Economics BSECON

Degree Awarded: BS in Economics (BSECON)
Minimum Required Credits: 120.0
Co-op Option: Three Co-op, Two Co-op, One Co-op, No Co-op
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.0603
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3011

About the Program

Economics is a social science that examines how individuals make decisions based on incentives and how these decisions interact through markets and institutions to shape real-world outcomes such as wages, income, consumption and well-being. In the economics major, students are introduced to the methods, concepts, and theoretical models economists use to analyze these interactions and to evaluate their implications for individual behavior and societal well-being. The BSECON program provides a rigorous, quantitatively oriented approach to understanding economic systems and policy challenges.

The BSECON degree program emphasizes the formal expression of economic theory through mathematics, statistics, and numerical methods. Students learn how economic models are represented mathematically and how data-driven techniques are used to address practical problems in public policy, industrial development, and human welfare. Coursework includes specialized statistical and econometric methods for estimating model parameters and for evaluating the effects of hypothetical shocks and policy changes, with a strong focus on empirical analysis. An attractive feature of the program is its flexibility: through extensive free electives, students are able to shape the degree around their own academic interests.

Instruction in the BSECON program commonly relies on examples from past and current economic events, with particular emphasis on their quantitative and empirical dimensions. Applied empirical projects develop students’ skills in data analysis and quantitative reasoning, while written reports and presentations strengthen their ability to communicate technical results clearly and effectively. Together, these experiences prepare students to work confidently with data and to apply economic analysis to real-world problems.

Drexel’s distinctive experiential education model provides structured opportunities for students to integrate academic study with professional experience. Through the cooperative (co-op) education program, students may participate in full-time work experiences aligned with interests in economic and statistical analysis. Experiential learning opportunities such as co-op placements reinforce classroom learning by allowing students to apply quantitative economic reasoning in corporate, nonprofit, and policy-oriented environments and often serve as a pathway to employment after graduation.

Graduates of the BSECON program pursue careers in consulting, policy analysis, finance, and other fields that rely on applied statistical and numerical methods. The program also provides particularly strong preparation for graduate study in economics and closely related fields such as business, data science, and public policy. Through its technological orientation, emphasis on experiential learning, and cooperative education model, Drexel positions BSECON students at the leading edge of analytically driven professions.
 

Additional Information

For more information please contact the School of Economics

Admission Requirements

Same as Drexel admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

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A complete list of eligible Introductory Core Competency courses can be found here.

Program Learning Outcomes