Economics, B.S.

Economics is the study of how individuals, firms and nations make choices when confronted with limited resources. At Saint Louis University, economics majors learn to apply theory and problem-solving skills while balancing public policy with the choices faced by today’s society.

Through SLU's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business economics curriculum, students will receive a strong foundational knowledge of economics, taking core classes in macro-and microeconomics, econometrics and business statistics.

Curriculum Overview

The Chaifetz School of Business, through its continuing mission to provide excellence in business education, has developed an economics program that is one of a kind in the region. Helping students develop strong ethical, technical and professional skills, the program provides in-depth knowledge and expertise in both macro-and microeconomics.

Students can explore economics from various perspectives, including money and banking, health economics, sports economics and more. 

Internships/Student Organizations

St. Louis’ metropolitan location provides many economics internship opportunities that allow students to gain career-related work experience while applying classroom learning to practice. Most are paid, and students may earn academic credit. Supervised by both a representative from the organization and a faculty mentor, economic students at SLU have interned with entities such as financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies. 73% of SLU Economics students in the Class of 2021 completed at least one internship by graduation.

The department also sponsors an Economics Club for students interested in economics. This club provides a link between students and a career in economics, offering students opportunities to establish networking relationships with potential employers.

Careers

The department has an excellent record of placing graduates in graduate and professional programs, leading to high-profile jobs. Graduates join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. In recent years, SLU Economics students have earned internships and employment at prestigious organizations such as Boeing, Centene Corporation, Goldman Sachs, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and Wells Fargo. 

Possible career paths for graduates with an undergraduate degree in economics from SLU include:

• Actuary
• Applied statistician 
• Business reporter
• Data analyst
• Economist
• Financial analyst
• Loan officer
• Portfolio manager

Admission Requirements

Freshman

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply. Saint Louis University also accepts the Common App. 

All applications are thoroughly and carefully reviewed. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. 

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. Beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, undergraduate applicants will not be required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) in order to be considered for admission. Applicants will be evaluated equally, with or without submitted test scores.

Transfer

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply. 

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s).

Transfer students must have a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply. 

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• You must demonstrate English Language proficiency.
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding your time at Saint Louis University.
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of your study at the University.
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit www.slu.edu/financial-aid.

Accreditation 

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty. Fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

1. Graduates will be able to understand essential business concepts and how the various functional areas of business are related.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ethical concepts and corporate social responsibility and be able to evaluate business problems from multiple ethical perspectives.
3. Graduates will be able to identify and structure business problems and propose actionable solutions to business problems and, when applicable, utilizing appropriate technology.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective written communication in the discipline of economics.
5. Graduates will be able to understand how cultures, politics, laws, ethics, and economies influence and impacts business and use tools and concepts to analyze and formulate an international business strategy.
6. Graduates will be able to engage in quantitative reasoning, specifically:
   1. Analyze and interpret empirical evidence to evaluate economic arguments
   2. Analyze and evaluate policies based on economic principles

Eighteen credits in addition to ECON 1900 Principles of Economics (3 cr), ECON 3120 Intermediate Macroeconomics (3 cr), and ECON 3140 Intermediate Microeconomics (3 cr), which are taken as part of the business common body of knowledge requirements.

*

In addition to completing lower and upper-division coursework in all areas of business, each student typically selects a business major before or during the first semester of the junior year. 18 major-specific credit hours are required as determined by the appropriate department. To broaden their expertise, students may complete more than one major in business, or a major and a minor in business. Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), however, a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

‡

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

Continuation Standards

Economics students must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA) in all economics courses used to fulfill major requirements.

​Students will be on program probation if their GPA in major courses used to fulfill major requirements falls below a 2.00. Students will have one semester to increase their major cumulative GPA to a 2.00; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level major courses.

Students will be automatically placed on university probation if any of the following occur:

• Their Saint Louis University cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00
• Their Saint Louis University semester grade point average is below a 1.00
• More than two "incomplete" or two "in-progress" grades on their academic transcript

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance.

In order to improve scholastically and demonstrate their ability to make progress toward a degree, students on probation may not register for more than 12 credits in the fall and spring semesters, three credits in the winter term, and no more than one course/four credits in any single summer session term.

The conditions under which a student is dismissed from the school include:

1. Inability to eliminate probationary status within the two semesters subsequent to the assignment of probation or
2. A grade point average deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, a student must complete all course requirements and meet all of the following conditions:

• Apply to graduate.
• Earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all SLU coursework; accounting students must earn a minimum 2.70 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all SLU coursework. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all major courses that fulfill the major requirements; accounting students must earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses that fulfill the major requirements.
• Complete the University Undergraduate Core.
• Complete 30 of the final 36 credits at the St. Louis campus or an approved study abroad program.
• Complete at least 50% of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*
• Complete major course requirements in residence at the St. Louis campus.*
• Students transferring from the Madrid campus must complete a minimum of 40 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 30 credits of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*

*

Students may pursue the economics, international business or marketing majors at the St. Louis campus and/or at the Madrid campus. The residency requirement then applies to courses taken at either campus.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

¹

Must complete in first 36 credit hours at SLU.

²

Must complete in first 60 credit hours at SLU.

³

MATH 1510 Calculus I highly recommended.

⁴

Must take second semester sophomore year unless studying abroad.

⁵

ENGL 4000-Professional Writing highly recommended

⁶

Must have completed all other Business Common Body of Knowledge courses.

Students can complete the B.S. in economics at SLU-Madrid.

Learn More

2+SLU programs are formal  transfer agreements for students seeking an associate degree at a partner institution. 

• Economics, B.S. (Jeffco 2+SLU)
• Economics, B.S. (STLCC 2+SLU)