Bachelor of ArtsEconomics

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Pursue a career in banking, finance, insurance, real estate, marketing, data management, or research—or start your own business—with a degree in Economics.

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Graduates with economics degrees can pursue a wide range of careers in both the private and public sectors. Bellarmine’s program gives you the tools you’ll need to understand a broad spectrum of economic events, and our internship guarantee and strong local connections ensure you will gain real-world experience and land a job.

Why earn your Economics degree at Bellarmine?

Bellarmine is at its core a liberal arts university. By offering a liberal-arts-based degree program, the Department of Economics & Finance serves a vital mission in Bellarmine’s W. Fielding Rubel School of Business by emphasizing and strengthening the connection between the Rubel School’s professional programs and Bellarmine’s liberal-arts mandate.

The Rubel School is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite 15 percent of business schools in the world. It is also noted for rapidly incorporating innovations and business trends into the curriculum. At Bellarmine, students are encouraged to combine the economics degree with complementary degrees in areas such as accounting, finance, business, mathematics, political science, or foreign languages. With proper planning, it is possible for entering first-year students to combine their undergraduate degree in economics with an MBA in five years.

Many economics students take advantage of Bellarmine’s connections worldwide in order to study abroad for one or two semesters. Others may take advantage of the range of internship opportunities available due to our focus on research and analytics. Our graduates find a variety of challenging career paths in industry or while pursuing graduate studies in law or economics at highly ranked institutions including Indiana, Notre Dame, George Mason, Florida State, and North Carolina State, among others.

Program Highlights

The liberal-arts-based undergraduate program in economics within the Bellarmine University Rubel School of Business develops the tools needed to understand a broad spectrum of economic events in both the private and public sectors. Economics provides the analytical tools that employers often seek. In addition, a degree in economics provides an excellent background for students planning to pursue graduate degrees in economics, finance, international studies, public policy, and the law. Students may choose to major in economics alone, or pair the major with a complementary degree such as accounting, actuarial science, business, or foreign language and international studies. About two-thirds of our economics majors pursue internships at local businesses, or government internships in Frankfort or Washington. About one-third choose to study abroad in countries as diverse as China, Australia, Japan, and France.

A new interdisciplinary minor in Sports Studies at Bellarmine that requires 18 credit hours of cross-discipline study in the areas of economics, communication, health, psychology and law teaches students how to analyze this area as sports becomes a stronger and stronger force in business and popular culture. Bellarmine’s Institute of Media, Culture and Ethics plays a critical role in providing supplemental activities such as sports-related seminars and guest speakers.

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LaCinda Glover

“It’s hard to believe I walked onto Bellarmine’s campus as an eager freshman over 11 years ago. I planned on getting a great education, but I never could have imagined how much I would grow as a person. My passion for helping others grew over the four years I was there. Through my work in admissions, service trips, tutoring, and campus involvement, I knew I wanted to work with people. Now I use my math and economics degree to consult with all types of companies on their human resources issues. I’m still very involved in my community and have Bellarmine to thank for pushing me to embrace my liberal arts education. I couldn’t sing Bellarmine’s praises high enough. Go BU!”

LaCinda Glover, Mathemathics/Economics ’06
Senior Associate, Mercer Consulting Firm

Learning Goals

  1. Economics graduates will demonstrate the ability to critique issues affecting the global economy.
  2. Economics graduates will demonstrate quantitative literacy.
  3. Economics graduates will demonstrate proficiency within the field of economics in both written and oral communication.
  4. Economics graduates will demonstrate the critical thinking skills necessary to undertake original research in economics.
  5. Economics graduates will demonstrate the ability to recognize and analyze ethical problems that arise in economics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses are required to complete the program?

For an Economics Major:

  • Required Core Courses: ECON 110, ECON 111, 231, 232, 314, 410, 441, 499, and six hours selected from other 300- or 400-level courses in Economics.
  • Required Related Courses: MATH 205 or 315 and 125 or 117.
  • For the maximum of 36 hours permitted in the department, nine additional hours may be selected from other courses in Economics.

For an Economics Minor:

  • ECON 110, 111, 231 or 232, MATH 125 or 117, and an additional nine hours selected from 200-, 300- or 400-level courses in Economics.
  • Note: Finance majors who minor in Economics must take an additional 300- or 400-level Economics course. If they choose ECON 231 and ECON 410, then ECON 410 can double count as a substitute for BUSA 346 in the Finance major as well.
What employment opportunities are available with a degree in economics?

Economics provides an excellent background for students planning to pursue graduate work in business, international studies, public policy and law. Students with undergraduate or advanced degrees in economics may pursue a wide range of careers in both the private and public sectors. Private-sector opportunities include jobs in areas such as banking, finance, insurance, real estate, marketing, data management, general management and research and development. Opportunities in the public sector include jobs at the local, state or federal level of government or with organizations such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Some graduates have also pursued careers in academia by going on to earn doctorates. Some have become entrepreneurs who operate their own business.

Recent graduates have obtained jobs at a variety of notable businesses including Morgan Stanley, PNC Bank, The Stevenson Company, Schneider Electric, General Electric and William Mercer.

Bellarmine graduates in economics have been awarded teaching or research scholarships to pursue doctoral degrees (typically in economics or finance) at Florida State, George Mason University, Miami University, North Carolina State University, Indiana University, The University of South Carolina and Mississippi State University.

Some of our recent graduates have chosen to complete law degrees at Indiana University, Michigan State University, the University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky.

Do you provide job or internship placement?

Yes. Bellarmine guarantees every student the opportunity to have an internship, develop a career plan and build a professional network. A sizeable percentage of economics majors pursue internships at local businesses or government internships in Frankfort or Washington. Internship opportunities are available at a number of notable businesses including Morgan Stanley, National City Bank, The Stevenson Company, Summit Energy, General Electric, William Mercer and Constellation Energy.

Are there any special requirements to remain in the program?

Yes. Students must achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA for all Rubel School courses (accounting, business, economics, and finance) taken in the Rubel School (not counting transfer courses) to graduate with an economics major.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. Please go to Bellarmine’s financial aid website for detailed information on financial aid packages. Additionally, students can work with our Faculty Development Center to apply for grants and awards outside of the Bellarmine offerings.

How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time?

Students have their own learning styles so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in class.

Career Opportunities

Students with undergraduate or advanced degrees in economics may pursue a wide range of careers in both the private and public sectors. Private-sector opportunities include jobs in areas such as banking, finance, economic forecasting, energy management, insurance, real estate, marketing, data management, general management, and research and development. Opportunities in the public sector include jobs at the local, state, or federal level of government or with organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank. Many of our graduates have earned permanent positions at these companies. Some graduates have gone on to become entrepreneurs.

Some of our recent graduates have chosen to complete law degrees or other doctoral degrees. The Rubel School faculty take an active role in helping to place students in internships and in helping to identify suitable opportunities for permanent employment or graduate school.

On-Campus Experiences

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) is the International Economics Honor Society. A primary objective of ODE is to provide recognition for those students who have achieved academic excellence in their economics courses. In addition, ODE helps to emphasize the professional aspects of economics as a career field for service in the academic world, business, government and international organizations. Another important objective is to establish closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities, and among colleges and universities.

Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) is a professional co-ed fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

The Economics and Finance Club provides Economics majors with opportunities to hear speakers from the fields of economics and finance. There is also an annual opportunity for students to attend a professional conference. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to participate in community and university service that uses their expertise in economics and finance.

Faculty

Here is a quick snapshot of a few of our faculty members. Read profiles of all of our distinguished faculty.

Headshot of Frank Raymond

Dr. Francis E. Raymond

MBA Director • 502.272.8487 • fraymond@bellarmine.edu

Dr. Raymond is a Professor of Economics and MBA Director. He received his BA in Mathematics at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, his MS in Mathematics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his Ph.D. in Economics at Indiana University-Bloomington. His research primarily focuses on mathematical modeling of issues in international development. He teaches undergraduate and MBA courses with a focus on international development, macroeconomics and econometrics.

Hongwei Song

Dr. Hongwei Song
Dr. Song is an assistant professor of Economics. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Arkansas. At Bellarmine, she teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in classes such as Principles of Microeconomics, International Trade and Finance, and Global Economy. Dr. Song is a member of the Southern Economic Association and the American Economic Association. Her fields of interest involve development economics, the economics of networks, experimental economics, and international economics. She has published on academic journals in both English and Chinese.

Bellarmine on Business Podcast

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Bellarmine University's Rubel School of Business is launching the Bellarmine on Business podcast. Each monthly episode will feature lively discussions with faculty and/or alumni. Episodes will focus on the economy, finance, marketing, HR, the law, business strategy and more. Learn more >>

Accreditation

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite business schools in the nation. Not only is Bellarmine the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation, but fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide have achieved this distinction. Bellarmine University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees.

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