• Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 327
• (909) 537-5511 Department of Economics website

Economics is the study of how individuals and societies organize the production and distribution of goods and services. Economics is also concerned with the historical development of economies along with how various groups and classes interact within the economy.

All policy issues in modern societies have an economic dimension, and so the study of economics provides students the ability to understand many of the fundamental problems faced by society. Further, because economics emphasizes systematic thinking and the analysis of data, training in economics offers excellent preparation for careers in industry, nonprofits, and government. Economics also provides excellent preparation for many professions including law, education, public administration, and management.

Reflecting the interests and training among its faculty, the Economics Department at CSUSB offers two Bachelor of Arts degrees: a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Political Economy.

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors will be awarded upon graduation to students majoring in economics who have:

1. Earned a 3.5 grade point average in all economics courses attempted at this university;
2. Completed at least half of all work in economics at this university;
3. Been recommended for departmental honors by economics faculty.

Students who qualify for departmental honors are strongly encouraged to discuss with their faculty advisor the possibility of enrolling in ECON 5999.

Students who have completed a minimum of 12 semester units of economics course work with a grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B") and who also have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 may join the university's chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the national honor society in economics. Additional information can be obtained from the Department of Economics.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

• Economics
• with concentrations in:
  • General Economics
  • Mathematical Economics
  • Applied Economics

The B.A. in Economics provides the student with rigorous training in economic theory, data analysis, and the analysis of public policy. On the one hand, the major involves a consideration of how individuals, firms, and governments balance costs and benefits to achieve their goals. On the other hand, the major considers the larger institutional and macroeconomics structures that shape the decisions of economic and non-economic actors.

The major provides excellent preparation for a variety of jobs in the private sector, non-profits, and government. It also provides excellent preparation for a variety of graduate and professional schools.

•  
• Political Economy

The Political Economy major provides students with a knowledge of contemporary issues and policy along with a set of practical skills preparing students for employment in community groups, unions, non-profits, government, and private businesses. This program also equips students to enter professional schools along with graduate schools in various disciplines.

The major combines course work from Economics and other disciplines to create a coherent program investigating the behavior of the economy and society using a broader and more inclusive framework than found in standard economics programs. In particular, this program is an innovative blend of coursework from mainstream economics, heterodox economics, and non-economics disciplines. The program provides students with the skills necessary to perform research and data analysis along with allowing students to gain additional practical skills such as writing for the public, accounting, and geographic information systems.

Importantly, the program gives students the option to systematically investigate gender, race, and ethnicity. To promote student engagement with the community, the program has a service-learning course.  

Minors

Economics

Philosophy, Policy, and Economics

Political Economy