Economics and Business

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The Department of Economics and Business seeks to prepare students with the professional skills and academic breadth necessary for leadership and service in the dynamic world of business, economics and accounting. Both theoretical and applied concepts of economics, business and accounting are stressed.

About The Program

Economic theory and quantitative skills serve as the cornerstone for advanced work in economics and business. Knowledge of mathematics, strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer literacy are required, but we also expect our students to appreciate and draw from their knowledge of history, psychology, sociology, philosophy, ethics, politics, the natural sciences, other cultures and languages and the arts. The demands placed upon professional managers, accountants and economists require that they be competent in the use of the analytical tools of their trades and well-informed about the complex socio-economic environment in which they work.

Students majoring in the department are strongly encouraged to actively participate in co-curricular off-campus experiences in cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington, D.C; international programs around the world; internships with local business firms; and independent research projects.

A few distinctive programs within our department include:

• London May Term. A three-week international interdisciplinary experience in which the city of London and surrounding areas provide opportunities for robust experiential learning.
• Baltics May Term. A three-week experiential introduction to the “Baltic Tigers” - three small northwestern European nations that have experienced remarkable (but uneven) growth since gaining independence in 1991 with the break-up of the Soviet Union.
• Baker Scholars Program. Hope College is the only college in the State of Michigan, and one of 33 in the country, to have received a George F. Baker Foundation Grant. This program provides leadership development experiences for students pursuing careers in Economics, Business and Accounting.
• Hope College Business Club. The Business Club focuses on providing students with hands-on experiences, such as networking events, guest speakers, local business interactions and service opportunities.
• Upper level programs in finance, marketing and entrepreneurship that provide exposure, hands-on experience and skill development.

The department offers two tracks for accounting majors - one for general accounting (Accounting, BA ) and one for public accounting (Public Accounting, BA ).

Students who wish to major in the area of professional accounting should contact a member of the accounting faculty early in their careers, since this program requires a special sequence of courses. Any student contemplating taking the CPA exam in a state other than Michigan should consult with their advisor no later than the first semester of their junior year. Students planning a career in industrial accounting, governmental or not-for-profit accounting, or banking and finance need to complete the traditional 120-credit program. Internships are available in both private and public sectors.

Programs

• Accounting, BA
• Accounting/Business Double Major, BA
• Business, BA
• Business, Finance Concentration, BA
• Business/Economics Double Major, BA
• Economics, BA
• Public Accounting, BA
• Public Accounting/Business Double Major, BA

• Accounting Minor
• Business Minor
• Economics Minor

Courses

• ACCT 221 - Financial Accounting
• ACCT 222 - Managerial Accounting
• ACCT 295 - Studies in Accounting
• ACCT 321 - Intermediate Accounting I
• ACCT 322 - Intermediate Accounting II
• ACCT 333 - Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 361 - Accounting Practicum I
• ACCT 362 - Accounting Practicum II
• ACCT 375 - Cost Accounting
• ACCT 395 - Advanced Studies in Accounting
• ACCT 423 - Auditing
• ACCT 425 - Individual Taxation
• ACCT 426 - Corporate Tax and Research
• ACCT 427 - Advanced Accounting
• ACCT 428 - Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
• ACCT 430 - Ethics in Accounting
• ACCT 490 - Independent Studies in Accounting
• ACCT 495 - Advanced Studies in Accounting

• BUS 150 - Introduction to Business
• BUS 195 - Introductory Studies in Business
• BUS 222 - Management Perspectives and Theory
• BUS 223 - Vocation and Professional Development
• BUS 295 - Studies in Business
• BUS 331 - Marketing Management
• BUS 341 - Business Law
• BUS 352 - Human Resource Management
• BUS 356 - Managing for Environmental Sustainability
• BUS 358 - Management in the British Economy
• BUS 361 - Operations Management
• BUS 371 - Financial Management
• BUS 381 - Strategic Management
• BUS 382 - Investment Fundamentals
• BUS 384 - Business Analytics
• BUS 386 - Applied Investment Management
• BUS 390 - Internships in Vocation
• BUS 395 - Advanced Studies in Business
• BUS 401 - Management Seminar
• BUS 490 - Independent Study in Business
• BUS 495 - Advanced Studies in Business

• ECON 200 - Economic Themes and Topics
• ECON 211 - Principles of Macroeconomics
• ECON 212 - Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 223 - Vocational and Professional Development
• ECON 295 - Studies in Economics
• ECON 302 - Monetary Economics
• ECON 304 - Economic Growth and Development
• ECON 306 - Econometrics
• ECON 307 - Quantitative Methods
• ECON 309 - Environmental Economics and Sustainability
• ECON 310 - Environmental Public Policy
• ECON 311 - Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON 312 - Intermediate Microeconomics
• ECON 318 - International Economics
• ECON 320 - Financial Economics
• ECON 358 - Management in the British Economy
• ECON 390 - Internships in Vocation
• ECON 395 - Advanced Studies in Economics
• ECON 401 - History of Economic Thought
• ECON 402 - Industrial Organization/Economics of Strategy
• ECON 403 - Labor Economics
• ECON 410 - Economics of the Public Sector
• ECON 480 - Senior Research Project
• ECON 490 - Independent Studies in Economics
• ECON 495 - Advanced Studies in Economics

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