College of Business and Technology
Department of Economics and Finance
Economics and Finance Program Information
(ECON)(FNCE)
P.O. Box 70686
Phone: (423) 439-4202
227 Sam Wilson Hall
Web address: http://www.etsu.edu/cbat/economics/
The mission of the Department of Economics and Finance is to provide students with the educational experience necessary to succeed in a competitive global environment. We offer both business and non-business degree programs. Students can earn a traditional Bachelor of Business Administration degree in either economics or finance or a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Both programs focus on developing the problem solving skills that will help enable the student to critically analyze the complex and rapidly evolving issues of business and society. The Department also offers minor programs of study in both economics and finance for those students who would like to broaden their educational experience. We also offer a general business minor that is especially valuable for non-business students who may have future aspirations to earn the Master of Business Administration degree.
The Economics Business Administration Program offers two main concentrations - each providing a different emphasis. Business Economics has a microeconomic focus built on the study of markets and the behavior of business firms. The Financial Economics concentration provides an integrated focus on macroeconomics and the financial system and includes courses in finance. A graduate of these concentrations will be well-prepared for employment at all levels of business, the financial services industry, government, and the not-for-profit sector. A third concentration in General Business is also available for those students who desire a more broad-based education in business.
Students who are interested in Finance can earn a Finance Business Administration degree with concentrations in Banking , Corporate Finance and Investments or Real Estate . Each of these concentrations offers the student a program of study that leads to a traditional career path in his or her chosen field. We are also one of 25 finance programs designated by the Tennessee Valley Authority to be a part of the TVA Investment Challenge. The Challenge gives our students the opportunity to manage an active stock portfolio in competition with the other participating colleges. As of January 2017, the student-managed portfolio was valued at more than $670,000 and has outperformed the S&P 500 in eight of the last 12 years including 2016 where students generated an 18% return. The students in the Finance Program have been very successful in actively managing a real-money portfolio provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority, while students in the banking concentration have the additional opportunity to participate in a course with an experiential focus by interacting with bankers to discuss their daily decision-making challenges. All finance students have the opportunity to work with a team of students and present a case study analysis of current challenges in finance.
East Tennessee State University, through its participation in the CFA Institute University Recognition Program, has five scholarships available annually to sit for the Level 1 CFA exam offered every June and December. The College of Business and Technology Economics and Finance program incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge and emphasizes the Institute’s code of ethics and standards of practice.
These scholarships cover both the exam and the study materials.
Further information can be found at https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfaprogram/scholarships/Pages/index.aspx
For students who prefer not to study in a traditional business program, the department offers a non-business Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in economics . Students who aspire to an international career will particularly benefit from our concentration in international commerce . This program combines traditional economics coursework with courses in business, geo-politics, and foreign language to prepare students for a host of career possibilities in government and multinational corporations. As a complement, the department has also established close ties with cooperating universities in Europe and encourages students to participate in the university’s foreign study exchange programs.
B.A. Degree in Economics General Program Information
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (B.A.) is a non-business degree. The most significant differences between the Bachelor of Business Administration degree (B.B.A.) and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (B.A..) are:
Non-Business B.A. Students:
Are required to satisfy “Bachelor Degree Requirements” listed below.
Do not complete the (College of Business and Technology) “Basic curriculum for all college of business B.B.A. majors ”.
Are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language as described in this catalog.
Are required to limit their Business Administration and Management courses to no more than 25 percent of the total number of hours completed for the B.A.. degree. The 25 percent limit includes courses in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing.
General Program Information
To earn a degree from ETSU, there are specific course requirements established by ETSU, by the East Tennessee State University Board of Trustees, by each college, and by each department. All students must meet the degree requirements at each of these levels outlined in the following list:
University-level Degree and Graduation Requirements
Total Credit Hours for Degree: 120
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements: 6 Credit Hours *
- Foreign Language (3 credits)
(See College of Arts and Sciences B.A. and B.S. Degree Requirements ; consult the Literature and Language Department’s placement policy at http://www.etsu.edu/cas/litlang/resources/placement_policy.php)
- Non-United States History (3 credits)
* Students studying for a B.A.. must complete 3 hours credit in Non-United States History. The department recommends either HIST 1110 or HIST 1120 to fulfill both the B.A.. Non-United States History requirement and three credit-hours of the Humanities/Fine Arts requirement. Otherwise, additional coursework is required to fulfill both requirements. The Mathematics requirement is fulfilled with the Mathematics TBR General Education Requirements.
General Education Requirements: 41 Credit Hours
Listed below are the categories and courses specified under East Tennessee State University Board of Trustees General Education Requirements. Note that certain courses are required for this degree, specific to this major. Thus, these courses will satisfy both a General Education requirement AND a requirement of this major. (Other majors may require different General Education courses.) Where specific courses are required for this major, only those courses are listed under the category. If there are no specific major requirements for a category, all course options appear.
Communication
9 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition and 3 credits of oral communication.
Written Composition
Complete both of the following:
Oral Communication
Complete one of the following:
Humanities and Fine Arts
9 credits, consisting of 3 credits of literature, 3 credits of fine arts, and 3 credits of humanities electives.
Literature
Complete one of the following:
Fine Arts
Complete one of the following:
Humanities Electives
Complete one of the following:
Social and Behavioral Sciences
6 credits, consisting of both of the following:
History
6 credits, consisting of both of the following:
Natural Sciences
8 credits, consisting of two of the following (some require labs which are listed directly after the lecture):
(Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the College of Arts and Sciences must select 8 credit hours in a SINGLE laboratory science. Please see listing in College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Degree Requirements for options.)
Mathematics
Students will enroll in the appropriate general education math course during their first calendar year of enrollment at ETSU. Students required to complete learning support in mathematics must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of MATH 1530 during their first 15 hours at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading or writing. Students needing learning support in reading or writing in addition to learning support in math should enroll in MATH 1530-Lxx immediately upon completing their other learning support requirements. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/
Economics Core Requirements: 27 Credit Hours
Select 3 courses from: 9 Credit Hours
Electives: 25-28 Credit Hours
Minor: 18-24 Credit Hours *
* Minors are selected with the guidance of the chair of the Economics and Finance Department and the approval of the minor department.