Economics, A.A.

Program Description

This program is also available completely online. 

The Economics, A.A. program juxtaposes social science, business and social policy and provides a useful background for students interested in careers in public policy, business or finance. Students study the collective behavior of individuals, businesses, and governments, as they strive to allocate scarce resources optimally.  Students develop analytical and critical thinking skills that allow the analysis of economic problems and relationships. This is a transfer degree that provides a foundation for students to pursue a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Program Outcomes

1. Describe the terms and concepts commonly used in economic analysis including supply, demand, marginal analysis and opportunity cost.
2. Identify the conditions necessary for an optimal allocation of society’s scarce resources.
3. Display the necessary quantitative skills needed to analyze relationships between economic variables.
4. Solve economics problems using theoretical tools (e.g. graphs, schedules and equations).
5. Analyze the efficacy of economic policy and attempts to change the outcome of free market forces.

Sequence of Study

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• BMT-1010 Introduction to Business Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Requirement)

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• ACC-1001 Principles of Accounting I Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• ANT-1030 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)
• MAT-1250 Applied College Algebra Credits: 3 (Mathematics Gen. Ed. Requirement; Critical Course)
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• ECN-1030 Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement; Critical Course)

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• PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PHL-1330 Ethics Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science Gen. Ed. Elective, No Lab) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science Gen. Ed. Elective, No Lab) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science Gen. Ed. Elective, No Lab)

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• MAT-2160 Applied Calculus I Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• POS-1000 Introduction to Politics Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• POS-1020 State and Local Government Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• BIO-1010 General Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography  Credits: 3 (Science w/Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) and
• GEO-1020 Physical Geography Lab   Credits: 1 (Science w/Lab Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• HST-1410 History of the United States to 1877 Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877 Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• ECN-1050 Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• ECN-2010 Statistics for Business and Economics Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• ECN-2020 Money, Banking, and Finance Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• INT-2150 Problem Solving with Databases Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• WMS-1010 Introduction to Women’s Studies Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• HST-1370 The World in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• SOC-2010 Social Problems Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• SPN-1010 Spanish for Beginners Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• FRN-1010 French for Beginners Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• BMT-2750 Leadership Development Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning  Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic  Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• COM-1110 Public Speaking Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Elective) or
• ECN-2910 Economics Internship I Credits: 1 (Program Elective)

Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.