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B.B.A. in Economics

The Economics B.B.A. program provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the rapidly changing field of economics. With a focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of economics, you'll be prepared for a variety of roles in the business world. Enroll now and take the first step towards a successful career in economics.

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jacy guider

“Studying Economics has allowed me to learn more about myself. To me, economics means the collective choices of people. It’s the beautiful combination of statistical choices and their outcomes. I would not be pursuing this major without the help and guidance of the economics professors here at Kent State. I look forward to applying my analytical knowledge in my future career.” Jacy Guider, Economics

 

Featured Blog

Hear from senior Tyler Urban on why he chose to study economics at Kent State University,  and how he's using his experiences as a student in The  Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship to shape his future. 

Read "A Supply Chain of Student Success"

Overview

  • Economics students develop analytical skills that can provide strategic decision-making and problem-solving applicable in many areas such as the financial and banking system, health care, international economic relations, government policies, the environment, urban development, and employment and earnings.
  • Economics students use industry-standard software to develop quantitative skills that allow them to conduct predictive modeling and data-driven problem-solving.
  • The Student Economist Association group allows students to learn directly from invited professional economists, through group discussions, and visits to businesses.
  • Students gain valuable work experience with an internship. Many companies use the internship as an extended job interview.
  • Economics faculty are expert teachers and scholars who create an engaging learning environment for students, including research opportunities for undergraduates.

 

 

 

Interested in pairing a B.B.A. in Economics with an M.A. in Economics?

Kent State is proud to offer incoming, high-achieving undergraduate students, direct admission into a business master's program. With direct admission, students can comfortably complete their bachelor’s degree and master's degree within five years. 

Learn More | Combined Degrees

 

 

Program Information for B.B.A. in Economics

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Economics equips students with a variety of skills sought by employers, including conceptualizing and solving problems; locating, organizing and using relevant information; and analytical ability.

In their junior year, students learn microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and take an econometrics class to learn basic analytical skills. Students then take a series of electives that deal with vital current topics relevant to many careers in which these theories and skills are applied, such as U.S. financial and banking system; the economic relations between the United States and foreign countries; government spending and taxation policies; and the U.S. health system and policy options.

During their senior year, students take a capstone course that utilizes and applies the theory, skills and institutional knowledge learned in the program.

Economics students may apply early to either the M.B.A. degree or the Master of Arts in Economics degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information. Undergraduate students applying to the combined program with the Master of Arts in Economics degree must have a minimum 3.200 overall Kent State GPA.

Admissions for B.B.A. in Economics

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

A minimum 2.25 overall GPA is required for admission into the program. Students who have previously attended Kent State must also have a minimum 2.25 in their former Kent State coursework.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Conceptualize and analyze problems using economic concepts and reasoning.
  2. Critically analyze alternative economic policy proposals.
  3. Utilize analytic and quantitative techniques that are use extensively in economic to formulate and test hypotheses.

Students earning a B.B.A. degree in Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship are expected to have developed skills in the following critical areas of business:

  1. Core Business Knowledge - Recall the strategic frameworks that are used to make business decisions.
  2. Analytical Skills - Use analytical methodologies and critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve business problems. 
  3. Digital Technology – Demonstrate the technological skills necessary to analyze business problems and develop solutions.
  4. Written Communication - Write effective business communications.
  5. Oral Communication - Make effective business presentations, using appropriate technologies.
  6. Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose.
  7. Business Ethics – Recognize ethical business dilemmas and use ethical decision making to resolve the dilemma.
  8. Global - Analyze the key global factors when making business decisions.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ECON 32040INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY AND APPLICATIONS (min C- grade)3
ECON 32041INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY AND POLICY (min C- grade)3
ECON 32050APPLIED ECONOMETRICS I (ELR) (min C- grade)3
ECON 42191SENIOR SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS (WIC) (min C grade)3
Economics (ECON) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)12
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ACCT 23021INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 23
BA 34060OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
BUS 10123EXPLORING BUSINESS 13
BUS 30062ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
CIS 24053INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
ECON 22060PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
ECON 22061PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
FIN 26074LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
FIN 36053BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
MATH 11012INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR) 3-5
or MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
MGMT 24163PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
MGMT 44285STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
UC 10162INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 319
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students changing to a program in the college or transferring may be waived out of BUS 10123 if:

  1. 30 or more credit hours have been earned and any two classes (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053) have successfully been completed.
  2. 60 or more credit hours have been earned and the student has successfully completed one course from (ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053)
  3. At the discretion of the dean's office, the student has sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in a business field (as demonstrated by a CLEP exam or Credit by Exam) but does not meet the requirements listed above.
2

Students who have taken MATH 10041 for another program may use it as a substitute for BA 24056.

3

Students may take or use any course at any level as long as the minimum 39-credit hours requirement for upper-division courses is satisfied for graduation with a B.B.A. Exceptions: Maximum 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be counted toward the 120 total credit hours or 39-upper-division-credit-hours graduation requirement. General elective courses may be selected from any area and at any level provided students do not go over the PWS, and they satisfy the 39 credit hours upper-division requirements. A minor (business or non-business) is encouraged. Any other exceptions must be approved by the assistant dean. A major in economics also is offered in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Progression Requirements

  • Minimum C- grade in ECON 32040, ECON 32041 and ECON 32050
  • Minimum C grade in ECON 42191

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.250 2.250
  • This major is not available to students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
  • The following course does not count toward the economics major: ECON 32082.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of business credit hours (required for the business degree) in-residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of their major credit hours in residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete two measures of outcomes assessment as specified by the college for complete satisfaction of the B.B.A. degree.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BUS 10123 EXPLORING BUSINESS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
CIS 24053 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MATH 11012
or MATH 12002
INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR)
or ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
3-5
UC 10162 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056 BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 3
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
ACCT 23021 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BUS 30062 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
ECON 32040
or ECON 32041
or ECON 32050
INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY AND APPLICATIONS
or INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY AND POLICY
or APPLIED ECONOMETRICS I (ELR)
3
Economics (ECON) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Required: minimum cumulative 2.250 GPA  
BA 34060 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
ECON 32040
or ECON 32041
or ECON 32050
INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY AND APPLICATIONS
or INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY AND POLICY
or APPLIED ECONOMETRICS I (ELR)
3
FIN 36053 BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Required: minimum cumulative 2.250 GPA  
!ECON 32040
or ECON 32041
or ECON 32050
INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY AND APPLICATIONS
or INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY AND POLICY
or APPLIED ECONOMETRICS I (ELR)
3
FIN 26074 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
Economics (ECON) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Required: minimum cumulative 2.250 GPA  
Economics (ECON) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Required: minimum cumulative 2.250 GPA and completion of The Assurance of Learning Assessment given in MGMT 44285  
!ECON 42191 SENIOR SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS (WIC) 3
MGMT 44285 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
Economics (ECON) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 4
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation for B.B.A. in Economics

AACSB, International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for B.B.A. in Economics

Data scientists and mathematical science occupations, all other

30.9%

much faster than the average

33,200

number of jobs

$98,230

potential earnings

Economists

14.1%

much faster than the average

20,500

number of jobs

$108,350

potential earnings

Social science research assistants

5.8%

faster than the average

40,100

number of jobs

$49,210

potential earnings

Statisticians

34.6%

much faster than the average

42,700

number of jobs

$92,270

potential earnings

Management analysts

10.7%

much faster than the average

876,300

number of jobs

$87,660

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
$52,000-$61,000
Average Annual Starting Salary*
$17/Hour
Average Internship Wage

*Information based on the class of 2022. Salary range represents 25th-75th percentile.

Where can I get a job?

American Family Insurance • AML Right Source • Charles Schwab Corporation • Dollar Bank, FSB • Farmers Insurance Group, Inc. • FedEx Corporation • First Investors Corporation • Huntington National Bank • JPMorgan Chase • National Interstate Insurance  Parkplace Technologies • Progressive Corporation  • Quicken Loans, Inc. • The Sherwin-Williams Company • Walmart •  and more!