Economics

B.S. in Economics Overview

With a major in economics, students will be in demand in both the private and public sectors. A course of study in economics will provide students with an understanding of economics and train students to engage in critical thinking by studying behaviors of firms, workers, resource distribution, and the performance of exchange systems.  Knowledge of economics is important in creating an informed public, and a minor in economics will equip students to engage society in an informed manner.

Faculty members at Alvernia teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally because it develops supervisory and managerial skills that are necessary to advance in your career.

All of Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Economics – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Careers in Economics

An economics degree from Alvernia can prepare you for a career in an area such as market research, consulting, human resources, statistics, politics, and law. For more information about the economic field and to get an idea of some jobs currently available, go to the website "Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics" at https://www.bls.gov. This is the government's premier source of career guidance featuring hundreds of occupations.

You also can research available economic-related positions and read the job descriptions to get a better idea of what various economic jobs entail.

While economics is a brand-new major at Alvernia, graduates of our other business majors have been successful in finding jobs with employers including:

• Hi-Tech Communications
• Magnatech International
• Kellogg’s
• Johnson & Johnson
• Prudential
• First Union
• Vanguard
• Ernst & Young
• Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General

Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Economic majors must complete 61 credits in the major.  View all business course descriptions here.

Required Courses for Economics Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting or BUS 250 Accounting Principles
• BUS 206 Management Principles*
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
• BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
• BUS 426 Strategic Management
• BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
• MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

• ECON 248 Macroeconomics
• ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

• BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
• BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
• BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

• UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

Economics Courses (18 credits)

• BUS 312 International Business I
• ECON 110 Current Economic Issues
• ECON 218 Personal Economics
• ECON 260 Sport Economics
• ECON 348 Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON 349 Intermediate Microeconomics

Recommended Courses (Optional)

• BUS 442 Cooperative Education in Business II

 

Economics Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in Economics by earning 21 credits. Required courses for an Economics minor are:

• ECON 248 Macroeconomics
• ECON 249 Microeconomics
• ECON 348 Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON 349 Intermediate Microeconomics
• Plus 6 credits of electives; 3 of which may be applied from BUS (300 level or above)

Business students can minor in Economics, as long as their "plus 6 credits of electives" are not counted in their major requirements.

 

Experiential Learning 

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

• The Camden Riversharks
• Citizens Bank
• Cott Beverage
• Ernst & Young
• Four Seasons Produce
• Haines & Kibblehouse
• InRoads
• Morgan Stanley
• The Philadelphia Eagles
• The Reading Royals
• Service And Access Management (SAM)
• Superior Oxygen
• U.S. Department of Finance
• U.S. Department of Treasury
• Walt Disney World
• Webb Insurance

 

Research Opportunities

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Reading CollegeTowne featuring Enhanced Business Programs

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art metropolitan complex at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s business programs take experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

A new trading floor/business lab will be used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of classrooms. It will be incorporated into upper level seminar classes such as Marketing Research Seminar, Marketing Management, Investment Fund Management, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Analysis and Corporate Finance. The lab will support simulations, research and a wide-variety of other business applications. It will also support the granting of Microsoft Certification for Excel.

The expanded curriculum will fully utilize the new facilities as well as enhanced engagement via the O’Pake Center’s business incubator. The student-run incubator provides hands-on learning for students of all disciplines, allowing students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community. In addition, industry and community partners provide resources, internships and professional mentoring to students. It’s a win-win for both students and businesses in the region.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Economics program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278