Welcome!  Are you thinking about majoring (or minoring) in economics?  Excellent choice… and you’ve come to the right place.  Here’s what you should do…

 

  1. Decide that you want to major (or minor) in economics.  (Did you know that economics is one of The 5 Most Marketable Degrees of 2009?)

See The Economics Degree

 

  1. Decide which degree you want to earn.

See One Major, Four Degrees

 

  1. Formally declare economics as your major, part of a double major/dual degree, or your minor – process depends on how many credit hours you have earned and/or whether you have already declared another major and/or which degree you choose.  For additional details on procedures, see the advisement process at GSU.
    1. If you have earned fewer than 42 credit hours, visit the GSU Student Advisement Center (SAC) to fill out the appropriate paperwork to declare economics as your major.  You will continue to get all academic advisement in the SAC office until you have earned 42 or more credit hours; then you will go to either the Robinson College of Business Office of Undergraduate Academic Assistance (RCB-OUAA) (if you select a BBA degree) or to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Office of Academic Assistance (AYSPS-OAA) (if you select a BA/BS degree) for core academic advisement, and you will see your economics faculty advisor for major academic advisement (who that person is depends on your last name: students with last names starting with A-I see Dr. Shelby Frost; students with last names starting with J-Q see Dr. Paul Kagundu; students with last names starting with R-Z see Dr. Glenwood Ross).
    2. If you have earned 42 or more credit hours and have not declared a major, visit the GSU Student Advisement Center (SAC) to fill out the appropriate paperwork to declare your major as economics.
    3. If you have earned 42 or more credit hours and have already declared a different major (and now want to change it to economics), go to the college of your previously declared major to fill out the appropriate paperwork (which may include a Change of College form - if you are changing colleges based on your major change) to declare economics as your major.
    4. To declare economics as part of a double major/dual degree program, fill out the double major/dual degree program application form and file it in the OAA for your declared major.  For a sample form, click here.  Contact the economics department Director of Undergraduate Studies (Dr. Shelby Frost) with questions.
    5. To declare economics as your minor, take 5 economics courses in total and at least 3 of them at the 3000/4000 level, and fill out appropriate paperwork in your own college with your major academic advisor (if needed).  Contact the economics department Director of Undergraduate Studies (Dr. Shelby Frost) with questions.  Note:  Certain degrees do not have minors; check with your major advisor to see if your major allows minors.

Once you have declared economics as your major, contact Dr. Shelby Frost and provide her with your ulearn id so that she can add you to the ulearn site for economics majors.  This is a great location to find lots of useful information relevant to GSU economics majors – check it often for announcements, etc. 

 

  1. Formulate a program plan of study (POS) for your major courses.  For help with course selection, contact your economics faculty advisor – who that person is depends on your last name: students with last names starting with A-I see Dr. Shelby Frost; students with last names starting with J-Q see Dr. Paul Kagundu; students with last names starting with R-Z see Dr. Glenwood Ross.  Note:  This really does not need to be done until you have completed most of your core requirements (around 45 credit hours).  Regardless of your selection of degree, all economics majors are required to take ECON 3900: Intermediate Macroeconomics and 3910: Intermediate Microeconomics.  It is recommended that you take the intermediate courses (3900 & 3910) before you take 4000 level economics courses.
    1. BBA in Economics:  No form required, but this link is provided to help you with your planning.  All BBA Economics majors are required to take ECON 4999: Senior Capstone in Economic Policy.  Note that ECON 4999 should be taken at the end of your program (note prerequisites) and that it is NOT offered in summer semesters… please plan accordingly! Then, you can select any additional 4 economics courses at the 4000 level and plan when you will take them.
    2. BA in Economics:  No form required, but this link is provided to help you with your planning.  All BA Economics majors are required to take ECON 4999: Senior Capstone in Economic Policy. Note that ECON 4999 should be taken at the end of your program (note prerequisites) and that it is NOT offered in summer semesters… please plan accordingly! Then, you can select any additional 5 economics courses at the 4000 level and plan when you will take them.
    3. BS in Economics:  No form required, but this link is provided to help you with your planning.  All BS Economics majors are required to take ECON 4999: Senior Capstone in Economic Policy. Note that ECON 4999 should be taken at the end of your program (note prerequisites) and that it is NOT offered in summer semesters… please plan accordingly! Then, you can select any additional 5 economics courses at the 4000 level and plan when you will take them.
    4. BA in International Economics and Modern Languages:  No form required, but this link is provided to help you with your planning.  All BA IEML majors are required to take ECON 4600: Economic Development, 4800: International Trade, 4810: International Finance, and ECON 4999: Senior Capstone in Economic Policy. Note that ECON 4999 should be taken at the end of your program (note prerequisites) and that it is NOT offered in summer semesters… please plan accordingly! Then, you can select any additional 2 economics courses at the 4000 level and plan when you will take them.

 

See course descriptions and prerequisites as well as the rotating schedule of economics courses for help in your planning. 

 

Earn a certificate in a concentration!

 

  1. For all other questions (core curriculum, electives, etc.), you should speak with your core academic advisor… see list to find out who you are assigned to, and their contact info.
    1. If you have earned fewer than 42 credit hours, go to the SAC for all academic advisement. 

SAC is located in Sparks 255.  Call (404) 413-2300 or email for more information.

    1. If you have earned 42 or more credit hours, and have selected a BBA degree, go to the RCB-OUAA for advisement - broken down by alphabet (link to RCB advisors).  RCB-OUAA is located in RCB 315.  Call 404-413-7115 to schedule an appointment with your advisor or email for more information.
    2. If you have earned 42 or more credit hours, and have selected a BA/BS degree (including the new BA in IEML), go to the AYSPS-OAA for advisement - all undergraduate students see Wanda Cooley.  AYSPS-OAA is located in AYSPS G52.  Call 404-413-0021 or email for more information.

 

Hey, since you’re interested in economics, why not join the GSU Economics Club?

 

For questions about GSU’s economics masters program, see the graduate economics faculty academic advisor for masters students, Dr. Neven Valev.  For questions about GSU’s economics PhD program, see the graduate economics faculty academic advisor for PhD students, Dr. Kurt Schnier. 

 

Need career advice?  Contact Phil Rockwell in GSU’s Career Services Center.  If you are a BBA student, you may also want to contact Cynetta Freeman in RCB’s Career Management Center.

 

Here’s a page with useful links.

 

(This page was last updated on 07/25/10.)