Business Economics and Public Policy Concentration

​The concentration in business economics and public policy degree program is concerned with the continuing business–government dialogue that leads to effective decision making and equitable relations between the public and private sectors. It is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills useful for a wide variety of positions in public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations. Students deepen their understanding of the social and legal environments that influence business and its relationships with government at all levels. Students also receive in-depth training in microeconomic 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 various types of institutions and organizations.

Study in this concentration also serves to ensure that students understand the workings of political systems and institutions, particularly those of 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 government agencies.

This Bulletin covers the degree requirements for students matriculating in the current academic year. Students who matriculated before the current year can find their requirements in the relevant archived Bulletin.

The following requirements must be fulfilled for the concentration in business economics and public policy: 15 credits in required and selected courses; at least 9 of these credits must be taken in residence. All concentration courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

Concentrations are only available to GWSB students. See Concentrations under GW School of Business Undergraduate Regulations in this Bulletin for additional information.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
ECON 2101	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
One course (3 credits) selected from each of the following areas:
Economics
ECON 2102	Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 2158	Industrial Organization
Political science
PSC 2211	State and Urban Politics
PSC 2214	U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics I
PSC 2215	U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics II
PSC 2219	Political Parties and Interest Groups
PSC 2220	Public Opinion
PSC 2228	Media, Politics, and Government
or SMPA 3428	Media, Politics, and Government
PSC 2229	Media and Politics
Political institutions
PSC 2213	Judicial Politics
PSC 2216	The American Presidency
PSC 2218	Legislative Politics
or PSC 2218W	Legislative Politics
Policy focus
ECON 2136	Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
ECON 3190	Law and Economics
GEOG 2120	World Regional Geography
IAFF 3513	Human Rights and Ethics
MGT 3305	Human Capital Sustainability
PSC 2222	Science, Technology, and Politics