What Can You Do With An Economics/Finance Degree
DESCRIPTION:
This major is designed to give the student in business administration a broad knowledge of economic and financial tools to provide a foundation for careers in business, economics, finance or law. Studying economics exposes the student to the different areas of economics. Taking a variety of finance courses develops familiarity with the institutions within our financial system and an understanding of the problems of financing business activity. Because of the breadth of this major, it allows maximum flexibility and prepares graduates to enter a wide variety of occupations, or attend professional or graduate school in business, economics, finance, government or law.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Surveying
Decision-making
Interviewing
Screening
Analyzing community needs
Clarifying problems/situations
Analyzing communication situations
Recognizing elements, relationships, structures,
Critiquing and organizing principles
Diagnosing
Tracing problems to their sources
Analyzing manpower requirements
Reviewing
Organizing/classifying
Reviewing large amounts of material and
Reviewing/evaluating extracting essence
Systematizing/organizing material
Perceiving/defining cause and effect relationship
Problem solving
Anticipating problems
Trouble-shooting problems
Planning
Program development
Team building
Goal setting
Utilizing skills of others
Organizing others
Policy making
Scheduling
Maintaining
Planning and carrying out meetings
Supervising
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Perform ambiguous or abstract tasks
Conduct research and analyses
Solve problems through thinking
Collect and organize data
Work independently
Research trends in economic activity
Formulate general investment strategy
Process, evaluate and communicate information
OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Administrative officer/government service
Administrator, contract and order
Accountant
Advertising manager
Actuary
Archivist, economic history
Auditor
Bank officer
Budget consultant
Analyst, credit
Business agent, Labor Union
Buyer
City planning aide
Claim adjuster/agent/examiner
Columnist/commentator
Commodity industry analyst
Conciliator
Consumer affairs director
Contract administrator
Corporate counsel
Director/employment research planning
Financial aid counselor
Labor relations
Labor economist
Lobbyist
RepresentativeDirector/institutional research
POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS:
Advertising departments and firms
Chambers of Commerce
Political action groups
Banks
Market research departments and firms
Business corporations
Civic & taxpayer associations
Research & development firms
Colleges and universities
Employment agencies
Consulting firms
Financial institutions
Consumer organizations
Industries
Educational institutions
Magazines, newspapers
Personnel departments
POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS CONTINUED:
Government Agencies
Consumer Affairs Office
Housing & Urban Development
Energy Department
Labor Department
Federal Trade Commission
Social Security Administration
SALARY INFORMATION:
www.focuscareer.com, www.salary.com, www.salaryexpert.com
According to the Spring 2005 Salary Survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, (NACE), the average salary offer for Economics/Finance majors is: $42,802.
CAREER SERVICES RESOURCES:
Careers in Focus: Business, Ferguson Publishing, 2000
Great Jobs for Economics Majors, Blythe Camenson, 2000
Job Opportunities for Business Majors, Petersons, 1998
Opportunities in International Business, Jeffrey S. Arpan, 1991
Careers in Business, Lila B. Stair, 1998
What Can You Do With a Major in Business?, 2005
GCIS and FOCUS computer programs
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Economic Association
2014 Broadway, Suite 305
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-2595
615-322-2595
www.nabe.com
National Association for Business Economics
1233 20th Street NW #505
Washington, DC 20036
202-463-6223
www.vanderbilt.edu/AEA/index.htm
WEB SITES:
American Agricultural Economics Association: www.aaea.org
Careers in Business: www.careers-in-business.com
Resources for Economists on the Internet: www.rfe.org
Jobs in Economics: www.oswego.edu/~economic/jobsecon.htm
STUDENT ORGANIZATION:
University Business Society
Link to USC Upstate George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics