Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Economics - Financial Economics (BA)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus

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Economics studies the principles guiding the best use of resources. Important topics in economics include production; consumer choice; the distribution of income; and the causes of economic growth, recessions, and inflation.

Many economists analyze data to determine underlying relationships and trends, to predict the consequences of government policy, or to develop forecasts of future activity. Such work involves mathematics or statistics and often deals with current issues.

Students may pursue specialized study in economic theory, money and banking, public finance, labor economics, international trade, economic development, transportation, econometrics, regional economics, industrial organization, and economic systems.

A student majoring in economics may earn either the bachelor of arts or the bachelor of science degree. In earning a B.A. or B.S. degree, students choose between the general option and four different specialized tracks. The general degree is designed for flexibility. It works well for those who want to choose their own area of emphasis or perhaps earn a second major in another field. Many students prefer to specialize in a more narrow area of economics and choose one of the tracks within the major. The tracks are designed to give students the opportunity to develop those skills most relevant to a specific area within economics.

Accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs

Students who begin graduate work after completing the BA or BS degree generally require more than one year to complete work for a master’s degree. However, a five-year program leading to a BA or BS in economics at the end of four years and a master of arts in economics at the end of five years is available for promising undergraduate students. Students who have completed their junior year and have outstanding scholastic records (GPA 3.2 or higher) are invited to join the program.

Each student, in consultation with a faculty advisor, will plan an individualized program of study that meets requirements for the BA or BS and the MA degrees. Features of the program include participation in research as an undergraduate and enrollment in graduate level courses in the senior year. Students participating in the program will be considered for financial assistance in the form of scholarships, fellowships, research assistantships, and part-time work.

Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours

K-State Core is the foundation for an impactful life and career after time at K-State.

The K-State Core framework covers six disciplinary areas: English, Communications, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. In addition, a seventh area is reserved for institutionally designated use, which K-State is keeping as free electives. In total, the framework takes up 34-35 credit hours of 100 and 200-level coursework. Students who complete their general education elsewhere cannot be required to take additional general education coursework in the disciplinary areas of the framework without permission from KBOR to continue requiring courses in the K-State Core.

General Education: K-State Core

Program Requirements

Orientation: 1 Credit Hour

DAS 101 or other approved A&S orientation

DAS 101 - Discover, Create, and Thrive: Arts and Sciences Orientation Credits: 1

Outside Concentration: 9 Credit Hours

Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except Economics, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for Econ) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours

May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]

Program

The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take Calculus.

Foundation: 15 Credit Hours

ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 120 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 510 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 520 - Intermediate Microeconomics Credits: 3
OR
ECON 521 - Intermediate Microeconomic Theory Credits: 3
ECON 580 - Senior Seminar in Economics Credits: 3

Financial Economics Electives I: 9 Credit Hours

Choose 3 from the below

ECON 530 - Money and Banking Credits: 3
ECON 630 - Introduction to Econometrics Credits: 3
ECON 684 - International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 590 - Monetary, Credit, and Fiscal Policies Credits: 3
FINAN 520 - Investments Credits: 3

Financial Economics Electives II: 6 Credit Hours

In addition to the first 9 credit hours of electives, students need an additional 6 credit hours of electives of Economics courses, which may come from the above set of electives or the additional courses listed below

Choose 2:
ECON 530 - Money and Banking Credits: 3
ECON 605 - Economic Applications of Game Theory and Strategic Behavior Credits: 3
ECON 630 - Introduction to Econometrics Credits: 3
ECON 681 - International Trade Credits: 3
ECON 684 - International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 686 - Economics Forecasting Credits: 3
ECON 590 - Monetary, Credit, and Fiscal Policies Credits: 3
FINAN 520 - Investments Credits: 3

Additional Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

ACCTG 231 - Introduction to Managerial Accounting Credits: 3
FINAN 450 - Principles of Finance Credits: 3

Math and Statistics: 9 Credit Hours

MATH 205 - General Calculus Credits: 3
OR
MATH 220 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
Choose 1 Introductory Course:
STAT 225 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
STAT 240 - Biometrics I Credits: 3
STAT 250 - Business and Economic Statistics I Credits: 3
STAT 510 - Introductory Probability and Statistics I Credits: 3
STAT 610 - Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I Credits: 3
STAT 703 - Introduction to Statistical Methods for the Sciences Credits: 3
Choose 1 advanced course:
STAT 351 - Business and Economic Statistics II Credits: 3
STAT 611 - Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II Credits: 3
STAT 705 - Regression and Analysis of Variance Credits: 3

BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours

3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

One course in Humanities Credits: 3

Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts Credits: 3

BA Second Language Requirement: 3-16 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following:

Option 1: 3-14 Credit Hours

At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., Frech 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence.

Option 2: 16 Credit Hours

At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level.

Option 3: 3 Credit Hours

Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program.

Free Electives: 8 Credit Hours

In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

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