2021-22 Academic Catalog

Department of Finance and Economics

This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Office: 312 McCool Hall

Business Economics Major (ECO)

Economics is the scientific study of how people and institutions make choices concerning the use of society’s scarce resources. Applied to business, economics is primarily concerned with the decision-making of households and firms within a market context. The importance of economic analysis is recognized by it being the only social science in which a Nobel Prize is awarded. The B.B.A. in economics provides the analytical skills and empirical background needed to understand the dynamic problems facing businesses in the ever-changing economic environment. Career opportunities available to an economics graduate include management, research, and instructional positions with corporations, banks, economic development agencies, trade organizations, governments, and educational institutions.

An economics major or minor also helps prepare the student for graduate professional training in business, public administration, and law. The flexibility of the economics major is reflected in relatively high starting salaries and lifetime earnings of economists. Undergraduates at Mississippi State University may pursue an economics major through either the College of Business (B.B.A degree) as described here or through the College of Arts and Sciences (B.A. degree) as described previously in this bulletin.

Students seeking the B.B.A. with a major in economics are required to complete all College of Business and university common core requirements. Majors are required to take MA 1613 Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I. Elective courses should be chosen with the advisor’s approval and used to enhance the student’s overall program. Only grades of C or higher will be accepted for EC courses that are counted toward the major.

The economics faculty offers a minor in economics through the College of Arts and Sciences. This minor is open to any student regardless of major or college of enrollment. A minor in economics is attained by selecting, in consultation with the economics minor advisor, at least 15 hours of economics course work. Three hours of courses from finance (FIN) or agricultural economics (AEC) may be applied to the economics minor with approval from the advisor. All economics minors must register with the economics minor advisor in the Department of Finance and Economics, 312 McCool Hall. Students with majors in business, engineering, agriculture, the social sciences, mathematics, and pre-law are especially encouraged to consider the economics minor.

Academic advising and career counseling are available from the economics faculty for both majors and minors. Students interested in the study of economics should contact the Department of Finance and Economics, 312 McCool Hall. Any student who completes 12 credit hours of economics with at least a 3.0 GPA and has an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is eligible for membership in Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in economics.

Finance Major (FINA)

Finance plays a central role in the operation of the economy and is crucial to an organized society’s resource allocation system. Individuals often come in contact with financial instruments (money, stocks, bonds, etc.) and financial institutions (banks, thrifts, insurance companies, etc.); thus, they need to understand the role of the financial system in managing their lifetime financial portfolio. Finance majors acquire the knowledge and skills to help individuals and companies make decisions regarding allocation of scarce resources through analyzing accounting data, utilizing economic concepts, and applying statistical tools in the valuation of financial and real assets.
The Finance major requires 124 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree. For specialization, students may choose from a list of electives based on their interests and career preparation needs. In order to maximize the benefits of their degree, students are strongly encouraged to work closely with a faculty advisor in securing an internship and developing their personal program of study.

The career opportunities for Finance majors are varied and challenging. Graduates pursue careers in corporate financial management, commercial banking, real estate investment, mortgage lending, investment banking, financial planning, and wealth management. In addition, an optional concentration in Risk Management and Insurance is also available.

Finance minors and double majors are available for both business and non-business majors. For specifics, see the Programs of Study tab and the Minors tab.

Risk Management and Insurance Concentration

The concentration in Risk Management and Insurance option leads to a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree with a major in Finance (FINA) and a Concentration in Risk Management and Insurance (RMI). The program offers a broad study of subjects related to the fields of Risk Management and Insurance with an emphasis on the professional educational requirements in the Insurance industry.

Students enrolled in the concentration must complete an Introductory course in Insurance as well as advanced courses in Life and Health Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance, and Enterprise Risk Management.

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