Bachelor in Economics

Economics majors at Northwest develop analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills in preparation of evaluating the decisions made by businesses, consumers and government. The goal of this degree is to assess information and decisions in order understand the structure, operation, and investigation of decisions.

In addition to small class sizes, Northwest students receive instruction from faculty who have received the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Teaching and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Classes are small and upper-level courses have an average of fewer than 10 students.

Career Opportunities

100% of students who graduated with a degree in economics obtained employment or continued their education within six months after graduation.

The following is a listing of common positions for graduates with an economics major:

• Economic analyst
• Securities analyst
• Business forecaster
• Banking and finance related field
• Market Researcher
• Economic development officer
• Analyst programmer

*Based on self-reported data in recent years.

Profession-Based Learning Experiences

New Venture Pitch Competition is designed for ambitious students and aspiring entrepreneurs to present ideas to business professionals, small business owners and potential investors. Students present their ideas to judges who in the future could represent their boss or client.

Study Abroad is an opportunity for students to apply hands-on international experience to their own academic development. Faculty members supervise short-term study abroad programs that prepare students before, during and after the program. Two types of study abroad programs are available – faculty-led and traditional study abroad.

The traditional program may be a semester, summer or year-long program and is taught by Northwest’s international partner institutions. Students from the business school have recently traveled and studied in China, Africa and Eastern Europe including Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

Omicron Delta Epsilon is the international honor society for economic majors. To be admitted, students must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of economics with a 3.0 GPA.

Financial Management Association is a national organization with members from all majors within the Department of Business. This organization hosts speakers and takes field trips to locations related to business.

Internships

Although internships are not required in the economics major, they are highly encouraged to gain real-world experiences.

Requirements

Students choosing a major in Economics must take and earn a minimum grade of "C" in the following courses:

The Northwest Core (48-52 hours)

Must include the following:

MATH 17114 General Statistics3

This course fulfills a Northwest Core requirement and is not counted toward the major requirements.

Required Courses

Electives (12 hours minimum) from the Directed Concentration areas below Directed Concentration: Upper Division courses

• Economics courses (minimum of six hours)

Advisor-approved electives from the following areas:

Mathematics (Calculus or more advanced courses) Finance Marketing Management Political Science NOTE: A business minor is encouraged, but students should be careful not to double count minor courses and elective courses in the directed concentration. See your advisor.

Established in 1905, Northwest Missouri State University is a state-assisted, comprehensive four-year regional university that also offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Northwest offers 127 undergraduate programs and 40 graduate programs. Career Services offers an "Exploring Majors" fair where students may learn about different majors and find a major that is the perfect fit for them. Northwest advocates for profession-based experience in every area of study. At Northwest's Horace Mann Laboratory School, students majoring in education begin observing and practicing in the teaching profession immediately. Other profession-based experiences include work at Northwest's R.T. Wright Farm, radio and television stations, and a variety of internships.