Ivan F., Class of 2020, Military Veteran

Bachelor of Business
Administration (BBA)
in Economics

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4-week
COURSES

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Year-round
enrollment

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230K+ Alumni Worldwide

Overview

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree prepares you for career opportunities and advancement in business, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations. By successfully completing NU’s lower- and upper-division BBA requirements, you’ll comprehend the importance of and relationships between marketing, accounting, quantitative theory, economic principles, and the management of finances, personnel, and organizations.

The Economics specialization is designed for those interested in learning how individuals, businesses, and governments make economic decisions in allocating their resources. The coursework teaches quantitative analysis, economic fundamentals, and monetary principles that can prepare you for success in graduate business studies, law school, professional training, and employment opportunities in government, the private sector, and international organizations.

Admission Requirements

In preparation for your Bachelor of Business Administration studies, you’re required to complete the following courses or equivalents:

  • MNS 205 – Introduction to Quantitative Methods

OR

  • MTH 215 – College Algebra and Trigonometry

OR

  • MTH 220 – Calculus I
  • MTH 210 – Probability and Statistics
  • ECO 203 – Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECO 204 – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ACC 201 – Financial Accounting Fundamentals
  • ACC 202 – Managerial Accounting Fundamentals
  • LAW 204 – Legal Aspects of Business I

Course Details

Required Courses

For the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Economics, you must complete ten foundational courses and five specialization courses.

Foundational Course Listings

Course Name

An introduction to the roles of managers and the vision, mission, and goals of organizations. This course investigates management theories and explores the four primary functions of managers: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. You’ll explore issues related to human resource management, organizational structure and behavior, creative problem solving, effective communication, and the management of teams, change, and innovation.

This course is an introduction to contemporary marketing theory and practice in both the local and global marketplace. You’ll examine basic concepts of marketing with an emphasis on market positioning, segmentation, and targeting, as well as product development and distribution.

An overview of information systems (IS) infrastructure and its utilization in today’s global business environment. The use of technological tools and the role of information systems within organizations will be explored from strategic, tactical, and operational viewpoints. You’ll learn how to choose and utilize information to gain a competitive advantage in industry and the marketplace.

This course is a survey of the principles and concepts used in the financial management of a business enterprise. Topics are addressed from both theoretical and practical standpoints, including money and capital markets, financial management of working capital, capital budgeting and fixed asset management, and short-term and long-term financing by means of debt and equity capital.

An exploration of business values and ethics through both a local and international lens. You’ll examine moral philosophies, values, conflicts of interest, discrimination, business cultures, and ethical standards with a critical eye. You’ll also study the ethical leadership of people, technology, and sustainability, and how to develop and implement all of these through ethical business programs.

This course explores the fundamentals of business analytics. You’ll focus on the management-science approach to problem-solving, the application of linear programming, the use of decision analysis techniques, and how to utilize project management tools.

A survey of the fundamental concepts of production and operations management. You’ll learn to use quantitative methods for forecasting, resource allocation, capacity planning, inventory management, and quality assurance. The focus is on improving production efficiency while simultaneously enhancing effectiveness through better managerial decisions. The course concludes with a study of how to align organizations with external suppliers and customers through supply chain management.

This course introduces upper-division undergraduate students to the accelerating globalization of all business. You’ll explore international business through a series of case studies that illustrate concepts and methods within three broad subject areas: (1) the economic framework of international business, (2) the operating structures of multinational corporations, and (3) a guide for global strategic management.

In this course, you’ll apply the principal concepts and skills learned in each of your core business courses to real-world situations. The key objective is to integrate this knowledge and apply it to the critical analysis of case studies and other assignments. This is the first part of a two-course capstone sequence. The focus is on scanning and evaluating a current business situation for strategic planning.

The second part of the Bachelor in Business Administration capstone sequence, this course builds on BUS 485A by focusing on five-year business strategies and the implementation, evaluation, and control of a strategic plan. As part of this final foundational course, you’ll also take a comprehensive exam for the BBA program.

Required Specialization Courses

Course Name

Building on the fundamentals of microeconomics, this course covers the market and market equilibrium, budget constraints, revealed preference and intertemporal choice, industrial organization and profit maximization, game theory, welfare economics, information technology, and asymmetric information.

Building on core macroeconomic principles, this course prepares you for exploring and analyzing contemporary macroeconomic issues. Coursework focuses on the measurement of income, prices and employment; monetary and fiscal policy; financial markets; the public sector; international trade and finance; and current global issues.

This course analyzes secondary-source economic data, such as that gathered by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization of European Community for Development (OECD), and various U.S. government sources. You’ll focus on the basic tools of mathematical and statistical analysis as you learn to convert commercial, financial, and budgetary information into meaningful economic conclusions.

Specialization Electives

  • Select two courses from the following:

Course Name

In this course, you’ll explore theories and explanations for economic growth from a positive perspective. The framework for your analysis will derive from the following productivity factors: physical and human capital, productivity measurement, efficiency and the role of technology, economic openness, distribution of income, and inherent characteristics such as culture, geography and natural resources.

A survey of basic capitalistic principles and market process economics. Coursework will explore the nature and importance of capitalism, wealth and its role in human life, natural resources and the environment, the division of labor and production, pricing systems and controls, and economic coordination. With a fundamental understanding of capitalism, you’ll then compare and contrast it with other economic systems.

This course makes a detailed study of the labor market and the economic forces that affect it. You’ll study the demand for and supply of labor, the causes of unemployment, and the relationship between the labor market and other markets. Coursework will also examine such topics as labor market discrimination, influences on labor productivity, the effects of labor unions, and wage determination.

In this course, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in previous economics courses to analysis of the global economy. You’ll apply the law of comparative advantage to understand the universal advantages of international trade. Trade agreements, such as GATT and NAFTA, will be discussed and analyzed, and you’ll examine the qualities and quirks of currency markets and different types of monetary systems.

A study of the U.S. monetary and financial systems and the role they play in facilitating the production of wealth in the economy. You’ll explore the theory and practicalities of money; the Federal Reserve System and monetary policy; how interest rates are determined, stock and bond prices; and the different types of financial institutions that facilitate the flow and function of money.

Learning Outcomes

Students earning the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an Economics specialization will learn to:

  • Apply ethical and legal principles to a business environment
  • Apply skills and knowledge in business math, economics, accounting, finance, and operations management needed to make sound business decisions
  • Apply knowledge in the fields of management, information systems, and marketing to different business environments
  • Apply fundamental business knowledge to the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements in a business enterprises
  • Conduct independent research relevant to business-related issues
  • Demonstrate the writing, presentation, research, and teamwork skills expected of a business school graduate at the bachelor level
  • Apply a global business perspective based on a knowledge of foreign business environments and cultures
Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.