Economics Major: Money and Financial Markets Option (B.A.)

https://paulcollege.unh.edu/economics/program/ba/economics-major-money-financial-markets-option

The Option in Money and Financial Markets (B.A. degree) explores the complex and interdependent nature of money and financial markets. Students will develop institutional knowledge and analytical skills to understand the role of the financial system in society, fluctuations and risk in asset markets, including those for bonds, stocks, and currency, and how financial derivatives, such as futures, options, and swaps contracts, can be used to hedge risk. Students will also study the conduct and implications of monetary policy, exploring the merits of quantitative easing, macroprudential policy aimed at reducing systemic risk, and other key issues involving the role of the state in the financial system.

The option is designed for students wanting careers in the financial services sector, including commercial and investment banking, financial trading, security analysis, portfolio management, and financial advising, and in the government sector, especially at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the U.S. departments of Treasury, Commerce, and State.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

B.A. economics majors must complete nine courses in economics plus ADMN 510 Business Statistics with a grade of at least C- (1.67) in each Paul College major course and an average grade of 2.0 or better in major courses.

Freshman Year
ECON 401Principles of Economics (Macro)4
ECON 402Principles of Economics (Micro)4
ECON 501Business and Economic History4
ADMN 403Computing Essentials for Business1
MATH 422Mathematics for Business Applications4
or MATH 424A Calculus for Social Sciences
PAUL 405Freshman Academic Experience I1
PAUL 406Freshman Academic Experience II1
PHIL 431Business Ethics4
Sophomore Year
ADMN 510Business Statistics4
ECON 605Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis4
or ECON 606 Intermediate Microeconomics with Calculus
ECON 611Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis4
Junior and Senior Years
ECON 774Senior Economics Seminar 14
Select four (4) additional ECON electives 216
Total Credits55
1

ECON 774 Senior Economics Seminar is the capstone course for the B.A. major and satisfies the capstone requirement of the University Discovery Program.

2

Specific electives for the BA Options must be chosen from an approved list of courses.

Coursework in accounting is recommended but not required. B.A. economics majors may choose to focus their major electives to satisfy the requirements of one of the three options defined by the Department of Economics.

Money and Financial Markets Option Requirements

(Note: Some courses may have prerequisites that are not part of the option.)

Required course:
ECON 635Money and Banking4
Select two of the following (at lease one course must be an ECON course):8
Microfinance
International Economics
Introduction to Econometrics
International Finance
Investments Analysis (by permission only) 1
International Financial Management (by permission only) 1
Financial Institutions (by permission only) 1
Other 600-level or 700-level course, must be approved by ECON Dept.
Total Credits12
1

Satisfies the requirement of the option, but does not count toward the four-elective requirement of the economics B.A. degree.  FIN courses have a pre-requisite of ADMN 570 Introduction to Financial Management.  

  • Students have core proficiency in  microeconomics. They understand key concepts including opportunity cost, marginal analysis, voluntary exchange, diminishing marginal returns, equilibrium and market structure.
  • Students have core proficiency in macroeconomics. They understand key concepts including GDP, inflation, interest rates, business cycles, exchange rates, financial institutions and fiscal and monetary policy.
  • Students have strong oral communication skills. This includes fundamental skills in preparing and delivering presentations, as well as being able to explain technical material clearly and concisely.
  • Students are able to use economic models to understand real-world issues relevant to business, public policy and society.
  • Students are able to communicate economic concepts clearly in writing. This involves having strong fundamental writing skills as well as being able to explain technical material clearly and concisely.