Learning. Leading. Acting. Responding to COVID-19, racial injustice and economic hardship.
Economics, B.A., B.S.
Economics is more than a business field. You will study human behavior to explain and predict how people and organizations interact and why they do what they do. That might involve how managers can increase their profits. It's also about how to feed the hungry; what to do about deforestation in Brazil; and whether minimum wages really help the poor. Economics also looks at societal issues like distribution of wealth and income, health care, education, crime, poverty, pollution, and drugs.
Program Overview
The economics program offers you flexibility to choose between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.
The department offers an Honors" designation 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.
Why Study Economics at Grand Valley?
- The U.S. Labor Department estimates that economics majors have a better than average chance of finding a reasonably good starting job.
- Economics stresses well-developed analytical skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills, which are desirable to employers.
- The economics faculty works closely with you as you form career goals and select courses to help achieve those goals.
- Smaller class sizes allow more interaction with faculty.
- More opportunities for involvement, such as the economics honor society, Omicron Delta Epsilon; economics club; real estate group; professional development series; and student organizations.
- 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.
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.
Formats:Coursework
After applied microeconomics and business cycles and growth, the program covers many topics including:
- 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
Though graduates often work in finance and business, they are skilled for many settings: government sector; health services; environmental science; journalism; hospitality/tourism; insurance; education; aerospace and computer industries; real estate; sales and marketing.
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.
Helpful Links
For More Information
Seidman College of Business
gvsu.edu/seidman
50 Front
Avenue SW
(616) 331-7500
“The environment between faculty and students is very nice. I like the mix of being able to do research and teach and to involve my students.”
DAN GIEDEMAN, PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS