from study abroad programs may be applied to the major, except students attending the London School of Economics may fulfill a maximum of 12 credit hours
    • No more than 3 credit hours from independent reading and study courses or internships may be applied to the major
    • No more than one internship experience may be applied to the major, regardless of course level

Course Requirements


Microeconomics (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Note: ECON-150 Economics for Business (3)  is intended for Kogod School of Business  students.

Electives (15 credit hours)


Complete 15 credit hours from the following:

Note: Students may take no more than 6 credit hours from the following: ECON-361 Economic Development (3) , ECON-362 Microeconomics of Economic Development (3) , and ECON-363 Macroeconomics of Economic Development (3) .

Combined Economics (BS) and Economics (MA)


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program  and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

  • Students in this program will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students will be admitted formally to MA status only after they have completed all requirements for the Economics (BS) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher