Bachelor Degree in Economics Review | Washington State University |
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This article is a review of the Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Washington State University. Washington State University was ranked among the best universities in the U.S. For example, the U.S. News and World Report ranks the University’s writing programs as among the top 13. The Princeton Review had also included WSU in the 2008 America’s Best Value Colleges. The Kiplinger includes WSU in their 2007 Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. According to Lynda Paznokas, the Associate Professor in Education, the Washington State University is a world-class institution for many reasons. This is based on the kinds of research, publications and well accepted and respected around the world. The research conducted at Washington State University is also very applicable to the courses that they teach, which benefits the students. The Bachelor degree in Economics is offered by the School of Economic Sciences. The School of Economic Sciences has more than 75 graduate students and 150 undergraduates. The School is committed to quality teaching and research. All students of the Bachelor degree in Economics are taught by full-time faculty members, all from the economic disciplines. This ensure high quality in education delivery. The faculty is also actively engaged in research and their economic modelling has a strong tradition of excellence. Their research paper has been published in journal such as Econometrica, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of Law & Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics & Management, and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Why should you pursue your Bachelor degree in Economics from Washington State University? When you pursue your Bachelor degree in Economics from Washington State University, you will learn economic system in a rigourous, flexible study of basic problem-solving and analytical methods. WSU’s is so renowned in their economic expertise that they have been frequently cited by the media. WSU also has an active network of faculty, alumni and business professionals which enable you to make valuable internship and career connections when you graduate with your Bachelor degree in Economics. Why study for a Bachelor degree in Economics? Economics is a study of allocation of limited resources. There is two branches of Economics – the microeconomics and the macroeconomics. Microeconomics is a study of how consumers make purchasing choices. It also studies how consumers utilise their time, how company make decisions on what to produce and who to employ. It explores current issues such as health care economics. Macroeconomics on the other hand, analyse levels of output and prices, inflation and unemployment on the macro and national level. There are many specialised area of study for those who are pursuing their Bachelor degree in Economics from WSU. The followings are areas of study: • Financial markets: Provides solid, analytical training in the substantial overlap between economics and finance. • International economic development: Applies economic and institutional analysis to the problems of economic growth and underdevelopment in the Third World. • Labor economics: The behavior and role of workers, the operation of labor markets, and the role of institutions in a modern economy. • Public policy: Emphasizes the analytical skills useful in making decisions involving government programs and tax policy. • Regulation, industrial organization, and law: Examines the relationship between the organizational structure of business firms and the regulatory environment in which they operate. • General Economics: Permits maximum flexibility to become a specialist or a generalist. Great for students who wish to tailor their program toward graduate studies in economics, business law, or public policy. Curriculum and Core Courses of the Bachelor of Arts in Economics Students pursuing the Bachelor degree in Economics have to complete a common set of foundation courses. The foundation courses requires 40 credits in total. The followings are the Foundation Courses: Group 1: Economic Analysis (12 credits total) --Group 2: Quantitative Analysis (13 credits total) (Recommended for Economics majors or those preparing for graduate school) --Group 3: Communication Skills (9 credits total) --Economics of Financial Markets --International Economic Development --Labor Economics --Economics of Regulation, Industrial Organization, and Law --Economics of Public Policy --General Economics Career Prospects of graduates of Bachelor degree in Economics What is the career prospect of graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Economics? The Bachelor degree in Economics at WSU teaches student to how economy works, how firms operate and compete among each other and how the market was shaped and determined by demand and supply. All these knowledge forms a solid foundation for many careers in private, non-profit and government sectors. Careers prospect for graduates of the Bachelor degree in Economics include: appraisers, auditors, broker floor representatives, budget analysts, buyers, claims examiners, comprehensive analysts, consultants, credit analysts, database administrators, economic analysts, efficiency experts, environmental planners, financial analysts, forecasting administrators, fund raisers, import/export agents, insurance agents, loan officers, lobbyists, managers, marketing administrators, real estate appraisers, research and sales analysts, sales representatives, securities brokers, statisticians, and underwriters. Economic degree graduates from WSU has held postions at Boeing, Murphy-Favre, Merrill Lynch, Waddell and Reed, Microsoft, Go2Net, ConAgra, BF Goodrich, Paine Webber, General Cable Corp., Founder’s Asset Management Co., and Northwestern Trust. Needless to say, salaries of graduates of the Bachelor degree in Economics may be one of the main consideration of prospect students. As a management trainee, you can expect to earn $22,000 to $28,000 annually; in banking and finance, you may earn $24,000 to $30,000; and as a research analyst, you may earn $26,000 to $34,000. If you further your studies to Master’s degree in economics, you may earn up to $40,000 and this figure is increased to $100,000 for Ph.D holders. The School of Economic Sciences at Washington State University offers scholarship for economics degree students. WSU awards about $170 million in scholarships and financial aid to more than 12,000 undergraduate students.
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