Business Economics
You're compelled to uncover the art behind business economics – which goes way beyond numbers. As a business economist, you will use accounting and finance principles to analyze organizational structures and apply them to business. Combine that with a liberal arts education and you have the ability to make businesses stronger, more viable, and help the world economy thrive.
Our graduates work at Deere & Company, Caterpillar, Northwest Bank & Trust, and for professional basketball, baseball, and hockey franchises, among many others.
Ambrose Advantages
- Small Classes
- Learn from Experts in the Field
- Intern Before You Graduate
Reap the benefits of personalized attention from dedicated faculty who share their real-world business experience. Our internship program takes full advantage of the number of national and international business headquartered in the Quad Cities, including Deere & Company, Arconic, Wahl, 3M, HON, and many others.
Read our fact sheet on the Economics program (pdf)
More Information on the Business Economics Program
Business Economics isn't just about one industry, something you'll find reflected in your coursework.
Core business courses will give you a taste of all business-related fields: accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Economics courses then dive into specifics such as theories of micro- and macroeconomics, public finance, data analysis, and law.
We don't stop there. Specialize your business economics degree by studying international, environmental, banking, real estate, and labor economics.
Most of our Business Economics students double major or minor in Accounting or Finance, which gives you a multifaceted skill set that employers value. Or, double major or minor in International Business or International Studies. The reservoir of global knowledge you're building will take you anywhere.
The SAU College of Business created a comprehensive internship program so you can gain relevant career experience and show employers you are prepared, committed, and ready for any challenge.
Economics students have completed internships at many regional and national corporations, including the Rock Island Arsenal, Deere & Company, and Merrill Lynch.
You've heard people say it before: "College will be the greatest time of your life!" With Study Abroad, you can add even more to your college years.
You can study in another country in a semester-long or short-term study abroad program (with a few offered during spring and winterim breaks). No matter the duration, these trips deepen your professional education while earning credit toward graduation.
There are also opportunities through an exchange program, an overseas internship, or volunteering. The limits for Study Abroad are only ones you set for yourself! SAU students have studied in Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, Spain, Ecuador, Japan, Germany, Peru, Cyprus, Croatia, Belize, Canada, Chile, and more.
SAU students returning from their Study Abroad locations talk about their time away as life-changing – personally, emotionally, culturally, and academically.
Click here to search our Study Abroad programs, and for general information click here.
Business economists are dedicated to digging into data and helping guide economic health, which gives you a myriad of career opportunities. You can work for financial service companies, insurance firms, lending organizations, marketing, and environmental agencies, and production and manufacturing companies.
Many economists work for local, state, or federal governments analyzing productivity, wages, and employment. You could also work for a research firm or think tank, an international company or organization.
Many of our business economics graduates have pursued higher degrees in economics or finance, and a number have gone to law school.
Art Moreau, PhD, Professor and Chair
Jim Bang, PhD, Professor
Students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships awarded by the university based on need or academic merit.
You may also qualify for a scholarship or grant due to your talent in the fine arts or athletics. Give us a call or send an email so we can get to know you and find the best package for you. (You're also encouraged to seek outside scholarships and begin that search early.)
Degree Requirements
View courses and descriptions in the online course catalog
Required:
ACCT 201 Accounting Principles I
ACCT 202 Accounting Principles II
BUS 201 Legal Environment of Business
ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics
FNCE 300 Principles of Finance
STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business
STBE 237 Statistics for Business and Economics
MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MGMT 449 Strategic Management & Policy
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
PHIL 305 Business Ethics
INTL 400 International Experiential Portfolio (1 credit)
Required:
ECON 312 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 313 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 331 International Economics
ECON 400 Senior Capstone Seminar in Economics
ECON 447 Econometrics
3 credits from any 300-level ECON courses;
3 credits from any 300-level ECON courses; or FNCE 411, 412, or 415; or ENGR 265, CSCI/MATH 281, or 393; or STAT 305; or MATH 370
This is the suggested plan to graduate in four years with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics.
This plan assumes the student has not satisfied foreign language requirements (three years in high school).
Year One
| FALL | CREDITS | SPRING | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business | 3 | THEO GenEd | 3 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ACCT 201 Financial Accounting | 3 | Foreign Language 102 | 3 |
| ENGL 101 Composition | 3 | ACCT 202 Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| COMM GenEd | 3 | KIN 149 Wellness Concepts | 1 |
| InfoLit | 1 | HUM GenEd | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 16 |
Year Two
| FALL | CREDITS | SPRING | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 | STBE 237 Statistics for Business & Econ | 3 |
| MGMT 210 Principles of Management | 3 | ECON 313 Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUS 201 Legal Environments of Business | 3 | FNCE 300 Principles of Finance | 3 |
| MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing | 3 | PHIL GenEd | 3 |
| SCIENCE GenEd | 4 | GenEd | 2 |
| KIN GenEd | 1-2 | ||
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 16-17 |
Year Three
| FALL | CREDITS | SPRING | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 312 Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 447 Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 331 International Economics | 3 | FNCE 403 | 3 |
| FNCE 301 Financial Valuation (Corporate) | 3 | PHIL Elective | 3 |
| FNCE 302 Investments: Security Analysis | 3 | PHIL 305 Business Ethics | 3 |
| Liberal Arts | 3 | ECON Elective | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 15 |
Year Four
| FALL | CREDITS | SPRING | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 400 Senior Seminar | 3 | WI-MGMT 449 Strategic Management and Policy | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | ELECTIVES | 9 |
| INTL 400 International Experiential Portfolio | 1 | FNCE 492 Topics in Valuation | 3 |
| FNCE 402 Investments: Bond/Fund/Risk Management | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 15 |
**One semester in the junior year reserved for Study Abroad
WI=writing intensive
Required:
STBE 237 or equivalent;
ECON 201, 202;
and 12 credits of upper level ECON elective courses.
Contact
Art Moreau, PhD, Program Director
Business Economics
McMullen Hall 020A
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6436
MoreauArthurF@sau.edu