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 the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business’s economics curriculum, students will learn to apply theory and problem-solving skills while balancing public policy with the choices faced by today’s society.

Curriculum Overview

The Chaifetz School of Business, with 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 economics.

Internships/Student Organizations

St. Louis’ urban 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 and governmental agencies.

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

Careers

The department has an excellent record of placing graduates in both graduate and professional programs, which lead to high-profile jobs. Graduates join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.

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 course work is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. College admission test scores (ACT or SAT) are used as an additional indicator of the student’s ability to meet the University’s academic requirements and to qualify the student for certain University scholarship programs. To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be approaching graduation from an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development (GED) test.

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:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the 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 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: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should 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 the student financial services office online at https://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation 

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, 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.  Less than 10% 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.
5. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective written communication in the discipline of economics
6. 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.
7. Graduates will be able to engage in quantitative reasoning, specifically:
   1. Analyze and interpret empirical evidence to evaluate economic arguments, and
   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.

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

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 are required to apply for probationary status, which allows for no more than two consecutive semesters to improve scholastically and to demonstrate the ability to make progress toward a degree.

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance. Students on probation may not register for more than 15 credits of coursework as defined by the terms of the probation.

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 total grade point deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see section under University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) 

Arts and Sciences Core Requirements 

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 and earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses that fulfill the major requirements; for all other majors, students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all major courses that fulfill the major requirements;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all business coursework taken at Saint Louis University;
• complete the Arts and Sciences core as specified in the business school curriculum;
• 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.*

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.