Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Economics (B.A.)

Program: B.A.
Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts

Neff Hall Room 340 ~ 260-481-6497

Economics is the study of the rational allocation of scarce resources. This major seeks to develop critical skills that will help you understand and solve problems in a wide variety of circumstances. These analytical abilities are valuable in the business world and many professional disciplines such as law and social work.

This program is offered in close cooperation with the Department of Economics and Finance in the Richard T. Doermer School of Business which offers the economics courses required for the major. Students are advised by the faculty of the Department of Economics and Finance.

For details on pursuing a secondary education second degree (BSEd) to teach Economics in middle school/high school, click on the links to the Secondary Education - Second Degree Program and the School of Education page in this catalog. Note: The BSEd as a second degree in these programs cannot be earned without completion of the bachelor’s degree in the content area from the College of Liberal Arts. See Program Requirements below for a link to the Secondary Education - Second Degree 4-Year Plan.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

be able to explain economic behavior in a variety of settings using economic concepts and theories;
develop critical analytical skills to assist with solving problems in a variety of circumstances;
develop the ability to employ basic statistical and econometric methods in the analysis of economic data.

Program Delivery:

This program is available on-campus

Declaring this Major:

Declare this major within the Department of Political Science

General Requirements:

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=4506&fos_credential=3

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

Program Requirements:

Economics (B.A.) 4-Year Plan :

A grade of C- or higher in all economics core and additional economics courses required for the major, and an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses required in the major.
Correspondence courses may not be used to satisfy any of the requirements for this major.

Economics (B.A.) with Secondary Education 4-Year Plan :

Students pursuing a double degree (BSED and BA/BS) in Secondary Education with History, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology require a minor. They may choose a minor in any of the following programs, provided the minor is different than the major: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Exceptional Needs-Mild Intervention, French, German, History, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Spanish. See below for examples of 4-year plans. Contact your History or Education advisor for assistance choosing your specific minor.

To earn the B.A. with a major in Economics, you must fulfill the following requirements in addition to the General Requirements noted above:

College of Liberal Arts Course Requirements

Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for detailed information on college requirements.

Introduction to the Liberal Arts: Credits 3

IDIS 10605 - Introduction To The Liberal Arts Cr. 3.

Second Semester Writing, Research, and Methods Class: Credits 3

ENGL 23301 - Intermediate Expository Writing Cr. 3.
or choose one of the following equivalent courses:
ENGL 20201 - Literary Interpretation Cr. 3.
HIST 21700 - Historical Methods Cr. 3.
ILCS 30000 - Methods Of Research And Criticism Cr. 3.
POL 20700 - Elements Of Political Analysis Cr. 3.
WOST 23000 - Writing For Social Change Cr. 3.

International Language: Credits 12

You must complete two courses at the first-year level and two courses at the second-year level in a single international language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for more details.

Thematic Requirements: Credits 15

Students will take one course in each of these five areas to ensure that they have an opportunity to deepen their traditional liberal arts education while also preparing for a culturally diverse, technologically advanced, and increasingly globalized and complex world:

Gender, Sexuality, Race, and/or Ethnicity: Credits 3
Conflict and Cooperation: Credits 3
Institutions and Behavior: Credits 3
Regional/Geographic Study: Credits 3
Digital Humanities/Public Humanities: Credits 3

List of Courses and Stipulations for the COLA Thematic Requirements

Economics Core Courses: Credits 27

Additional Economics Courses: Credits 9

Choose one of the following:
ECON 32400 - Foundations of Business Data Analytics Cr. 3.
OR
MA 22900 - Calculus For The Managerial, Social, And Biological Sciences I Cr. 3.
Note: MA 22900 is recommended if pursuing graduate studies in Economics. Contact Economics advisor if questions.
Choose remaining credits from 3000+ or 4000+ level Economics courses.
Other courses approved by the Economics faculty may be used.
At least two of the courses chosen must be completed at Purdue Fort Wayne.

General Electives

Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120

Total Credits: 120 minimum

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.