Program Overview

You may choose one of three program areas:

• The general program teaches critical thinking and analytical skills for business decision making.
• "Honors" if you achieve a minimum 3.2 G.P.A. both overall and in your economics courses. This designation provides you the opportunity to engage in high profile projects and policy courses.
• Real estate emphasis focuses on residential and commercial real estate issues.

Why Study Business Economics at Grand Valley?

• The economics faculty, with distinguished credentials and business expertise, work closely with you to form career goals and select courses to achieve those goals.
• Smaller class sizes allow more interaction with faculty.
• Opportunities for involvement, such as the economics honor society, Omicron Delta Epsilon; economics club; real estate group; professional development series and more.
• Internships, available in all business areas, allow you to earn money while getting valuable business experience.
• Study abroad opportunities prepare you for global society by allowing you to live within another culture and meet students from around the world. Our study abroad programs are established in 25 countries and can be customized to meet your needs and interests.
• Economics stresses well developed analytical skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A campus in the heart of an exciting business environment.

Location & Format

All undergraduate students begin their academic career on the Allendale Campus. Students in this major continue their upper division studies downtown on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

• Face To Face

Coursework

• Data analytics
• Urban and real estate economics
• Environmental problems
• International trade
• Health economics
• Emerging markets issues
• Forecasting
• Markets, strategy, and government
• Money and banking
• Public economics and ethics
• Sports economics
• Economics of work and family

Career Options

General and Honors: market research, consulting, banking, finance, insurance, actuary, health care, data analyst, manufacturing, international and development organizations, and intelligence agencies.

Real estate: urban planner, developer, real estate agent, residential/ commercial appraiser, mortgage broker, or commercial lender.

Business economics is a great base for many graduate degrees.

Combined Degree Programs

This undergraduate degree can be combined with a master's degree to save you time and money, and get you into the workforce sooner. On average, students save $8,500 in our combined degree programs and take up to four fewer classes than if earning the degrees separately.

You can even build your own combined degree from programs in different disciplines to further personalize your education and meet specific career goals.

Skills Employers Want

The B.B.A. in Business Economics at GVSU will develop the skills you need to land the job you want. Whether the skills are advanced or general, you will build a resume of qualifications that are sure to attract employers. The following skills correlate with those pulled from actual job postings in the economics field.

• Economics
• Accounting
• Forecasting
• Financial Analysis
• Financial Planning
• Budgeting
• Supply Chain

Source: EMSI, 2020

Admission Requirements

Direct Admission

Each year, the Seidman College of Business admits a select few students directly into the business college as first-year students. This honor is reserved for students who have a 26 or higher composite score on the ACT, or a score of 1240 and higher on the SAT, and a 3.5 or higher high school GPA. 

Secondary Admission

For students not admitted as first-year students, the Seidman College of Business's admission criteria require students to have

1. completed at least 55 semester hours (junior status);
2. achieved a 2.5 or higher overall GPA; and
3. completed select courses with a 2.5 or higher combined GPA. Transfer student grades for comparable classes being transferred into Grand Valley will be used to calculate this combined GPA.

Visit catalog for more details. 

Helpful Links

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• Study Abroad
• Course Catalog
• Business Economics Programs

For More Information

gvsu.edu/seidman
50 Front Avenue SW
(616) 331-7500

gvsu.edu/admissions