Economics Bachelor of Science Degree

Develop your communication, computational, and management skills in addition to refining your economic reasoning and quantitative abilities. You’ll be prepared to apply economic analysis to help solve real-world problems.

The bachelor's in economics emphasizes the quantitative analytical approach to dealing with economic problems in both the public and private sectors, providing you with marketable skills and the intellectual foundation for career growth. You will be prepared for entry-level managerial and analytical positions in both industry and government and to pursue graduate studies in economics, business, and law. You may choose one of the following tracks: economic theory, environmental economics, or managerial economics.

Economics Bachelor’s Degree Courses

The economics BS curriculum develops communication, computational, and management skills in addition to economic reasoning and quantitative abilities. Required courses develop your abilities to apply economic analysis to real-world problems. Liberal arts courses enhance oral and written communication skills. Business courses include accounting and finance. Quantitative analytical skills are developed by a course sequence that includes computer science, mathematics, and statistics.

Free electives allow you to pursue advanced study in your individual areas of interest and/or develop a double major. Along with finance, marketing, mathematics, statistics, or computer science, there are many other possibilities. Faculty advisors help you develop professional options that assist you in attaining your career goals.

Capstone Experience

You are required to complete a creative capstone experience. You may publish a paper in a refereed journal, present a paper at a professional conference or an RIT-sponsored conference, present research at an approved exhibit at Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival, or fulfill a comparable creative capstone requirement in your primary major (if economics is the secondary major).

Double Majors

Double majors are a way to customize your education to best reflect your interests, career goals, and your marketability after you graduate. The economics bachelor's degree is flexible and allows you to pursue a double major in a secondary field of study. Even with a double major, you are able to graduate in four years.

Academic Enrichment Opportunities

Economics faculty members serve as mentors and are available to enhance your personal and professional growth. You may work as a teaching assistant for a professor in economics courses or learn about research techniques as a research assistant for faculty. For both of these activities, you receive a stipend. Finally, you can engage in independent or joint research with a faculty member, receiving academic credit and obtaining funding for your research needs.

RIT’s Pre-Law Program

Law schools welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. RIT’s pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selection to ensure you build the skills and competencies required of competitive law school applicants. The program is open to students in all majors who are interested in pursuing a career in law.

Furthering Your Career in Economics

Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees: Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

• Economics BS/Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS: As an economics undergraduate student, your study of market and resource distribution–from the interplay between firm behaviors and consumer choices—exposes you to the complexity of governmental policies and social issues while also building essential computational, management, and communication skills. From this foundation, the science, technology, and technology MS equips you to tackle challenges in policy areas such as technology policy, economic policy, industry regulation, environmental sustainability, health care, digital policy, and more.
• Economics BS/Artificial Intelligence MS: For the economists of the future, an accelerated dual degree pathway in which you can earn both your BS in economics and your MS in artificial intelligence serves to supercharge a foundation in economics with the power of AI to transform approaches for forecasting and predictive modeling, analyzing big data, assessing behavioral modeling, reviewing and analyzing labor markets, evaluating policy, and more. Graduates are equipped for careers in fintech, insurance, policy making, business strategy, government, data science, and research.
• Economics BS/Finance MS: This program allows students to build a strong foundation in economic theory while gaining advanced expertise in financial analysis, markets, and investment strategies. This accelerated pathway prepares graduates with both broad economic insight and specialized financial skills—ideal for careers in corporate finance, consulting, banking, or policy analysis.
• +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in economics as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway can help you add a competitive advantage to your studies.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.

3+3 Accelerated BS/JD Programs

RIT has partnered with Syracuse University’s College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law to offer accelerated 3+3 BS/JD options for highly capable students. These programs provide a fast track to law school where you can earn a bachelor’s degree at RIT and a Juris Doctorate degree at Syracuse University or University at Buffalo in six years. Interested students may apply to the option directly, with successful applicants offered admission to RIT and conditional acceptance into either Syracuse University’s College of Law or University at Buffalo School of Law.

RIT's economics degree is one of the approved majors for the 3+3 option.

Learn more about Accelerated Law 3+3 Programs.

RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs

Whether your goal is to go into early childhood or elementary education, become a secondary education teacher with a content area specialty at the middle or high school level, or work in the higher education or counseling fields, RIT’s partnership programs with local universities provide a guided pathway to a career in teaching. 

These 4+1 or 3+2 programs enable you to earn your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at one of our partner universities. As you progress, you’ll benefit from focused academic advising, career exploration opportunities, and resources for research, learning, and skill development.  

RIT’s economics degree is eligible for RIT’s Teaching Partnership Program. 

Learn more about RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs.