Question for Economists

[Shi Huangdi]

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]

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]

Re: Question for Economists

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]

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]

Is grad school economics basically all math then?

[Adam Smith]

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]

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*]

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

[DuncanK]

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]

Yes, it's good for law school.

[Imran Siddiqui]

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

[Sten Sture]

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]

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]

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]

I am considering doing Economics as my major

That's a very bad idea, especially if you

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).