Program Details
Program Details
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Program Details

Economics, Bachelor of Science (College of Humanities and Sciences)

Bachelor of Science
Virginia Commonwealth University

Economics is the science of human choice, the study of how individuals and businesses allocate scarce resources among competing uses. As an economics major, you'll gain an understanding of markets and incentives, and learn to evaluate current events and assess public policy. From our gateway course to our capstone programs, you'll develop the analytical and communication skills valued by employers. Our curriculum focuses on applying quantitative and data analysis expertise to address business, public policy, and socioeconomic concerns. We also help you build and refine your communication skills, preparing you to present your work professionally with confidence.


Program Credit Requirements
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Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a release during 2023

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
  • Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
  • View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University 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.

Institution Name Type Title
Richard Bland College GAA Transfer Agreement - Virginia Commonwealth University and Richard Bland College
Wytheville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Western Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Highlands Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Tidewater Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Peninsula Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southwest Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southside Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Rappahannock Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Piedmont Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Paul D. Camp Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Patrick & Henry Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Northern Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
New River Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Empire Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Laurel Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Brightpoint Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Germanna Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Eastern Shore Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Danville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Gateway Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Central Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Blue Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University

You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center

Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Hybrid
Check Course Schedules
Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Is This Degree Right For Me?

Characteristics, traits, and interests of an economics major: Someone who always sees the big picture. Interested in history and politics, but likes data and numbers. A trends and research enthusiast who always keeps their nose in a book or a podcast on play. Sees grad school as a possibility. These were selected because most students within the economics major identify with these characteristics.

Common entry-level jobs for graduates from VCU School of Business economics program: Budget, financial, or public policy; analyst; information scientist; economist; journalist; loan officer; market research analyst; personal financial advisor; research assistant; statistician; underwriter.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses

Complete the Associate of Arts & Sciences or Associate of Science in Business Administration to best prepare for this degree.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Commonwealth University within your first year via College Connect
Are there other program requirements beyond specific courses?
Do More With Your Degree VCU offers an accelerated BS to MA in economics, which allows qualified students to earn both the BS and MA in economics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students holding these degrees will be more competitive when seeking positions requiring the acquisition, manipulation, and analysis of data.
Program Successes & Highlights Take advantage of three resources exclusively for VCU business students: Career services, mentoring, and STARS!

Business Career Services offers career coaching to help students define their career goals, showcase their skills, apply for and secure internships and jobs, and more. Students who have an internship before graduation are more likely to have a full-time job offer before graduation AND secure a higher average starting salary when compared to students who do not have an internship.

The VCU Business Mentoring Program matches undergraduate students with alumni and friends of VCU and gives them the chance to develop a supportive, professional relationship with a business professional as they prepare to transition into the professional sector.

Snead Transfers Achieving REAL Success (STARS) is a program especially designed for business students transferring to VCU. The goals of the program are to create a community of current and former transfer students and to acclimate business students to resources and opportunities within Snead Hall.

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived.

Students who have earned an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, or Associate of Science degree or the General Education Certificate before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements waived.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have earned an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, or Associate of Science degree or the General Education Certificate before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements waived.
Credit for Prior Learning http://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-study/admission-university/additional-sources-of-credit/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Virginia Commonwealth University
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
2096
Percent of Transfer Students
VCU prefers transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of a 2.5 or higher who are in good standing with their pre...see moreVCU prefers transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of a 2.5 or higher who are in good standing with their previous institution. Some degree programs like Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Engineering have more competitive GPA requirements. Admission to programs in VCU Arts is also based on an evaluation of additional application materials and may be more competitive. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 earned semester hours will also be reviewed based on their high school GPA.
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C..
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.
Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAssociate in Applied Science Degree in ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences in Business Administration - Spec in Business Information TechAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
Rappahannock Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Business ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Rappahannock Community CollegeAssociate of Arts and Sciences in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Management - Small Business Management SpecializationAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate of Science in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Business Management - Project Management SpecializationAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Business Management - Digital Marketing SpecializationAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Business ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Richard Bland CollegeAssociate of Science-Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Arts & Science2-Year
Southside Virginia Community CollegeAssociate of Arts and Sciences with a major in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
Old Dominion UniversityEconomics-BSBABachelorBS in Business Admin.4-Year
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate of Science in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science - ManagementAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Science - Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Business AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Arts & Science2-Year
James Madison UniversityBachelor of Business Administration, Major in EconomicsBachelorBachelor of Business Administration4-Year
Paul D. Camp Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences in Business Administration AssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
Eastern Shore Community CollegeBusiness AdministrationAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
The University of Virginia's College at WiseBachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, Major in Business AdministrationBachelorBachelor of Science4-Year
The University of Virginia's College at WiseBachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management, Major in Business AdministrationBachelorBachelor of Arts4-Year
Germanna Community CollegeBusiness Administration Associate of Arts & Sciences DegreeAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-Year
Northern Virginia Community CollegeBusiness Management, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-Year
Northern Virginia Community CollegeBusiness Administration, A.S.AssociateAssociate of Science2-Year
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1063.00Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach 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
19-3011.00EconomistsConduct 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
19-3011.01Environmental EconomistsConduct 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
13-2054.00Financial Risk SpecialistsAnalyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1111.00Management AnalystsConduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
19-3022.00Survey ResearchersPlan, 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