The associate degree in economics will prepare you for many different opportunities or it can enhance a current position. The degree in economics prepares you to organize, run and manage a business by understanding the policies and principles of economics. Tailoring your degree to a specific area of study opens more positions for employment.

After you complete the associate degree, you will be able to demonstrate a unique understanding of costs, financial systems and theories in banking. You will understand market analysis and market trends. You will also have the ability to find information through research related to business operations.

The courses cover business cycles, employment levels, energy costs, exchange rates, inflation, interest rates and taxes. Students can choose to specialize in one particular area of economics such as studying the changing interest rates, industrial economics, which studies market decisions, monopolies and competitors.

Labor economists study the demand of the labor force and the wages, while the public finance economists study how the government affects the economy by studying the specific areas of welfare policies, budget deficits and tax cuts.

The courses needed are Introduction to Economics, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Money and Banking, and Economics and Business Statistics. Other courses are Government and Business, and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. You may also need to study Mathematics and Computer Science.

Accounting courses are also recommended and some schools will require a specific accounting course. These courses would include Introduction to Accounting I and Accounting II. Business Law and Written Communication are also required courses.  

Introduction to Economics teaches global trade, financial systems in the U.S., problems and policies as well as the economics system in the global economy. Introduction to Macroeconomics teaches economic growth, fiscal policies and monetary policies. It also covers business fluctuation, commercial banking and national income. Introduction to Microeconomics teaches international finance and foreign trade as well as distribution and determination of income and the market structure.

Careers in Economics

After earning the associate degree in economics, you can apply for many positions within the government. Some other positions include purchasing managers, public policy consultant, financial analysis and market analysis. If you prepared your degree for a specific area of economics, you could find more positions that branch out into other fields.

Accounting, bookkeeping and payroll are just some of the other positions that a degree in economics will qualify you for in the workforce.