Chair: Erasmus Kersting, Ph.D.
Associate Chair: Mary Kelly, Ph.D.
Office Location: 2014 Bartley Hall
Telephone: 610-519-4370
Website
About
Economics addresses how individuals and firms make decisions in a world of scarcity and uncertainty while also presenting opportunities to learn how to analyze the performance and interaction of national economies. The curriculum is designed to promote the development of quantitative skills as well as written and verbal communication abilities, so students are equipped to critically examine the effects of economic factors on market participants in the private and public sectors. Because of the growing complexity of the global economy, there is an increase in the demand for individuals who can provide and communicate quantitative analysis of economic variables and their effects on forecasting sales, managing costs, allocating budgets, and choosing investment options. Economics graduates find employment in private industry, consulting, think tanks and policy institutes, the public sector, and academia. Economics is also a perfect preparation for Law School.
PRIMARY MAJOR (122 credits)
Students are required to earn an average grade of B or higher between ECO 1001 & 1002 to declare the economics major. Students not meeting these requirements should discuss their options with the Chair/Associate Chair of the Economics Department.
Required Major Courses (36 credits)
Program Notes:
- Students have the ability to earn a specialization certificate. Please contact your advisor or the chairperson for more information.
Select one course from the list below.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalMAT 1312BiocalculusCreditsCourseProgram4.00MAT 1320Calculus I for Liberal ArtsCreditsCourseProgram3.00MAT 1400Business CalculusCreditsCourseProgram4.00Select one course from the list below.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalSTAT 1235Intro Statistics IICreditsCourseProgram3.00Select 1 course from ECO 4000:9999 (3 cr).
- As a wide array of courses may satisfy this requirement, prerequisites include ECO 2101, 2102, and/or 3137.
Select 4 courses from ECO 3000:9999 or any course with the ECO attribute worth 3 credits (12 cr).
CreditsCourseSub-TotalOffConcentrations
Students may choose one of the following concentrations:
Choose four electives, one of which must be at the 4000-level. Courses should be selected from the list below, or carry the EINT attribute.
- The 4000-level course counts as the student's capstone course.
Choose four electives, one of which must be at the 4000-level. Courses should be selected from the list below, or carry the EPP attribute.
- The 4000-level course counts as the student's capstone course.
Choose four electives, one of which must be at the 4000-level. Courses should be selected from the list below, or carry the EQB attribute.
- The 4000-level course counts as the student's capstone course.
Students take the prescribed courses below to meet the concentration requirements.
- The ECO 4114 counts as the student's capstone course.
Core Curriculum Requirements (35 credits)
Economics Majors meet the following core requirements in the major and therefore are omitted from the summary below:
- Core Math (3 cr) - met by 1 from: MAT 1312, MAT 1320, MAT 1400, MAT 1500, STAT 1235, STAT 1313, STAT 1430, STAT 4310
- Social Sciences (6 cr) - met by ECO 2101, ECO 2102
Natural Science (2 courses with laboratory)
Non-science majors meet the Core Curriculum Natural Science requirement by taking two semesters of Mendel Science Experience (MSE), thematically-based lecture/laboratory courses designed for non-science majors; or two semesters of lecture/laboratory courses designed for science majors.
Science (AST, BIO, BIOC, CHM, CBN, CSC, ENV, MAT, PHY - B.S. only, PSY - B.S. only) majors meet the science requirement through the regular program of study in their major.
All students take a thematic literature and writing seminar course. Courses designated with the Core Lit & Writing Sem attribute fulfill the requirement.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalOffThis requirement is met by taking a specifically designed course designated by the Core History attribute.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalOffThe requirement is met by taking a course that focuses either on the creative processes that go into making a work of art, or on analysis and interpretation of the products of that artistic creativity. All courses designated with the Fine Arts Requirement attribute fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalOffThe upper division Theology and Religious Studies Core Curriculum requirement develops the theme of faith seeking understanding, engaging culture from a specific disciplinary perspective. Students must take THL 1000 before taking an upper division course designated by the Core Theology attribute.
CreditsCourseSub-TotalOffCourses that fulfill language requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Students may satisfy the Core Curriculum Language requirement in one of the following ways:
Option A: Start or Continue a Language Offered through Villanova
Start or continue a language through the required ‘exit’ course indicating that the requirement has been met. Students must begin their language studies to fulfill the Core Curriculum Language requirement no later than sophomore year. Students continuing language studies should begin their first year and continue without interruption.
Students must complete the exit course or higher depending on placement.
- American Sign Language - ASL 1112/1152*
- Ancient Greek - GRK 1112
- Arabic - ARB 1112
- Chinese - CHI 1112
- French - FFS 1122
- German**
- Irish - IS 1112
- Italian - ITA 1122
- Japanese - JPN 1112
- Latin - LAT 1122
- Russian - RUS 1112
- Spanish - SPA 1122
- Swahili - SWA 1112
*Students who entered Villanova fall of 2023 or later, may select this option to satisfy their language requirement.
**German is offered through a partner institution and is only available upon discussion/approval with the Office for Undergraduate Students
Option B: Petition for Exemption from the Core Language Requirement
Documented Language Proficiency
Students who can provide acceptable documentation of proficiency (e.g., TOEFL score, transcript from high school in a language not offered through Villanova) may petition for a language exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Native speakers of languages other than English who do not have documentation of language proficiency may satisfy the Core Language requirement by satisfactorily passing a proficiency exam administered by Villanova or another accredited institution and completing a Petition for Exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Documented Learning Difference
Students who have documentation supporting an accommodation for differences that affect language acquisition, may be granted a language waiver and may fulfill the Core Language requirement by taking two approved ‘world culture’ courses. Students must submit documentation to Learning Support Services (lss@villanova.edu) or the Office of Disability Services (ods@villanova.edu), depending on the nature of their difference.
NOTES:
- Placement tests are used to place students only and are not to be confused with a proficiency exam.
- Those who begin their language study in the intermediate or advanced levels, satisfy the requirement through demonstration of proficiency, or receive a language waiver for documented learning differences that affect language acquisition, must still complete the total number of required credits for degree completion.
- Additional questions regarding the Core Curriculum Language requirement should be addressed to a student’s faculty advisor or to the Office for Undergraduate Students in SAC 107.
UNITAS Courses
Courses that fulfill Core UNITAS requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
UNITAS Division Requirement (2 courses)
Learning to see through the eyes of other peoples and cultures is essential to a liberal arts education. Villanova and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are committed to offering a curriculum that, as stated in the University’s Learning Goals, encourages students to recognize how different ideas, behaviors and systems affect individuals’ sense of community and belonging and influence efforts to build a just and peaceful world. Consistent with those goals and the University’s Mission, students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences take at least two courses with the UNITAS Division 1-3 designation, indicated by a DIV attribute.
Students are required to select two courses, covering two out of the three areas below:
UNITAS Division 1 (DIV 1): Courses that focus on historically marginalized populations in the United States or Europe, and the systems or mechanisms that give rise to the experiences of power, privilege, and marginalization.
UNITAS Division 2 (DIV 2): Courses that focus on women’s experiences and/or highlight the relationship between gender, culture, and power.
UNITAS Division 3 (DIV 3): Courses that focus on societies and nations other than those of Western Europe and the United States and that emphasize power and privilege or analyze how these cultures or national communities define and express themselves.
NOTES:
- Service-learning courses, internships, and other experiential or communitybased learning courses may be applied toward the UNITAS Division requirement, provided they include a significant reflective component and have been pre-approved for UNITAS Division course credit.
- Study abroad courses may be applied toward this requirement; such courses will be assessed the same way as Villanova courses.
- Although some courses have more than one UNITAS Division attribute, all students must take two different courses; a single course with multiple attributes may not be used to fulfill both UNITAS Division course requirements.
- The UNITAS Requirement cannot be fulfilled by independent study or a senior thesis.
- Language courses cannot fulfill the requirement, although literature courses in another language may fulfill the requirement if they are designated with a UNITAS Division attribute.
- A student may fulfill one UNITAS Division 1 (DIV 1) course requirement by taking three 1-credit COM 5300: Dialogue, Identity, and Social Justice courses.
Arts and Sciences Professional Development
Consistent with the University’s enduring dedication to the holistic growth of its students, CLAS students are required to complete a one-credit professional development course, ideally during their sophomore year. The goal of this professional development course requirement is to provide consistent, high-quality support that helps students and graduates pursue their professional goals with purpose and confidence, preparing them to make a meaningful impact.
ASPD 2000 fulfills this requirement. Other professional development courses offered by academic departments within the College that carry the CLAS Professional Development attribute—ASPD—also fulfill the requirement. Students who have already declared their majors prior to their sophomore year may fulfill the professional development requirement through a course within their major that carries the CLAS Professional Development attribute (ideally during the sophomore year).
NOTES:
- The 1-credit Arts and Sciences Professional Development (ASPD) 2000 course fulfills the College’s sophomore professional development requirement.
- Courses in the College that carry the ASPD attribute also fulfill the requirement.
- ASPD 2000 does not fulfill any professional development course required by academic departments in the College.
Free Elective Requirement (51 credits)
Students with a Economics primary major have fifty-one (51) required free elective credits.
Degree Credit Summary
- Major Credits: 36 credits
- Core Credits: 35 credits
- Free Electives Credits: 51 credits
- Total Required Credits: 122 Credits
Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area.
SECONDARY MAJOR
Students who declare Economics as a secondary major must complete the Required Major Courses to achieve this major. Students are able to count any eligible course taken in their primary major, the core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives toward these requirements.