2110 Department of Economics

Program Admission
Program Financial Information
2125 Certificates in Economics

55 ParkPlace N.E., 6th Floor
404-413-0141
aysps.gsu.edu/economics/

Shiferaw Gurmu, Chair
Shelby Frost, Director of Undergraduate Studies

Georgia State’s Department of Economics, recently ranked number one in Georgia by the Southern Economic Journal, has won national acclaim for its insightful research into practical economic topics. Its concentrations in environmental and labor economics, urban and regional economics and public finance are setting new academic standards in programs of study that combine solid research with practical policy education.

Students in our program have access to innovative research resources on campus, including the Experimental Economics Lab, the Fiscal Research Center, the International Center for Public Policy, the Economic Forecasting Center, and the Georgia Health Policy Center. Faculty in these centers work closely with local, state, national, and international organizations to provide the information needed to address today’s complex policy issues.

A Bachelor’s degree in Economics provides students with the resources to be leaders and innovators, as well as a broad understanding of economic issues. Undergraduate majors may choose from four degree options: the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics, which includes a language option and a minor field; the Bachelor of Science with a major in Economics, which includes math to the calculus level and a minor field; the Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Economics and Modern Languages, which includes intensive study in a language to prepare international professionals; and the Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Business Economics, including course work in business-related topics such as accounting, marketing, and finance (the “business core”). A minor in Economics consists of 15 semester hours with at least nine semester hours at the upper level. Graduate degrees are available in economics, economics with a policy track, and business economics.

For information about the B.B.A. degree with a major in business economics offered by the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, please refer to that college’s chapter 7010.10 J. Mack Robinson College of Business Dean’s Office .

Economics provides a way of thinking about everyday decision-making in a world of limited options. It explains the economy as a whole; how it is best organized to provide goods, services, jobs, stable prices, and other economic goals. Economists study the ways a society distributes scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services choices that must be made because time, income, wealth, workers, and natural resources are limited. Principles of economics are useful at all levels of decision-making and provide an essential framework for analyzing and understanding such major issues as inflation, unemployment, deregulation of banking, tax reform, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, labor productivity, and foreign debt crises.

Most economists are concerned with practical applications of economic policy in a particular area. They use their understanding of economic relationships to advise businesses and other organizations, including insurance companies, banks, securities firms, computer and data processing companies, management consulting firms, industry and trade associations, labor unions, and government agencies. Some economists work abroad for companies with international operations and for organizations like the World Bank and United Nations.

Economists use mathematical models to predict, for example, the nature and length of business cycles, the effects of inflation on the economy, or the effects of tax legislation on unemployment levels. Preparing reports on the results of their research is an important part of the economist’s job. Being able to present economic concepts in a meaningful way is particularly important for economists who are involved in making policy for their organizations.

The student with a major or minor in economics may choose from a broad array of topics including foreign trade, environmental and natural resources economics, money and credit, public sector economics, labor economics, economic development, international finance, urban and regional economics, economic history, industrial organization and antitrust policies, and mathematical economics. Majors may pursue careers in many areas, some of which are listed below along with courses applicable to the career choice.

Career Opportunities and Related Courses: A recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that college graduates who majored in economics were among the highest paid employees (economics ranked as the third most lucrative major). An undergraduate degree in economics furnishes a valuable background for a domestic or international career in law, government, business, or education. Government service provides many opportunities at the federal, state, and local level that require only an undergraduate degree in economics. What economists do in business is as broad and varied as the full scale of managing a firm’s operations; economists are found in staff departments handling marketing, business planning and policy, finance, international operations, government relations, and even purchasing and operating logistics. An economics degree also combines well with training in other disciplines such as finance, real estate, political science, journalism, history, law, and foreign languages.

Students who plan to have a career or pursue graduate work that uses economics should consider the courses linked at aysps.gsu.edu/files/2017/03/ECON-recommended-courses-03-30-2017.pdf. The listings are suggestions for broad categories and do not exclude other offerings. These suggestions do not replace advisement or override any degree requirements regarding choices of major or elective courses.

A Top Ranked Program: The Department of Economics is ranked 1st in Georgia, and 9th among 33 Southeastern programs, and 50th in the U.S., according to a recent issue of the Southern Economic Journal, with considerably higher national rankings in the subfields that our faculty selected as primary areas of concentration, including: 8th in Urban, Rural and Regional Economics; 11th in Public Economics; 20th in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; 23rd in Labor and Demographic Economics. The department also got high marks in general Economics and teaching (14th), methodology and History of Economic Thought (16th).

Program Admission

There are no admission requirements above the requirements for admission to the University for enrollment in the B.A. or B.S. with a major in Economics or the B.A. with a major in International Economics and Modern Languages.

Program Financial Information

There are no additional fees other than the tuition and fees charged by the University for enrollment in these programs.

2125 Certificates in Economics

Certificates: The Department of Economics offers a certificate to students, which indicates that they have successfully completed (with a minimum grade of C) a concentration of economics courses in a specialty area. These certificates are conferred by the department and will not appear on official transcripts or diplomas from the university. Certificates are available to majors and non-majors. For more information about certificates or concentration in Economics visit: aysps.gsu.edu/economics/concentration-completion-certificate-form/.

Analytical Economics
Economics Policy Analysis for Business
Development Economics
The Economics of Urban Growth and the Quality of the Environment
Economics of Human Resources
International Economics
Law and Public Policy Economics

Programs

Bachelor’s

Dual Degree

Minor

Economics Minor