2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Economics (Humanities and Sciences)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Business Administration (Northern Virginia Community College)
Associate degree
Program description
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.
Career opportunities
Undergraduate work in economics is excellent preparation for careers in business, government, and teaching, as well as for graduate work in economics and professional schools such as law, public administration, and medicine. Specialization in economics prepares students for careers that emphasize analytical thinking, a broad understanding of the economy and business organizations, and the impact firm/government decisions have upon consumers, firms, and the economy as a whole. Because of their analytical, quantitative and decision-making skills, students who major in economics are sought after for a wide array of positions. In particular, the specific skills economics majors acquire provide employment opportunities in large organizations that forecast business conditions and analyze economic data.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Budget, Financial, or Public Policy Analyst
- Economist
- Information Scientist
- Journalist
- Loan Officer
- Personal Financial Advisor
- Research Assistant
- Statistician
- Underwriter
- Urban Planner
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 200 or BUSN 212
- SCMA 301 or STAT 210 or STAT 212
Science required
- Core only
Foreign language requirements
- Yes
Additional tuition/fees
- No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.5+ cumulative GPA to declare major, 2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate, and 2.0+ major GPA to graduate
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Economics (Humanities and Sciences)
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Business Administration)
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
- Visit the VCU Transfer Admissions webpage.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus.
- Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Economics through the NOVA career planning system.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the NOVA career planning system.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore VCU's Career Pathways.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Understand how you will fund your education by taking advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor.
- Complete requirements for the associate’s degree. Earn at least a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Continue to use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Students considering graduate-level education in Economics beyond the bachelor's degree should take Calculus I (MTH 263) rather than Applied Calculus (MTH 261).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to economics: American Economic Association, OmicronDeltaEpsilon.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence.
- Get involved with service-learning opportunities.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Run for leadership in your student organization.
- If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
- Find out about VCU REAL.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Economics (Humanities and Sciences)
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Business Administration)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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SDV 100 | College Success Skills (or SDV 101) | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
MTH 161 | Precalculus I Note: Students considering graduate-level education in Economics beyond the bachelor's degree should take MTH 167 instead of MTH 161 in preparation for MTH 263. | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
BUS 100 | Introduction to Business | BUSN 201 | 3 | Elective |
ITE 115 | Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts | INFO 160, 161, 162 | 3 | Elective |
HIS Elective | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 121 United States History I OR HIS 122 United States History II | HIST | 3 | General education |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
MTH 261 | Applied Calculus Note: Students considering graduate-level education in Economics beyond the bachelor's degree should take Calculus I (MTH 263) rather than Applied Calculus (MTH 261). | BUSN 212 | 3 | Major |
Physical or Life Science w/ Lab | Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
CST Elective | Select 1: CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication OR CST 126 Interpersonal Communication | SPCH 121 | 3 | General education |
ITE 140 (sub. for BUS 280) | ITE 140 Spreadsheet Software | INFO 165 | 3 | Major (Business Foundation) |
ACC 211 | Principles of Accounting I | ACCT 203 | 3 | Elective |
ECO 201 | Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics | ECON 211 | 3 | Major |
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | Select 1: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR MUS 121 Music Appreciation I OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR REL 231 Religions of the World I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | Select 1: CST 151 Film Appreciation I OR ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective (Humanities) |
Physical or Life Science w/ Lab | Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR BIO 102 General Biology II OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR CHM 102 Introductory Chemistry II OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR GOL 106 Historical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 102 Introduction to Physics II OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
ACC 212 | Principles of Accounting II | ACCT 204 | 3 | Elective |
ECO 202 | Principles of Economics: Microeconomics | ECON 210 | 3 | Major |
BUS 224 | Statistical Analysis for Business | SCMA 301 | 4 | Major |
BUS 270 | Interpersonal Dynamics in the Business Organization | BUSN 2XX | 3 | Elective |
Northern Virginia Credits Transferred to VCU | 61 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement). (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
ECON 300 | Contemporary Economics Issues | 3 | Major |
ECON 301 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 | Major |
ECON 302 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 | Major |
Select one: ECON 431, ECON 441, ECON 461 or ECON 489 | 3 | Major | |
ECON electives (select five 300- or 400-level ECON courses). | 15 | Major | |
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor in General Business or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 18 | Elective | |
Open electives | 15 | Elective | |
Credits Completed at VCU | 60 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 121 |