Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics, offered by the Department of Economics, exposes students to the economist's way of thinking about social problems and behavior. The major helps a student understand the economic aspect of current events and public policy and is excellent preparation for careers in law and business.

Campus Locations: Main and Japan

Program Code: LA-ECON-BA

Accelerated Degree Program

Students who wish to earn a BA and an MA in Economics may do so in a combined +1 accelerated program. Students begin graduate study during their undergraduate program and are able to count some electives towards both degrees. This program is only open to students who will complete both degrees in a total of five years or less. See the Economics faculty advisor if you are considering this option.

Honors Society and Majors' Association

The student honorary fraternity is Omicron Delta Epsilon. Along with the more general student organization, The Economics Society, it provides opportunities for students to network with other students and with practicing economists in learning more about economics and finding internships and employment opportunities.

Workplace Preparation

Students may participate in an internship, gaining valuable work experience which can enhance their job market prospects upon graduation. By completing an academic research project under the guidance of a faculty member, student interns may earn credit for ECON 2585.

Cooperative Education Option

Through this program, students may earn income while gaining valuable work experience which can enhance their job market prospects upon graduation. By completing an academic research project under the guidance of a faculty member, co-op students will earn credit for ECON 3581.

Contact Information

Main Campus

Department Office
Gladfelter Hall, 2nd Floor

Michael Bognanno, Department Chair
bognanno@temple.edu

Michael Leeds, Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Faculty Advisor
michael.leeds@temple.edu

Belinda Wilson, Administrator
bwilson@temple.edu

Janice Vincent, Department Coordinator
jvincent@temple.edu

Temple Japan Campus

Hady George Kahy, PhD, Economics Coordinator
hkahy@tuj.temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are ECON 3598 and one of the following: ECON 3596, ECON 3597, ECON 3696, ECON 3697, or ECON 3698.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
    • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
    • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
      • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
    • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
    • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
    • Professional Development Requirement
      • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
    • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
      • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language, these are numbered 1001 and 1002;
      • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
      • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
        • Third semester of a foreign language;
        • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
        • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
        • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
        • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
      • Notes on Foreign Language Study
        • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
        • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honors society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
        • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (37 credits)

Required Courses
ECON 1101Macroeconomic Principles 13
or ECON 1901 Honors Macroeconomic Principles
ECON 1102Microeconomic Principles 13
or ECON 1902 Honors Microeconomic Principles
STAT 2103Statistical Business Analytics4
ECON 3501Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis3
or ECON 3701 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis with Calculus
ECON 3502Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis3
or ECON 3702 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis with Calculus
ECON 3503Introduction to Econometrics3
or ECON 3703 Econometric Theory
ECON 3563International Trade3
or ECON 3564 International Monetary Economics
Writing-intensive elective
Select one of the following:3
Energy, Ecology, and Economy
Health Economics
Behavioral Economics
The Economics of Sports
Economic Inequality
Capstone Course
ECON 3598Economics Writing Seminar3
Major Electives
Three electives in Economics at the 3000 level or above9
Total Credit Hours37
1

These courses are prerequisites for most of the Economics 2000-3999 courses. Check specific course descriptions for details.

Note: Students preparing for graduate study in economics or in an economics-related area are strongly encouraged to take ECON 3701, ECON 3702, ECON 3703, and ECON 3504 as well as courses in calculus and linear algebra in the Mathematics department.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
Foreign Language 1001 - first level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
Foreign Language 1002 - second level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
ECON 1101
Macroeconomic Principles
or Honors Macroeconomic Principles
3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
ECON 1102
Microeconomic Principles
or Honors Microeconomic Principles
3
Select one of the following: 3
Foreign Language - third level
GenEd Global/World Society Course
Internationally Focused Course From Approved List
 Credit Hours15
Spring
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
ECON 3501
Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis
or Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis with Calculus
3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors 1
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
ECON 3502
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
or Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis with Calculus
3
STAT 2103 Statistical Business Analytics 1 4
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 3
Economics Elective 3000+ 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
One 2000+ CLA/CST Course 3
ECON 3503
Introduction to Econometrics
or Econometric Theory
3
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 3
Select one of the following: 3
International Trade
International Monetary Economics
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
One 3000+ Economics Elective 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 3
Select one of the following: 3
Energy, Ecology, and Economy
Health Economics
Behavioral Economics
The Economics of Sports
Economic Inequality
 Credit Hours15
Spring
One 3000+ Economics Elective 3
ECON 3598 Economics Writing Seminar (Capstone) 3
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800+ Elective 2
One 0800+ Elective in Any School or College 4
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours123
1

STAT 2103 has MATH and/or STAT course prerequisites. Please see the course description and plan accordingly.