Business, Economics, and Public Policy

Overview

The Business Economics and Public Policy field is concerned with the continuing business-government dialogue that leads to effective decision-making and equitable relations between the private and public sectors of society. The economic and social foundations of government programs and regulatory activity are studied to establish a basis for developing and evaluating effective business responses.

The field is designed to develop understanding and skills useful for a wide variety of positions in business, public and not-for-profit organizations. Students deepen their understanding of the social and legal environment that influence business and its relationships with government at all levels. Students also receive strong in-depth training in micro- and macroeconomic analysis. This key element of the field prepares students to perform rigorous and sophisticated analyses of the economic impacts of policy decisions on public, private, and not-for-profit organizations.

The field is also designed to ensure that students understand the workings of political systems and institutions, particularly the U.S. federal government. This understanding includes recognizing not only what government can do and achieve but also the limits of its power and the role of private interests in driving political decision making in Congress and in the agencies.

Career Options in Business Economics and Public Policy

BEPP field students most often seek careers in business, government, law, and consulting. Past BEPP students have found jobs in business and consulting firms in the DC area, often followed, after a year or two, with law school or an MBA. Other students go directly to law school. BEPP students from abroad have often returned to their home country to work in ministerial positions in finance or economic development.

Program of Study

The required courses provide a basic academic foundation in the field of Business Economics and Public Policy. Students will choose a total of four courses from the field course listing, including a two-course economics requirement, and one political institutions course. The fourth course should be a policy or industry specific course, chosen with the advice of the BEPP field advisor. The Field-Related Elective (which must be a course related to BEPP but outside of the field), Analytical Tools Elective, and Field Tools Elective round out the BEPP field.

Course Guidelines

Core Course:

BADM 150 - Business and Government Relations (Prerequisite: Econ 11 and 12)

Analytical Tools Elective (Choose One):

STAT 118 - Regression Analysis (Prerequisite: Stat 51/53)
STAT 123 - Introduction to Econometrics (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12, Math 31/52 and Stat 112)

Field Tools Elective (Choose One):

PSC 104 - Methods of Public Policy Analysis
PAD 125/PSC 117 - Managing Public Policy (PSC 002)

Economics Field Courses(Choose Two):

Econ 101* - Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12)
Econ 102 - Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12)
Econ 158 - Industrial Organization (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12)

Political Institutions Field Course (Choose One):

PSC 116 - American Presidency (Prerequisite: Psc 002)
PSC 118 - Legislative Politics (Prerequisite: Psc 002))

Policy Focus Field Course (Choose One in Consultation with Faculty Advisor):

ANTH 150 - Human Rights and Ethics
ECON 136 - Natural Resources and Environmental Economics (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12)
ECON 181 - International Economics (Prerequisite: Econ 11 & 12)
GEOG 120 - World Regions: Problems and Prospects
PUBH 110 - Introduction to Global Health and Socioeconomic Dev.
PSC 112 - Science, Technology and Politics (Prerequisite: PSC 002)

Field Related Elective (Choose One):

IBUS 160 Introduction to International Business (Econ 11 & 12)
IBUS 171 International Business Finance (BADM 115 & BADM 145)
SOC 168 Economic Sociology (SOC 1)
Or another course with permission of the field advisor

* Required