BS Economics | LSU Department of Economics (2024)

Understanding the complex world of economics.

International Trade & Finance (ITF) is a specialized course of study that focuses on economics at an international scale — where global policy and market drivers shape the world we live in.

As an ITF major, you will take courses focused on international economics and the global markets. You will learn how international trade is mutually beneficial, discuss the effects of tariffs and other trade restrictions, and analyze how economic disturbances originating abroad are transmitted home and what policymakers can do to mitigate them.

What You'll Learn

The Bachelor of Science in International Trade & Finance enables students to identify the role of supply and demand in a market economy and the conditions needed for those economies to function well.

In this 120-hour program, you will understand the economic role of government policy and the Federal Reserve, among several other learning objectives. Students are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and the completion of 30 credit hours to be admitted into the program. Areas of study covered in the program include:

  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Public Policy
  • International Trade & Finance
  • Economic Growth & Development
  • Econometrics
  • International Business & Relations

Empirical Economic Analysis Concentration

An empirical economic analysis concentration is available to international trade & finance and economics majors. The concentration provides skills in analyzing business and economic data to solve real world problems. See full curriculum.

Career Path

ITF graduates can be successful in a wide variety of industries. While employment in business roles is most common, they are highly sought after in other professional areas including the public sector, law, nonprofits, international relations, research, and academia.

Career options include:

  • Economist
  • Financial Risk Analyst
  • Diplomat
  • Economic Researcher
  • Management Consultant
  • Investment Analyst

The study of international trade and finance serves as a foundation for those interested in the global economy. The Department of Economics prepares students for a variety of career paths in some of the world's most influential and recognized companies.

Employers that hire ITF graduates include:

Southwest Airlines

Halliburton

Ernst & Young

Georgia Pacific

$105,630

Median Salary for Economists

- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021)

13%

Employment Growth Outlook for Economists

- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-30)

"As a student in LSU’s Department of Economics, I have seen firsthand how much the faculty cares about creating an environment where asking questions is encouraged and challenging yourself is rewarded. So many of the professors I’ve encountered have stood out as impactful for their great passion and willingness to support students outside of the classroom."

— Faith Howard, Class of 2022

BS Economics | LSU Department of Economics (1)

Contact Us

Department of Economics

2300 Business Education Complex
501 South Quad Drive
225-578-52117
econ@lsu.edu

Charles Roussel

Economics/ITF Undergraduate Advisor
2304 Business Education Complex
225-578-5211
crouss5@lsu.edu

Richard Stahl

Economics/ITF Undergraduate Advisor
2308 Business Education Complex S.
225-578-3793
abyssean@lsu.edu

BS Economics | LSU Department of Economics (2024)

FAQs

Is BS economics difficult? ›

A college-level economics class can be challenging because you need to grasp new concepts like supply and demand, scarcity, diminishing returns, and opportunity costs. It requires you learn new vocabulary and to use critical thinking skills. But those theories, concepts, and terms build upon one another.

Is a bachelor's degree in economics enough? ›

A bachelor's degree is often enough to find work in the field, but some require a master's. Along with a solid background in business education, market research consultants also need strong skills in math and analysis.

Is BS economics better than BA Economics? ›

If you are more interested in the theory behind economics and its practical application, you should consider the B.A. degree since it offers more opportunities to take theory-based economic classes. If you are interested in the math behind economic decisions, the B.S. degree is a better choice for you.

Is economics a hard degree? ›

Just as any major has its challenging courses, economics requires the study of complex concepts that don't often have black-and-white solutions. Within the discipline there is a wide range of topics from macroeconomics (the study of economy-wide issues) to microeconomics (the study of individual behavior).

Can I do economics if I'm bad at maths? ›

Economics is considered a social science, but even as social science, some of the theories and analysis in economics require a firm foundation in mathematics.

Is ECON major harder than finance? ›

As a finance degree heavily depends on financial analysis and modeling, students may find the material more difficult if they struggle with mathematical concepts. However, students seeking an economics degree might have difficulty understanding abstract ideas like economic theory and policy analysis.

Is economics a lot of math? ›

Math and statistics are used in economics, but at the undergraduate degree level, the math and statistics are certainly not overwhelming. Economics majors are usually required to take one statistics course and one math course (usually an introductory calculus course).

What is the highest paying job with an economics degree? ›

Top 15 Best Paying Jobs For Economics Majors 2024 (Inc Salaries
  1. Economist. ...
  2. Market Research Analyst. ...
  3. Financial Analyst. ...
  4. Actuary. ...
  5. Business Analyst. ...
  6. Accountant. ...
  7. Data Analyst. ...
  8. Research Assistant.

Is economics a respectable degree? ›

Is economics a good career? Yes – a career in economics offers a wide range of opportunities across sectors like finance, consulting, government, academia, and research.

Is economics a BA or BS Harvard? ›

Bachelor of Arts (A.B.)

Are economics majors in demand? ›

6% job growth means that by 2032, the BLS expects there to be about 18,650 non-academic economists employed in the US (though they also project 1,100 new positions, which would represent a 6.5% increase). Similarly, the BLS estimates that there are 11,640 economics faculty positions in the US as of May 2022.

Is economics a STEM major? ›

The applications were recently approved and Economics is now designated as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) discipline. The change in CIP codes is effective Autumn 2020. 1.

Why is economics so difficult? ›

The problem: why is economics so confusing? Economics is confusing to a lot of people because it deals with abstract concepts that are difficult to wrap your head around. In addition, the field of economics is constantly changing and evolving, which makes it hard to keep up with the latest thinking.

What can I do with a bachelors in economics? ›

Alumni with degrees in economics may attain positions in areas such as business management, finance, law, actuary, education, sales, administrative, and journalism in addition to economics.

Is it easy to get a job with economics degree? ›

A degree in economics can provide a variety of job opportunities in nearly every industry, from local government and the sciences to finance and insurance. While some of these jobs might require additional certifications or education, others are available to those with a bachelor's degree.

Is it difficult to study economics? ›

Like pretty much anything, economics is a hard subject if you want to really learn it. You can learn some basic terminology and concepts easily, but the rest will involve hard work and serious math skills.

Is ECON one of the hardest majors? ›

#3 Economics

It's about how people think and act, what makes them make the decisions they do, and so on. So why do people consider economics a difficult major? In this area, you will take a lot of math and statistics classes and do plenty of critical thinking and synthesizing of data – so it can definitely be hard!

What to expect in BS economics? ›

Economics majors have also generally studied demand theory and estimation, production and cost theory, analysis of market structure, antitrust policy, government regulation of business, capital budgeting, inflation theory, unemployment, the determination of interest rates, and international economics.

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