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2025-2026

Economics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science in Business Administration (Reynolds Community College)
Reynolds Community College
Reynolds Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Business Administration

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

Economics is the science of human choice, the study of how individuals and businesses allocate scarce resources among competing uses. As an economics major, you’ll gain an understanding of markets and incentives, and learn to evaluate current events and assess public policy. From our gateway course to our capstone programs, you’ll develop the analytical and communication skills valued by employers. Our curriculum focuses on applying quantitative and data analysis expertise to address business, public policy, and socioeconomic concerns. We also help you build and refine your communication skills, preparing you to present your work professionally with confidence.

Career opportunities

Undergraduate work in economics is excellent preparation for careers in business, government, and teaching, as well as for graduate work in economics and professional schools such as law, public administration, and medicine. Specialization in economics prepares students for careers that emphasize analytical thinking, a broad understanding of the economy and business organizations, and the impact firm/government decisions have upon consumers, firms, and the economy as a whole. Because of their analytical, quantitative and decision-making skills, students who major in economics are sought after for a wide array of positions. In particular, the specific skills economics majors acquire provide employment opportunities in large organizations that forecast business conditions and analyze economic data.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Budget, Financial, or Public Policy Analyst
  • Economist
  • Information Scientist
  • Journalist
  • Loan Officer
  • Personal Financial Advisor
  • Research Assistant
  • Statistician
  • Underwriter
  • Urban Planner
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Economic Consultant
  • Financial Manager
  • Policy Advisor
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:

  • Completion of the associate degree
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses completed with a "C" grade or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • ECON 501 or SCMA 302 or STAT 314
  • MATH 200 or BUSN 212
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5+ cumulative GPA to declare major, 2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate, and 2.0+ major GPA to graduate
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Economics

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Economics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Business Administration)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of Business, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of Business, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Economics, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Business Administration)

Reynolds Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Year 1
SDV 101 Orientation to Business UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
BUS 100 Introduction to Business BUSN 201 3 Major
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics ECON 211 3 Major
History UCGS History elective HIS 3 General education
MTH 161 Precalculus I Note: Students considering graduate-level education in Economics beyond the bachelor's degree should take Calculus I (MTH 263) MATH 141 3 General education
BUS 240 Introduction to Business Law BUSN 323 3 Major
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics ECON 210 3 Major
CST 100 or CST 110 Principles of Public Speaking or Introduction to Human Communication SPCH 221 or SPCH 121 3 General education
Approved transfer elective Note: students planning to take MTH 263 (Calculus I) should take MTH 162. VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Year 2
MTH 261 Applied Calculus I Note: Students considering graduate-level education in Economics beyond the bachelor's degree should take Calculus I (MTH 263) BUSN 212 (or MATH 200) 3 to 4 Major
Approved humanities/fine arts elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
ACC 211 Principles of Accounting I ACCT 203 3 Major
Business core elective (select one of the following: BUS 200, BUS 270, BUS 274, BUS 280, ITE 140, MKT 201) VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Business core elective (select one of the following: BUS 200, BUS 270, BUS 274, BUS 280, ITE 140, MKT 201) VCU equivalent 3 Elective
BUS 224 Business Statistics SCMA 301 3 Major
ACC 212 Principles of Accounting II ACCT 204 3 Major
BIO 106 or GOL 105 Life Science or Physical Geology BIOL/Z 101 or ENVS/Z 105 4 General education
Approved humanities, literature or fine arts elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
Approved transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Reynolds credits transferred to VCU 62 to 63
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Year 3
BUSN 301 Career and Professional Development 1 Major
BUSN 325 Business Communications 3 Major
ECON 300 Contemporary Economic Issues 3 Major
ECON 301 Microeconomic Theory 3 Major
MKTG 301 Marketing Principles 3 Major
MGMT 310 Managing People in Organizations 3 Major
SCMA 320 Production/Operations Management 3 Major
ECON 302 Macroeconomic Theory 3 Major
FIRE 311 Financial Management 3 Major
INFO 360 Business Information Systems 3 Major
MGMT 303 Creativity and Ideation 3 Major
Year 4
BUSN 499 Business Knowledge Exam 0 Major
ECON 501 or SCMA 302 Introduction to Econometrics or Business Statistics II 3 Major
ECON electives 12 Major
Select one: ECON 431 Labor Economics or ECON 441 Experimental Economics or ECON 442 Economic Growth or ECON 461 Monetary Policy Seminar or ECON 489 Senior Seminar in Economics 3 Major
MGMT 434 Strategic Management 3 Major
ECON elective 3 Major
Open elective 3 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.A. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.A. in economics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 85 undergraduate credit hours including ECON 300, ECON 301 and ECON 302 ; an overall GPA of 3.25; and a GPA of 3.25 in economics and quantitative course work.