Social Sciences: Economics (Liberal Arts & Sciences) (A.A.)

Study economics at JCC

The Social Sciences degree with an economics concentration at Jamestown Community College prepares you for transfer into a bachelor level B.A. program in economics. You can pursue careers in market and operations analyses, banking, insurance, and government.

Economics is the study of how we individually or collectively choose to use our scarce resources. In making these decisions, we also consider what we have given up, or our opportunity costs. In a broad sense, economics helps us to explain historical behavior, current world events, and make predictions about the future using economic statistics and theoretical models. 

In JCC’s program, you’ll study the production and distribution of resources, goods, and services by collecting and analyzing data, researching trends, and evaluating economic issues. Courses focus on how consumers, businesses, governments, and markets interact.

You’ll work closely with your advisor to choose your courses and prepare for transferring after graduation. The economics concentration is a SUNY Transfer Path, which can help you identify core coursework for transfer to four-year SUNY schools. JCC’s program applies to B.A. programs in economics. B.S. programs in economics may have additional requirements. Most economists need a master’s degree or a Ph.D. 

2023 median pay for economists: $115,730/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Where to study at JCC

Social sciences skills

After you complete the program, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the social science approach by using social science concepts and theories to analyze behaviors or institutions (as appropriate to the discipline). This outcome is to be assessed in 2000-level courses.
  • Explain or demonstrate the methods that social scientists use to explore social phenomena, or to gather and interpret information (as appropriate to the discipline). This outcome is to be assessed in 2000-level courses.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of both microeconomic and macroeconomic basic theories and models.

Semester 1

Course
Credits
Requirements Met

ENG 1510: English Composition I

3
SUNY
  • Humanities
JCC
  • College Composition

MAT 1600: Precalculus

4
SUNY
  • Math
JCC
  • Mathematical Reasoning

Social Sciences Elective

Recommended:

PSY 1510: General Psychology

3
SUNY
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Scientific Reasoning: Social Sciences

Social Sciences Elective

Recommended:

HIS 1520: World History Since 1500 or

HIS 1540: US History Since 1865

3
SUNY
  • U.S. History and Civic Engagement
  • World History and Global Awareness
JCC
  • Cultural Understanding

INT 1555: Inquire

2
JCC
  • Critical and Integrative Reasoning
  • Math course taken depends on math placement score and previous math courses completed.
  • MAT 1600 is required for the ECON SUNY transfer path.

Semester 2

Course
Credits
Requirements Met

ENG 1530: English Composition II

3
SUNY
  • Written & Oral Communication
JCC
  • College Composition
  • Oral Communication

Program Core Elective

Recommended:

SOC 1510: Intro to Sociology or

ANT 1520: Intro to Cultural Anthropology

3
SUNY
  • Diversity
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
  • Global Perspectives
  • Scientific Reasoning: Social Sciences

Program Core Elective

Recommended:

ECO 1530: Contemporary Economic Problems

3
SUNY
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Global Perspectives
  • Scientific Reasoning: Social Sciences

Elective

Recommended:

MAT 1710: Calculus/Analytic Geometry

4
SUNY
  • Math
JCC
  • Mathematical Reasoning

Program Core Elective

Recommended:

HIS 1520: World History Since 1500  or

HIS 1540: US History Since 1865

3
SUNY
  • U.S. History and Civic Engagement
  • World History and Global Awareness
JCC
  • Cultural Understanding
  • ANT 1520 is better for SUNY GEN ED distribution. ECO 1530 is not required, but will introduce students to economic concepts.
  • Math course taken depends on math placement score and previous math courses completed. MAT 1710 is not required, but is needed for transfer to the University of Buffalo or SUNY Binghamton.
  • Start researching transfer opportunities.
  • Check with the Financial Aid & Billing office about credit load, aid eligibility, and Excelsior scholarship.

Semester 3

Course
Credits
Requirements Met

ECO 2610: Macroeconomics or

ECO 2620: Microeconomics

3
SUNY
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Global Perspectives
  • Scientific Reasoning: Social Sciences

Program Core Elective

Choose any course not already required within the PSY, ANT, ECO, GEO, GLS, HIS, POL, or SOC disciplines that is approved for Applied Learning

3
SUNY
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Applied Learning

Natural Sciences Elective

Recommended:

BIO 1510: Health Science

3
SUNY
  • Natural Sciences
JCC
  • Scientific Reasoning: Natural Sciences

Humanities Elective

Recommended:

CMM 1610: Public Speaking or

PHL 1510: Intro to Philosophy

3
SUNY
  • Arts
  • Humanities

Elective

Recommended:

BUS 1510: Principles of Financial Accounting

4
  • ECO 2610 and ECO 2610 are required for the ECON SUNY transfer path.
  • BIO 1550: Intro to Environmental Science may be preferred to BIO 1510.
  • BUS 1510 is not required, but recommended.
  • Start contacting colleges about transferring.

Semester 4

Course
Credits
Requirements Met

ECO 2610: Macroeconomics or

ECO 2620: Microeconomics

3
SUNY
  • Social Sciences
JCC
  • Global Perspectives
  • Scientific Reasoning: Social Sciences

Elective

If necessary, choose a course from a SUNY Gen Ed category not yet completed

3
SUNY
  • Arts
  • U.S. History and Civic Engagement
  • World History and Global Awareness
  • World Languages
JCC
  • Cultural Understanding
  • Global Perspectives

Elective

Recommended:

MAT 1540: Elementary Statistics

3
SUNY
  • Math
JCC
  • Mathematical Reasoning

Elective

4
  • MAT 1540 is not required, but highly recommended for transfer purposes.
  • Choose remaining electives based on areas of interest and transfer requirements.
  • Check with the Financial Aid & Billing office about credit load, aid eligibility, and Excelsior scholarship.