Program Overview

Economics Program

The Economics program at Orfalea College of Business is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of how people choose to use resources and respond to incentives. It's a way of thinking that can be applied to nearly any aspect of the world, including business strategy, public policy, and philanthropy.

Program Overview

A degree in economics provides a firm grounding in modern theories and teaches students to apply quantitative data, empirical research, and independent thought to economic and public policy's most engaging problems. The program allows students to gain foundational knowledge in micro and macroeconomics, econometrics, and research methodology, along with many opportunities for hands-on learning and real-world projects.

Concentrations

Economics majors can choose from nine different concentrations:

• Accounting: Gain a thorough knowledge of accounting and tax laws and how to apply them in practical business scenarios.
  • More details on the accounting concentration are available.
• Consumer Packaging: Blend technical packaging courses with a marketing and entrepreneurship curriculum to learn how to conceptualize packaging designs that meet customer needs and validate designs with data and customer insights.
  • More details on the consumer packaging concentration are available.
• Entrepreneurship: Immerse yourself in a variety of business activities, including strategy, marketing, sales, people management, technology, finance, and accounting, to provide you with all the skills necessary to help businesses prosper.
  • More details on the entrepreneurship concentration are available.
• Financial Management: Gain the knowledge and insight to manage anything from income securities to personal portfolios, working with the latest technology and focusing on computer science, accounting, economics, and more.
  • More details on the financial management concentration are available.
• Information Systems: Combine the study of people, organization, and technology, and train in the technological skills and business strategies they influence.
  • More details on the information systems concentration are available.
• Management and Human Resources: Develop versatile leaders who are well-versed in organizational design, development, and change, global business management, and negotiation.
  • More details on the management and human resources concentration are available.
• Marketing: Produce agile, flexible marketers who understand how the puzzle pieces of data analysis, creative strategy, and customer relations fit together.
  • More details on the marketing concentration are available.
• Quantitative Analysis: Give you the ability to analyze market data and trends in a number of different industries, allowing you to become a data expert.
  • More details on the quantitative analysis concentration are available.
• Real Estate Finance: Provide a broad background in all aspects of the real estate industry, helping prepare you for careers in real estate investment banking, consulting, insurance, brokerage firms, and startups.
  • More details on the real estate finance concentration are available.

Minors

Available minors include:

• Accounting Minor: Gives you a thorough knowledge of accounting and tax laws along with the confidence to use those skills in advising businesses towards financial success.
• Economics Minor: Allows you to integrate quantitative analysis, statistical modeling, and sound economic theory in addressing industry and public policy's most engaging problems.
• Entrepreneurship Minor: Allows you to acquire the tools, develop the skills, and cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur so that you may create economic and social value in any discipline.
• Industrial Technology Minor: Offers a broad choice of courses in technology, design, operations, and supply chain to provide supplemental knowledge and skills for non-technical majors who wish to excel in a position related to operations.
• Integrated Marketing and Communications Minor: A carefully-crafted blend of journalism, graphic communication, and marketing courses that teach you how to acquire and leverage customer insights; create and deploy visual, graphic, and written content across traditional and digital media channels; and analyze the impact of your efforts.
• Packaging Minor: Focuses on hands-on projects in packaging fundamentals, materials processing, prototyping, and performance testing.
• Sales Minor: Allows you to practice hands-on sales skills, create important career-building connections, and prepare for prime sales internships and job opportunities.

Learn by Doing

The program encourages you to put concepts into practice by participating in internships, competitions, and class projects that reflect current business challenges. You will work with live data, consult with clients across California, and engage in activities that fine-tune your skills. By applying your knowledge to a variety of fields, you will develop the economic expertise and research skills that will benefit you after graduation.

Career Opportunities

An undergraduate major in economics opens many possibilities for employment. A variety of large firms, including banks, technology companies, consulting firms, and manufacturing companies, recruit economists in substantial numbers in areas such as forecasting, data science, industry analysis, and litigation. There are also many opportunities for employment in government at the state, federal, or international levels, and in education. The program additionally prepares you to undertake graduate study in economics, law, public policy, and/or business administration.