Should I Study for the BA or the BS Degree if I Plan to Major in Economics?

Economics is a subject that essentially straddles the BA/BS divide at PSU. But choosing one or the other does have a big effect on which courses you will take in addition to economics course.* 
 
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) has a foreign language requirement which can be satisfied by taking language classes, or by passing tests in a foreign language that you are already competent in. For some students, starting with no background in a language, this requirement is hard. For students who already have a foreign language or find the study of languages interesting, this requirement is easy.

The BS substitutes a math and statistics requirement for a foreign language. You will need to take mathematics and statistics in order to graduate with a degree in economics anyway. But, taking the BS does require that you carefully select your science courses to ensure that they incorporate lab or field work.

So, what type of student are you? Do you gravitate towards mathematics and statistics, and like the idea of lab or field work in science? Are you prepared to take two years of foreign language courses if you don’t already have a language? Even if you do decide to pursue the BA in economics, be mindful of the fact that economics is a fairly quantitative subject and it is not a good choice of major for people who struggle with mathematics and statistics.

A BA or BS is equally good preparation for graduate school. However, if you do plan to go to graduate school in economics, you will need to supplement your undergraduate economics program with additional mathematics courses. Please see an advisor early in your program if this might be a possibility for you.  

*Requirement for the BA and BS Degrees

For the Bachelor of Arts degree 

Students must complete 28 credits to include a minimum of 12 credits in the arts and letters academic distribution area, with a minimum of 4 credits in the area of fine and performing arts; a minimum of 12 credits in the science and/or social science distribution areas, with a minimum of 4 credits in the science distribution area; and 4 credits in a foreign language numbered 203 or higher (conducted in the target language). See foreign language requirements listed below. 

Foreign language requirement The B.A. language requirement is not defined in credits, but in terms of competence: for graduation, a student must demonstrate competence equivalent to that normally attained after two years of college study. Students with no previous knowledge of a foreign language are advised to complete two years in a language. Students who already possess sufficient competence (or who wish to prepare themselves outside of formal classes) may meet the B.A. language requirement in any of the following ways: (1) Completion in any foreign language of 203 or its equivalent with a passing grade; (2) completion in any foreign language of a course that has 203 or higher as a prerequisite; (3) Demonstration of proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to that attained after two years of college study. There are three ways to demonstrate equivalency proficiency: a) in French, German, or Spanish, by passing the CLEP examination with a score high enough for second-year level credit (see page 48); b) in other languages regularly taught by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, by passing a departmental examination with a score high enough for second-year level credit; c) in any language for which the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures has a qualified tester, by passing a non-credit departmental examination. English satisfies the B.A. language requirement for students whose official transcripts demonstrate that their secondary education was completed in a language other than English. Such students may not enroll in first- or second-year courses in the language in which they received their secondary education.

For the Bachelor of Science degree 

Students must complete 28 credits to include a minimum of 12 credits in the science academic distribution area (excluding mathematical sciences/statistics) a minimum of 12 credits in the arts and letters and/or the social sciences distribution areas, and 4 credits in mathematical sciences/statistics. A minimum of 8 of the 12 credits in the science distribution area must be in coursework with its integrated or associated laboratory or field work. Unless otherwise specified, only courses within the science distribution area that have an explicit indication of lab or field work as part of the catalog description will satisfy the B.S. degree requirement  for lab/field work.