Economics

In Economics, students learn how a market economy functions. Economics explains a great deal about business decisions and consumer behavior. Economics majors will learn why economies grow and the causes of business cycles. Also, understanding economics is useful for students interested in politics and public policy. Students will learn how taxes, subsidies and government regulation of business activity affect consumer welfare, job creation and prosperity.

The analytical framework of economics promotes critical-thinking skills valued by employers. Students are exposed to concepts that help them understand consumer behavior and business decisions. Students learn how individual industries function, and they gain an understanding of how the market economy functions as a whole. The field of economics emphasizes that the behavior of individual decision makers (consumers, firms, government agencies) adjusts in response to changes in their incentives. With this framework, students learn to evaluate how changes in technology, government regulation and market circumstances will impact their own lives, the industries and organizations of which they are a part, and society. The Economics program demands strong quantitative and communication skills.

Double Major Requirements

Students seeking a double major in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics must be in good standing (2.0 overall and 2.0 CSUN GPA) and be able to complete both majors within a maximum of 140 units.

Transfer Course Requirements

Students should be aware that no grade lower than a “C” will be accepted on transfer from another institution to satisfy department or David Nazarian College of Business and Economics requirements.

Residency Requirement

At least 50 percent of the business and economics course credit units and 50 percent of the specialized major credit units required for the Bachelor of Science degrees in Accountancy, Business Administration or Information Systems and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics must be completed in residence at CSUN.

Required Courses

1. Lower Division Required Courses (21 units)

*MATH 103 or a higher-level mathematics course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. MATH 150A or 255A may be substituted. Course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
**The 4-unit MATH 140 course also satisfies this requirement.

2. Upper Division Courses (27 units)

Upper Division Required Courses (12 units)

ECON 309 The Use and Interpretation of Economic Data (3)
ECON 310 Price Theory and Applications (3)
ECON 311 Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve (3)
ECON 312 Macroeconomic Theory (3)

Upper Division Elective Courses (15 units)

Five upper division courses chosen from any Economics department listing, excluding ECON 498. At least three elective courses must be 400-level courses.

3. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

15 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: MATH 103 satisfies Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; ECON 309 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; ECON 160 and ECON 310 satisfy D1 Social Sciences; and IS 212 satisfies E Lifelong Learning and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.

Total Units in the Major: 48

General Education Units: 33

Additional Units: 39

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120