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Economics

Economics

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Type

Major, Minor, Secondary Licensure

Department

School of Business

Economists have a broad understanding of business which enables them to forecast and navigate complex financial trends. These versatile skills are fundamental for successful careers in law, government, banking, insurance and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Program Overview

Economics student

Learn how to interpret economic behavior and forecast financial trends.

Economics at Western Colorado University—more than the other social sciences—is focused on developing your abilities to analyze contemporary events using models and high-level data. The program will provide you with a powerful set of deductive and empirical skills for understanding real-world issues like natural resources, globalization, inequality and financial crises.

You’ll learn to analyze individual markets, ask questions about the impact of public policy on the economy and examine social and business problems. Before graduating, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a major research project combining statistical analysis, economic reasoning, design and implementation.

Studying the global economy

Economics students learn the methods, models, and approaches used by economists to analyze and interpret events and policies related to the overall operation of the economy.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

A minimum of 36 credits is required, including the 24-credit Nucleus and nine credits of upper-division Economics electives.

All Economics Majors require completion of the 24-credit Economics Nucleus and completion of MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1), MATH 141 Precalculus (GT-MA1), or MATH 151 Calculus I (GT-MA1) with a minimum grade of “C-.”

Course List
Code Title Credits
Economics Nucleus
ECON 201Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)3
ECON 202Microeconomics3
ECON 301Intermediate Macroeconomics3
ECON 302Intermediate Microeconomics3
ECON 303International Economics and Globalization3
ECON 316Econometrics3
ECON 498Income Distribution, Poverty and Wealth3
ECON 216Statistics for Business and Economics3
or MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
Total Credits24
Course List
Code Title Credits
Upper-division Economics electives (courses numbered 300 or above)9
Total Credits9

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Economics Major fulfill the Capstone Course Requirement: ECON 498 INCOME DISTRBTN POVERTY/WEALTH. Students completing the Secondary Licensure Emphasis may use student teaching to fulfill this requirement.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ECON 201 Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
General Education course (Science) 4
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits14
Spring
ECON 202 Microeconomics 3
Elective course 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
General Education course (Science) 4
General Education course (Area III) 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
ECON 216 Statistics for Business and Economics 3
General Education course (Area I) 6
General Education course (Area III) 3
Elective course 3
 Credits15
Spring
ECON 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
Economics Elective course 3
Elective course 3
General Education course (Area I) 3
General Education course (Area III) 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
ECON 302 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
ECON 316 Econometrics 3
Elective Elective 9
 Credits15
Spring
ECON 303 International Economics and Globalization 3
Economics Elective course 3
Elective course 3
Minor courses 6
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
Economics Elective course 3
Elective course 3
Minor courses 6
Minor/Elective course 3
 Credits15
Spring
ECON 498 Income Distribution, Poverty and Wealth 3
Elective courses 12
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

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Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

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Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Model UN

Take advantage of everything Western has to offer.

A college education is more than just taking courses. Meet new people, apply your skills, and stretch beyond your comfort zone. Make your education an experience.

  • Capstone Experience: Senior economics majors incorporate the tools learned throughout the program to engage in an in-depth analysis of increasing economic inequality.
  • Internships: Recent students have interned with local government agencies and businesses to analyze current economic data.
  • Model United Nations: Compete in the National Model United Nations event in New York City.
  • Study Abroad: Experience Harlaxton College in the English Midlands.

Citizens of the world

Western Economics students have the opportunity to participate in the Model United Nations team and attend conferences around the globe.

News & Research

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Department Information

School of Business

Associate Dean

Paula Mann, CPA

Associate Dean of the School of Business, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Contact Information

970.943.2231

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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