Bachelor of Arts in Economics

What courses are required to complete the program?

For an Economics Major:

• Required Core Courses: ECON 110, ECON 111, 231, 232, 314, 410, 441, 499, and six hours selected from other 300- or 400-level courses in Economics.
• Required Related Courses: MATH 205 or 315 and 125 or 117.
• For the maximum of 36 hours permitted in the department, nine additional hours may be selected from other courses in Economics.

For an Economics Minor:

• ECON 110, 111, 231, or 232, MATH 125 or 117, and an additional nine hours selected from 200-, 300-, or 400-level courses in Economics.
• Note: Finance majors who minor in Economics must take an additional 300- or 400-level Economics course. If they choose ECON 231 and ECON 410, then ECON 410 can count as a substitute for BUSA 346 in the Finance major as well.

What employment opportunities are available with a degree in Economics?

Economics provides an excellent background for students planning to pursue graduate work in business, international studies, public policy, and law. Students with undergraduate or advanced degrees in Economics may pursue a wide range of careers in both the private and public sectors. Private-sector opportunities include jobs in areas such as banking, finance, insurance, real estate, marketing, data management, general management, and research and development. Opportunities in the public sector include jobs at the local, state, or federal level of government or with organizations such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Some graduates have also pursued careers in academia by going on to earn doctorates. Some have become entrepreneurs who operate their own business.

Recent graduates have obtained jobs at a variety of notable businesses including Morgan Stanley, PNC Bank, The Stevenson Company, Schneider Electric, General Electric, and William Mercer.

Bellarmine graduates in Economics have been awarded teaching or research scholarships to pursue doctoral degrees (typically in Economics or Finance) at Florida State University, George Mason University, Miami University, North Carolina State University, Indiana University, The University of South Carolina, and Mississippi State University.

Some of our recent graduates have chosen to complete law degrees at Indiana University, Michigan State University, the University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky.

Do you provide job or internship placement?

Yes. Bellarmine guarantees every student the opportunity to have an internship, develop a career plan, and build a professional network. A sizeable percentage of Economics majors pursue internships at local businesses or government internships in Frankfort or Washington. Internship opportunities are available at a number of notable businesses, including Morgan Stanley, National City Bank, The Stevenson Company, Summit Energy, General Electric, William Mercer, and Constellation Energy.

Are there any special requirements to remain in the program?

Yes. Students must achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA for all Rubel School courses (Accounting, Business, Economics, and Finance) taken in the Rubel School (not counting transfer courses) to graduate with an Economics major.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. Please go to Bellarmine’s financial aid website for detailed information on financial aid packages. Additionally, students can work with our Faculty Development Center to apply for grants and awards outside of the Bellarmine offerings.

How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time?

Students have their own learning styles so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in class.

Students with undergraduate or advanced degrees in Economics may pursue a wide range of careers in both the private and public sectors. Private-sector opportunities include jobs in areas such as banking, finance, economic forecasting, energy management, insurance, real estate, marketing, data management, general management, and research and development. Opportunities in the public sector include jobs at the local, state, or federal level of government or with organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank. Many of our graduates have earned permanent positions at these companies. Some graduates have gone on to become entrepreneurs.

Some of our recent graduates have chosen to complete law degrees or other doctoral degrees. The Rubel School faculty take an active role in helping to place students in internships and in helping to identify suitable opportunities for permanent employment or graduate school.

On-Campus Experiences

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) is the International Economics Honor Society. A primary objective of ODE is to provide recognition for those students who have achieved academic excellence in their Economics courses. In addition, ODE helps to emphasize the professional aspects of economics as a career field for service in the academic world, business, government, and international organizations. Another important objective is to establish closer ties between students and faculty in Economics within colleges and universities and among other colleges and universities.

Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) is a professional co-ed fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

The Economics and Finance Club provides Economics majors with opportunities to hear speakers from the fields of economics and finance. There is also an annual opportunity for students to attend a professional conference. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to participate in community and university service that uses their expertise in economics and finance.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Student Organizations

Student Organizations

Read profiles of all of our distinguished faculty.

Name	Title	Email	Phone
Dr. Francis E. Raymond	MBA Director	fraymond@bellarmine.edu	(502) 272-8487
Dr. Hongwei Song	Assistant Professor of Economics	hsong@bellarmine.edu	(502) 272-8008

Faculty Snapshot

Dr. Francis E. Raymond

MBA Director • (502) 272-8487 • fraymond@bellarmine.edu

Dr. Raymond is a Professor of Economics and MBA Director. He received his B.A. in Mathematics at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, his M.S. in Mathematics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his Ph.D. in Economics at Indiana University-Bloomington. His research primarily focuses on mathematical modeling of issues in international development. He teaches undergraduate and MBA courses with a focus on international development, macroeconomics, and econometrics.

Dr. Hongwei Song

Assistant Professor · (502) 272-8008 · hsong@bellarmine.edu 

Dr. Song is an Assistant Professor of Economics. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Arkansas. At Bellarmine, she teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in classes such as Principles of Microeconomics, International Trade and Finance, and Global Economy. Dr. Song is a member of the Southern Economic Association and the American Economic Association. Her fields of interest involve development economics, the economics of networks, experimental economics, and international economics. She has published in academic journals in both English and Chinese.

Bellarmine University's Rubel School of Business produces the Bellarmine on Business podcast. Each monthly episode features lively discussions with faculty and/or alumni. Episodes focus on the economy, finance, marketing, HR, the law, business strategy, and more. Learn more >>

 

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite business schools in the nation. Not only is Bellarmine the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation, but fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide have achieved this distinction. Bellarmine University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

View degree requirements

B.A., Economics

Learning Outcomes

Economics Minor

• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Tuition