Program Overview

Financial Economics, BA

Introduction

The study of Financial Economics will provide a combination of economic analysis and tools from accounting and finance that can be used to guide financial decisions. The Economics Department and the Department of Finance and Marketing jointly offer this major and strive to provide a program which gives students rigorous training in theory and applications of accounting, economics, and finance.

Learning Competency Goals

• Demonstrate knowledge of financial concepts
• Demonstrate knowledge of economic concepts
• Demonstrate knowledge of accounting concepts
• Analyze economic data using quantitative techniques
• Produce quality business documents

Why Consider a Financial Economics Major?

This major is designed for students interested in both economics and finance, and is aimed particularly at those who wish to pursue careers in corporate finance, financial analysis, insurance and real estate, and/or government agencies where special emphasis is placed on financial economic knowledge.

Student Resources

• Department website: Economics and Finance and Marketing
• Department advising: See the pre-major advising section of the College of Business and Economics website.
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample careers:
  • Actuary
  • Financial Planner/Analyst
  • Government
  • Investment Banker
  • Budget Analyst
  • Banking Securities
  • Financial Economist
  • Business Forecaster

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

Students planning to major in Economics should declare their major as early as possible, preferably their first year at Western. Completion of the CBE foundation courses is not required to declare this combined major in economics.

Admissions

Programs in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) are selective and based upon prior academic performance and other evidence of high promise. For admission to CBE as a full Economics major, a student must have completed the following requirements:

• Confirmed admission to Western Washington University
• Achieved a 2.5 cumulative college GPA (including transfer work) Complete and submit the online application form.

Advising tips

1. Complete MATH 157 and DSCI 205 requirements early
2. For information regarding the MIS 220 Equivalency Exam see the Department of Decision Sciences website for test-out information
3. Meet with your faculty advisor (assigned following admission to the major)

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (94-95 credits)

• ACCT 240 - Financial Accounting (4 credits)
• ACCT 245 - Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
• ACCT 341 - Intermediate Accounting Theory and Practice I (4 credits)
• ACCT 342 - Intermediate Accounting Theory and Practice II (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • DSCI 205 - Business Statistics (4 credits)
  • MATH 240 - Introduction to Statistics (4 credits)
  • MATH 341 - Probability and Statistical Inference (4 credits)
  • or equivalent
• ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits) (HNRS 209 - Colloquium in Microeconomics may be taken in place of ECON 206)
• ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (4 credits)
• ECON 303 - The History of Economic Thought (4 credits)
• ECON 306 - Intermediate Microeconomics (4 credits)
• ECON 307 - Intermediate Macroeconomics (4 credits)
• ECON 375 - Introduction to Econometrics (4 credits)
• FIN 341 - Principles of Finance (4 credits)
• FIN 440 - Investments (4 credits)
• FIN 441 - Intermediate Financial Management (4 credits)
• FIN 444 - Financial Institutions and Markets (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • FIN 448 - Portfolio Analysis and Management (4 credits)
  • FIN 449 - Cases in Financial Management (4 credits)
  • FIN 455 - Equity Analysis (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • ACCT 343 - Intermediate Accounting Theory and Practice III (4 credits)
  • ECON 411 - Monetary Economics (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
  • MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors (5 credits)
  • MATH 138 - Accelerated Calculus (5 credits)
  • MATH 157 - Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (4 credits)
  • or AP Calculus Exam with a score of 3 or better
• MIS 220 - Introduction to Business Computer Systems (2 credits) or equivalent
• 12 credits of upper-division economics electives under departmental advisement; a minimum of 8 of these credits must be at the 400 level
• 8 credits of upper-division finance electives under departmental advisement; a minimum of 4 of these credits must be at the 400 level
• Take one Communication Focus (CF) course and a minimum of three writing proficiency points in approved upper-division writing proficiency courses (WP-3 points) at WWU with a minimum grade of C-. The CF and WP courses must be taken within CBE and can be completed as part of the above required and elective courses, prior to graduation.
• Financial Economics majors are required to take an assessment exam prior to graduation. The test is provided at no charge. Students will be informed of the time and date of the examination. The examination requirement may be waived in the case of special circumstances by the Department Chair of Economics or Finance & Marketing or by the Dean of the College of Business and Economics.
• Note: ECON 309, ECON 311, ECON 446 and ECON 447 may not be counted toward this major.

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement