Why be an econ major (or minor)?

Economics Major and Minor

• Economics is the study of decision-making and incentives among people, firms and governments.• Thus, course topics range from social science to public policy to

business.

• Programs:• College of Business: Economics Major and Minor• College of Arts and Sciences: Economics Major and Minor

• Department course offerings and requirements are identical regardless, difference is in College-level degree requirements.

• Combined BA/MA• Graduate degrees increasingly provide more job opportunities

and higher pay across all majors.• Students take MA courses in place of upper division electives

and thus complete both the BA but also earn an MA in a shortened time frame.

Why Choose Economics?

1. Engaged Faculty• Most classes in the major and minor are small giving students the

opportunity to interact with faculty who are active in research and enjoy teaching.

2. Many Electives• Outside of the core classes, students can take courses in any topic

that interests them. Economics courses span topics across social science and business including public policy, firm strategy, international trade, issues of poverty, discrimination, urban development, developing nations to name only some of the options.

3. More Career Opportunities• Economics consistently ranks as one of the highest paying majors

in terms of both starting salary and income growth. Students are hired into firm, non-profit and government positions.

4. Graduate School• Economics students also place well in graduate programs including

law school, MBA programs, and MA programs in economics and public policy.

What can I do with a BA in econ?• Unlike some degrees which are specific to some occupations,

econ allows you to work in many different fields and occupations

• Recent grads found jobs as:• Accountant• Account executive• Assistant bank examiner• Assistant manager (retail)• Bank manager• Commercial credit analyst• Consumer lending officer• Financial analyst• Insurance investigator• Manufacturing sales representative• Purchasing manager• Systems analyst• Trust analyst

What can I do with a BA in econ?

• Unlike some degrees which are specific to some occupations, econ allows you to work in many different fields and occupations• Analytic skills developed in economics is valued across

occupations and industries.

• Recent grads found jobs as:

• Accountant• Account executive• Assistant bank examiner• Assistant manager (retail)• Bank manager• Commercial credit analyst• Consumer lending officer

• Financial analyst• Insurance investigator• Manufacturing sales representative• Purchasing manager• Systems analyst• Trust analyst

What can I do with a BA in econ?

• An econ major also helps students get into grad schools including• Law school• MBA programs• Public policy programs• Economics PhD and MA

• Recent graduates have attended• MA program here at Kent State• MA program at Cambridge (England)• MA program here at Kent followed by a PhD at University of

Florida• MA at University of Leuven (Belgium)

How much can I make?Average starting salaries by undergraduate majors (2007)

Chemical engineering 59,361

Electrical engineering 55,292

Computer science 53,396

Civil engineering 48,509

Economics 48,483

Finance 47,239

Accounting 46,718

Business administration/ management 43,718

Chemistry 41,506

Marketing 40,161

Biology/life sciences 34,953

History 33,768

Sociology 32,033

Psychology 31,631

How much can I make (later)?Major Starting Mid-career Ratio

Economics 50,100 98,600 1.97

Industrial Engineering 57,700 94,700 1.64

Mechanical Engineering 57,900 93,600 1.62

Math 45,400 92,400 2.04

Finance 47,900 88,300 1.84

Management Information Systems 49,200 82,300 1.67

International relations 40,900 80,900 1.98

Marketing 40,800 79,600 1.95

Political science 40,800 78,200 1.92

Accounting 46,600 77,100 1.68

Information technology 49,100 74,800 1.52

Business administration/ management 43,000 72,100 1.68

History 39,200 71,000 1.81

Psychology 35,900 60,400 1.68

Sociology 36,500 58,200 1.59

What courses do I need to take (major)?

• After principles of micro and macro you need to take 24 credit hours:• 12 credit hours are required: Intermediate Micro,

Intermediate Macro, Applied Econometrics, Senior Seminar• 12 credits hours are electives from the 30-40000 levels

• Examples: • from the 30000 level: Money and Banking,

Managerial Economics• From the 40000+ level: Economics of Labor Markets,

Public Finance, Industrial Organization, International Economics, Environmental Economics, Economics of Poverty, Economics of Health Care, etc.

What courses do I need to take (minor)?

• After principles of micro and macro you need to take 12 credit hours:• Either Intermediate Micro or Intermediate Macro is required• 9 credits hours are electives from the 30-40000 levels (or

the other intermediate course)• Examples:

• from the 30000 level: Money and Banking, Managerial Economics

• From the 40000+ level: Economics of Labor Markets, Public Finance, Industrial Organization, International Economics, Environmental Economics, Economics of Poverty, Economics of Health Care, etc.

Combined BA and MA

• Department also offers a combined BA and MA in economics.• 12 credit hours are required: Intermediate Micro,

Intermediate Macro, Applied Econometrics, Senior Seminar• Electives are taken at the MA level and satisfy requirements

for both the BA and MA.• Allows students to receive an accelerated MA

• The department offers two tracks in the MA program• Economic Analysis• Financial Economics

Questions?

• Talk to your instructor• Talk to Dr. Richard Kent, Department Chair

• Phone: (330) 672-1084• Email: rkent@kent.edu• Office: 480 College of Business

• Visit the department website: http://www.kent.edu/business/economics/