Question for Economists

Shi Huangdi · February 13, 2003, 17:29

I am considering doing Economics as my major(with possibly Poly Sci as a double major). My school offers both a BA and a BS in eocn(the second requires more math, going up to Calc II). I really really despise math, though I am not awful at it and I was able to get credits for Calculus I based on my placement test scores. How much more useful would a BS be compared to a BA? If I ever did want to go to grad school for econ, would Calc II be needed anyway? Would having just a BA in economics be at all useful?

Thanks.

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 17:36

It depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to go into social science as a career you will have to get atleast a masters degree. In graduate school you we be bogged down in math. This may discourage you.

FrustratedPoet · February 13, 2003, 17:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
would Calc II be needed anyway?

Only if you wanna get your ass kicked at Soul Caliber.

Oh darn it .... so many jokes to make and that wasn't a very good one.

There was the Poly Sci "Why would you want to study the science of 'poly?" one too, but that was even worse.

Adam Smith · February 13, 2003, 17:42

If you ever want to go to grad school, take the math.
Sad but true.
Otherwise, nobody really cares if its a BA or a BS.

Shi Huangdi · February 13, 2003, 17:43

Is grad school economics basically all math then?

Adam Smith · February 13, 2003, 17:45

That's a large chunk of it unfortunately.

Go look at a couple grad econ texts in the book store to get a better idea.

Shi Huangdi · February 13, 2003, 17:48

Well would a BA in economics be good for getting a job on it's own, or would it be good preperation for either business school or law school?

*End Is Forever* · February 13, 2003, 17:50

As an aside, the President of the Adam Smith Institute is speaking here in a couple of weeks...

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 17:52

There is almost not work in social science for a BA in economics or poli sci. You could work in some career, especially if you want to further your education.

It was optional for me to use calc for my BA in econ. They left it an option for people to see if they wanted to go to grad school.

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 17:53

Yes, it's good for law school.

Imran Siddiqui · February 13, 2003, 17:54

You could get a BA in Economics and Poltical Science and go to Law School... hey wait, I did that

.

Sten Sture · February 13, 2003, 18:03

Finance jobs require the math, too. I think BA would be fine prior to MBA or Law school as Dunkan says.

If you do learn the math, let me know, because it still messes me up after 20 years.

Shi Huangdi · February 13, 2003, 18:06

But a BA in economics would be a ticket to a McDonald's job on its own?

And by learning "the math" what exactly are you talking about? Statistics? Calculus I? Calculus II? Calculus III?

Imran Siddiqui · February 13, 2003, 18:06

Sten: Its the result of watching too much soccer and not keeping up with the math

.

That and senility. It's a little known fact that you go senile when you turn 21

.

Bosh · February 13, 2003, 18:13

Quote:

I am considering doing Economics as my major

That's a very bad idea, especially if you

Quote:

really really despise math

You can't do anything serious in econ with lots and lots of calc and having just a Bachelor degree in econ won't be THAT much more helpful than just Poli Sci (especially since you might struggle in higher level econ classes and bring down your GPA).

Japher · February 13, 2003, 18:21

I agree with Boshko... Yet, in a different way.

A degree don't mean shiznit if you don't know how to apply it. You could have a BA or a BS and they would both be B.S. if all your going to do with it is stay at home and post on msg boards. If you want to be an economist then you should probably learn to like math, if you can't then pick something else...

If that isn't the answer you wanted; take the BS, they are much more highly received.

Velociryx · February 13, 2003, 18:22

Trust me, a "BS" degree is the most important thing you can ever acquire....

-=Vel=-

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 18:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
But a BA in economics would be a ticket to a McDonald's job on its own?

Not neccessarily. The average pay for people with at least a BA or BS in economics is like 70,000. It's a bit scewed though. People with the degree usually fins some decent paying jobs, and usually find high paying jobs if they want to further their education. If you are planning on looking for work after you get your bachelors you might be unemployed for a while, but eventually you will find good work.

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
And by learning "the math" what exactly are you talking about? Statistics? Calculus I? Calculus II? Calculus III?

You have to use a lot of advanced statistics. It's extremely boring. Worse, if you want to make it a career you will be using it for the rest of your life

Sten Sture · February 13, 2003, 18:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Sten: Its the result of watching too much soccer and not keeping up with the math

.

When the score is 1-0, I can do the math. It's that slugging % and era stuff that I need to work on to stay sharp.

I did have a co-worker who told his son to study econ since it was the only job in the world where you are right 20% of the time and people think that is pretty good.

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 18:26

Oh yes, and if you are not good at understanding abstract ideas you will not do good in advance econ classes, and I'm taking about the upper division not just grad school. Basic econ is easy for some, but upper division can be much harder.

Imran Siddiqui · February 13, 2003, 18:26

Quote:

When the score is 1-0, I can do the math. It's that slugging % and era stuff that I need to work on to stay sharp.

Yeah, you can do the math in soccer, but because it ain't hard to count

.

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 18:29

The thing in econ is that 1 + 1 usually doesn't equal 2 :P

KrazyHorse · February 13, 2003, 18:31

How can people even contemplate doing econ without a basic math course such as Cal II?

To get a BSc in it, you should have to get the same basic set of math courses that physical scientists (engineers, physicists, etc.) get:

Cal I,II&III, vector cal, ODEs, PDEs

From what I've seen any serious understanding of the subject requires them.

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 18:35

frogger,

not really, you only need math to work in economics. you don't need it to understand the concepts. You do need to be able to understand graphs though.

KrazyHorse · February 13, 2003, 18:53

Just understanding the concepts shouldn't be enough to get you a degree.

If they handed out pieces of paper just for understanding the concepts behind physics, then I'd be pissed off too. But most universities expect you to actually be able to creatively problem-solve quantitatively.

KrazyHorse · February 13, 2003, 18:57

If you don't want the math, go take a management degree...

(snicker)

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 19:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
Just understanding the concepts shouldn't be enough to get you a degree.

If they handed out pieces of paper just for understanding the concepts behind physics, then I'd be pissed off too. But most universities expect you to actually be able to creatively problem-solve quantitatively.

That's why you can't work in econ with just a BA degree.

KrazyHorse · February 13, 2003, 19:06

Then they shouldn't even give out a degree.

People should be made to endure as much pain and suffering as some of us do...

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 19:12

Some people are lazy

DuncanK · February 13, 2003, 19:13

I wanted to be an engineer, but physics was too hard for me.