Economics is the allocation of resources among competing uses. You will study many vital issues that affect human flourishing in the Economics major at SPU, while emphasizing a Christian perspective of society’s decisions about how to organize the production and distribution of goods and services. The Economics major at SPU emphasizes critical thinking, original research, and the stewardship of scarce resources to enhance human flourishing.
Find out more about this program’s mission, vision, and learning outcomes.
Concentrations
The Business Analysis concentration will equip you with additional skills and understanding related to marketing, management, and international business.
The Development Economics concentration will prepare you to proactively work alongside and within developing countries around the world.
The Financial Economics concentration will allow you to focus on issues such as financial accounting, business finance, and investments.
The General concentration provides you the opportunity to custom tailor your educational experience with the Economics courses that most interest you.
The Public Policy concentration prepares you to pursue work and/or further studies in public administration, global development, and politics.
You will study many vital issues that affect human flourishing in the Economics major at SPU. This major emphasizes development and financial economics, with a focus on decision making, resource stewardship, and policy for allocation and distribution of resources and production. Economics is vital to understanding the firm as a system, and also the broader interaction of firms and households with the macroeconomy and political institutions.
- A minimum of 68 credits are required for this major, including 45-50 upper-division credits.
- You may choose the general track, or you may choose one of four concentration options by completing 15 elective credits within that particular discipline.
- You must have a minimum of 35 credit hours in the major at SPU.
Additional competencies and requirements
New Majors Dessert attendance
Newly admitted students of Economics; Business; Accounting; International Sustainable Development; and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) are required to attend an orientation event typically held in February each year. Admission to the major is conditional upon attendance.
Economics major admission data
Admission to the Economics major is selective and based upon prior academic performance. Recent aggregate admission data for the Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics majors is depicted below.
| Academic Year |
2020–21 |
2021–22 |
2022–23 |
| Average GPA of Admitted Students |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
| Lowest GPA of Admitted Students |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
| Number of Applicants |
110 |
93 |
116 |
| Number Admitted |
105 |
89 |
112 |
Entering and completing the Economics major
You are required to make formal application and be admitted to the Economics major prior to enrollment in most upper-division courses.
To meet the minimum requirements for application to the major, you must:
- Have attained at least sophomore standing (45 or more college credits).
- Complete at least 15 credits in BUS, ACCT, and ECN at SPU (10 credits for transfer juniors and seniors).
- Have either a 2.50 cumulative GPA and 2.50 major GPA at SPU, or a 3.0 major GPA. Attainment of the minimum GPA standards does not guarantee admission, as the total number of students admitted is limited by capacity.
- Submit an online Major application December 20–January 20. SBGE does not accept major applications outside this window.
To successfully complete the major, note that:
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, you should meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
- You must complete the major requirements in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year of admittance to the major.
The Economics minor allows you to complement your chosen major with some general economics coursework. A minor in Economics can be of particular value to Political Science majors, or if you are preparing for law school. These requirements also satisfy the requirements for a teaching endorsement in Economics.
- A minimum of 30 credits are required for this minor, including 15 upper-division credits.
- SPU requires you to earn at least 15 credits of this minor at SPU, 10 credits of which must be upper-division credits.
- This minor is not available to students majoring in Accounting; Business Administration; Economics; Politics, Philosophy, and Economics; or other Business minors.