Economics, B.A.

Learn to apply economic theories to finance, banking, manufacturing, education, insurance, energy and many other areas.

We offer a comprehensive program for students interested in majoring in economics. Courses provide you with a basic understanding of economic structures and processes, including economic growth and productivity, unemployment and inflation, taxation and public expenditure, supply and demand, international trade and finance, as well as labor-management cooperation and competition.

Other areas of study may include demand theory and estimation, production and cost theory, analysis of market structure, antitrust policy, government regulation of business, capital budgeting, inflation theory, unemployment, determination of interest rates and international economics.

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Take the next step toward completing your Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Student investors talk with professor seated around a conference table

Hands-on, Real World Experiences

Students in the Portfolio Management Club oversee an ongoing investment of over $200,000 of the university’s actual endowment funds. Club members include students majoring in finance, economics and related majors.

Areas of Study

Students interested in economics have two options for majors at Lenoir-Rhyne:

Economics - our program will provide you with an understanding of economic structures and processes and you will study human behavior—how individuals, businesses and governments make decisions and decide to allocate resources.
International Economics - our international economics major is a 51-hour interdisciplinary program that combines economics, finance and international politics with a strong background in a chosen foreign language program.

Qualified economics students interested in continuing their education through graduate study can easily matriculate into several of Lenoir-Rhyne’s graduate programs, such as the Master of Business Administration or the Master of Public Health programs.

Through LR’s innovative Bridges to Dreams and Alumni Advantage programs, if you complete your undergraduate degree at Lenoir-Rhyne, you are able to complete your graduate degree in shorter time and at significantly less expense.

My professors have helped me grow as a student by introducing me to opportunities. They’ve opened doors for me to meet other people and businesses that may lead to possible careers after graduation.

Tera Peña '21, Accounting and Economics

Careers

Students graduating with an economics degree have a strong comprehension of the national economy and are able to think critically about the challenges faced throughout the business world.

You will also possess communication, data manipulation, and computer technology skills, preparing you for a variety of careers.

Economics majors compete well against most business majors for employment opportunities. Corporations value the broad analytical training of our graduates, and recognize that your educational foundation will enhance their performance in managerial decision making.

Opportunities for economists exist across local, state, national and international arenas, and in the private, non-profit and public sectors.

Economics integrates the liberal arts and applied professional preparation very effectively, preparing graduates for a wide array of opportunities and for success in graduate and/or additional professional education like law or administration.

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Learning Outside the Classroom

Future employers and post-graduate schools will look at your entire undergraduate work both inside and outside the classroom. Take full advantage of all opportunities that are available to you at LR, including research, study abroad, internships, student clubs and organizations.

Internships

Economic majors have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience through internships with local and regional businesses and corporations, working directly with seasoned leaders and professionals in the field.
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Mauney Economics & Business Club

Mauney Economics and Business Club students can attend the annual conference of the Eastern Economic Association (EEA).

Founded over 40 years ago, the EEA is one of the largest associations of academic and professional economists and hosts one of the few conferences that invite undergraduates to attend as well as present in student sessions.

At the conference, students have the opportunity to select from more than 150 sessions offered, featuring research work and information about various economic topics. Students meet and interact with professional economists from throughout the country and the world and learn more about exciting career opportunities.
Federal Reserve’s College Fed Challenge Team

Lenoir-Rhyne competes in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (5th District, Charlotte division) College Fed Challenge, along with other North Carolina schools such as Elon, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill. The District winner goes on to a national competition.

Students must demonstrate their knowledge of the Federal Reserve and its policies as well as macroeconomic conditions in a presentation and through questions from judges. This activity provides you with opportunities to compete against other major universities on issues of economic policy and practice.

Accreditation

Lenoir-Rhyne is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The B.A. in Economics is not accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) due to the nature of the program.

Major Requirements

Admission & Financial Aid

Program Contact

Mary Lesser, Ph.D.

Professor
625 7th Ave NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Faculty Page

News & Events

Lenoir-Rhyne surpasses $90 million Charge Forward campaign goal ahead of schedule

Lenoir-Rhyne University has surpassed the $90 million goal of its Charge Forward comprehensive campaign ahead of schedule, reaching a historic milestone in the largest fundraising campaign in university history.

Ethan Craig sits in a red-orange chair in a hallway in the Mitford Museum

At home in the Mitford Museum

First-year student Ethan Craig ’30 turned a summer internship at the Mitford Museum into hands-on experience in museum curation — and caught a glimpse of the places his passion for art might someday lead.