Economics and Finance

Vision

The Department of Economics and Finance aspires to be the preeminent department of economics and finance in the region and a worldwide leader in delivering innovative academic programs that promote core business values in a competitive marketplace. The Department places a premium on fostering intellectual development of its faculty, staff and students, providing a collegial work environment for all, maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and professionalism, providing superior service to the surrounding community, and advancing the field of knowledge within the disciplines found in the department. The Department exists to educate its students in a manner that will allow them to succeed in their chosen fields of study.

Mission

The Department of Economics & Finance of the SBE at WSSU, which supports several undergraduate majors and two graduate programs, houses the majors of Business Administration, Economics, and Finance, the minors of Economics, Financial Services, General Business, and Legal Studies, and the Center for Economic Analysis and the Center of Excellence in Financial Services. The faculty and staff of the department strive to impart undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills and abilities befitting business students. Through its centers and research, the faculty and staff of the department seek to improve the quality of life for the surrounding community and increase knowledge in their respective fields of study.

Departmental Goals

1. To enable students to obtain financial and economic literacy and to better understand the economy as it affects them.

2. To provide excellent advising and mentoring.

To provide a broad-based introduction to economics, finance and law so that students in the business school can have the skills necessary to succeed.

6. To prepare students for graduate work in economics, finance, and law, as well as prepare students to take the Certified Financial Planner examination.

To provide an atmosphere and infrastructure conducive to scholarly and creative activities.

7. To improve teaching effectiveness.

8. To provide service to the University and the community.

Undergraduate Programs Offered

Major Programs

Business Administration

Economics

Finance

Minor Programs

MINOR PROGRAM IN Business (Not available to SBE majors)

MINOR PROGRAM IN Economic

MINOR PROGRAM IN Financial Services

MINOR PROGRAM IN Legal Services

Policies

The Department of Economics and Finance recognizes CLEP (College Level Examination Program) scores of 3 or greater as sufficient to provide undergraduate credit for the respective course under examination. The three courses for which CLEP credit may be earned are: Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, and Legal Environment of Business.

The Department of Economics and Finance accept transfer credit based on articulation agreements from community colleges for the following courses only: Legal Environment of Business, Principles of Microeconomics, and Principles of Macroeconomics. No credit will be accepted from a community college for any course listed at the 3000-level or higher in the Department of Economics and Finance. Exceptions to this policy are based on articulation agreements between WSSU and specific community colleges.

The Department of Economics and Finance generally will accept transfer credit from regionally accredited four-year institutions. However, specific course credit is evaluated on a case by case basis and may require the submission of an original course syllabus or catalog description. Students seeking to take courses at other institutions after enrollment at WSSU must seek out prior approval for such credit to be applied to specific courses in the department.

Departmental Honors

To receive departmental honors, a student must have:

· Eighteen (18) SH of junior and senior level honors courses

· Nine (9) SH of honors courses in the major (business core courses do not count)

· Grades of A and B in all honors courses

· Junior and Senior Honors Colloquia

· Honors Thesis, Research/Creative Project

Centers

Center for Economic Analysis

Center for Excellence in Financial Services