Bachelor of Science in Economics

Program Length: 120 credit hours

Accepted Transfer Credits: Up to 90 Credit hours

Economics examines markets' functioning, the determination of prices and income distribution, and the determination of the overall level of income and unemployment rates and inflation. Also, Economics deals with various social problems. As a discipline, the social sciences economics analyzes how society makes resource allocation choices through the production and distribution of goods and services.

The appeal of economics as a practice lies in applying theory and quantitative techniques in understanding contemporary problems.  Many students conclude that it would be challenging to be informed citizens without a basic understanding of economics. As an academic area, Economics vastly differs from the study of business. Its scope is broader and more analytical while encompassing the firm, labor and capital markets, consumer choice, and government economic policy. Economics as an academic discipline is currently enjoying a nationwide surge in popularity as a major choice among college students. With today’s rapidly changing workplace, most people will change jobs several times during their careers. At Leighton University, the major in Economics is designed to provide students with a liberal education with particular emphasis on society's economic aspects and develop the ability to think critically, conceptualize, and possess strong communication (written and oral) and computer skills to evaluate private and public policy issues. The major's goal is to provide students with a rational basis for understanding and evaluating American and other economies' operations and forming intelligent, informed, and critical judgments on relevant issues of public and private concern.

A degree with a major in Economics requires the successful completion of at least 120 credits, including at least 40 credits for the CORE;  24 credits for the Foundational Course, and 25 credits hours to meet the major CORE distribution, 12 credit hours free electives, 18 credit hours to meet either a minor or could be used as additional free electives.  All Leighton students are required to complete the one credit hour LIBR 150 to meet the University Studies requirement.  Thus the student must complete all related required coursework, which may be applied to the CORE or electives requirements, as part of the 120 credits required for the degree. At least 17 credits in the major's electives must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

If the student is a  transfer, the number of credits expected to meet critical graduation requirements depends on the number of credit hours brought transferred. At admission to the University, the student is assigned an academic Navigator who will support the new students in selecting the remaining required courses.

You will learn and be able to:

• Demonstrate the competence to understand accounting information uses by managers, investors, and creditors, including hands-on learning techniques.
• Demonstrate the ability to use accounting models and techniques essential to business enterprises' administration and accounting cycle and financial statement presentations.
• Demonstrate the competence to understand accounting information uses by managers, investors, and creditors, including hands-on learning techniques.
• Demonstrate the competence to use accounting concepts and techniques essential to business enterprises' administration and accounting cycle and financial statement presentations.
• Demonstrate the competence to understand accounting for manufacturing, including cost accumulation for inventory and income determination, pricing techniques, and capital budgeting decisions.
• Demonstrate the ability to value and understand risk, returns, portfolio theory, capital budgeting, dividend policy, long-term financing decisions, liquidity, and concepts to plan and measure profitability.

Overall Degree Requirements

In addition to the University’s CORE requirements, the major, the minor, and elective requirements must meet the set of the overall requirements listed below:

1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
2. Students must maintain a minimum satisfactory GPA of 2.0 (C) overall program with no grade lower than a C in a course designated as a major in Economics.
3. Within the 120 credits required, the following coursework must be taken at Leighton University:

• At the minimum, the last 30 credits of the degree program.
• At least 50% of courses listed within the major of the required number of credits in the major.
• At least 50% of credits earned for courses numbered 300 to 499 in the minor.

4. At least 45 credits hours of the 120 credits to meet the degree requirements must be upper level (300-499).

B.S. Economics Program Structure

The requirements below pertain to this Undergraduate Catalog year and are intended as a guide for academic planning. Students should consult with their Academic Navigator to discuss their individual plan of study.

Minimum of 120 total credit hours required, including 45 senior level hours [300 - 499 level]