Program Details
Economics - Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of ArtsWilliam & Mary
Because people make economic decisions on global and personal scales, the tools of economic analysis have many powerful, real-world applications. You'll know that economics is your cup of tea if you seek answers to questions like these: What effects does the "three-strikes law" have on criminal behavior?; How do star athletes affect NBA gate revenues?; What policies help the poor secure better livelihoods?; What is the role of technology and trade in inequality between and within nations?; Which factors drive the gender and racial wage gaps?
Program Overview & Guidance

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Considerations for Selecting Degree | This degree is both applied and quantitative. On the applied side, we discuss many key issues and problems facing society today, and look for ways to improve the world. For the quantitative side you will need to be comfortable with algebra, at a minimum, and ideally with calculus and statistics. |
Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Complete courses that are equivalent to W&M’s ECON 101/102, ECON307/MATH106 (Statistics), and MATH108 (Calculus) before transferring. If possible, take additional Economics elective courses before transferring as well. You should plan to take ECON303/304/308 at W&M as these are core courses for the major and are prerequisite for required higher level courses.
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Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
Doing More With Your Degree | |
Program Successes & Highlights | The problems economists investigate cross all disciplines. Many employers in every field look for candidates with some training in economics. Economics majors are among the highest paid (right among computer scientists and engineers) and enjoy access to a wide range of occupations. Many hold research analyst and consulting positions. Others work for Wall Street and Main Street firms. Many more work in the public sector or for non-profits. |
Program Credit Requirements

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Applicable Admissions Agreements

The table below lists admissions agreements between William & Mary and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Associate Transfer Degree Completion | If you are applying to W&M as a true transfer student, meaning you have graduated from high school AND have at least one full time semester in college SINCE your high school graduation, AND you have earned an Associates of Arts, Associate of Sciences, or Associate of Arts and Sciences degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program from the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College you are granted junior academic status (you'll get at least 54 transfer credits). You will also have some of our general education requirements met via your Associates degree. An associate's degree in General Studies is not considered a baccalaureate-oriented program, unless approved as such by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia. Students transferring (not new freshmen) who have earned an Associates degree after their High School graduation date, with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Sciences, or Associate of Arts and Sciences degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program from the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College are granted junior academic status (defined as at least 54 credits). An associate's degree in General Studies is not considered a baccalaureate-oriented program, unless approved as such by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students entering as new freshmen, who have earned an Associates degree concurrent with their High School graduation date, will NOT have the same guarantees as a Transfer student who has earned an Associates degree post their High School graduation date. |
Credit for Prior Learning | William & Mary does accept as transfer credit, credit for prior learning. Please check out this webpage to view the places where we do award transfer credit. https://www.wm.edu/offices/registrar/studentsandalumni/transfercredit/apib/index.php |
Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
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Is This College Right For Me? | Answer these questions to help you decide if William & Mary is right for you! Do you want to go to school in a small-ish town, but has easily accessible larger cities nearby (like Washington DC, Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach)? Do you want to conduct research with a factulty member as an undergraduate? Do you want to have (mostly) small class sizes? Do you want to take part in service activities? Do you want to have fun, like take part in the "Seventh Grade Comedy Club", or participate in club sports and organizations? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then William & Mary might be right for you. Our students work hard and play hard. Be sure to dig deep into our web page to find out more about all there is to learn and do at W&M! |
Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. Https://catalog.wm.edu |
First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/transfers/vccs_students/index.php |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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Eastern Mennonite University | Bachelor of Arts Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Hollins University | BA in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Mountain Gateway Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Eastern Shore Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate in Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts - American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Major | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Art degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Art | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Northern Virginia Community College | General Studies, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Northern Virginia Community College | Liberal Arts, A.A. | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Rappahannock Community College | AA&S Degree in Arts and Sciences | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Wytheville Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts & Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Southside Virginia Community College | Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Tidewater Community College | Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | Online |
Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Online |
Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Sweet Briar College | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Major in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Major in Economics, Concentration in Mathematical Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, Major in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Longwood University | Economics BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Richard Bland College | Associate of Science | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Online, In-Person |
Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Radford University | BBA in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Business Administration | 4-Year | In-Person |
University of Lynchburg | BA in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
George Mason University | Economics, BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
George Mason University | Economics, BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
University of Mary Washington | BS in Economics: Applied Econ. | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
University of Mary Washington | BS in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Marymount University | Economics (BS) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Bridgewater College | Economics Major - BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Randolph College | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Applied History Social Sciences (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Economics (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | History (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Integrative Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary Mathematics & Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Randolph-Macon College | Economics (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
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11-9199.11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites. | Management Occupations |
11-9199.02 | Compliance Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. | Management Occupations |
25-1063.00 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
19-3011.00 | Economists | Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
19-3011.01 | Environmental Economists | Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
11-9199.08 | Loss Prevention Managers | Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures. | Management Occupations |
11-9199.00 | Managers, All Other | All managers not listed separately. | Management Occupations |
11-9199.01 | Regulatory Affairs Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. | Management Occupations |
25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
19-4061.00 | Social Science Research Assistants | Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
19-3022.00 | Survey Researchers | Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
11-9199.10 | Wind Energy Development Managers | Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects. | Management Occupations |
11-9199.09 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete
