BESO-BA-Major - Business, Economics, & Society (BESoc), Major

The Business, Economics, and Society (BESoc) major expresses the interdisciplinary nature and commitments of the Economics and Business Department. It builds on the commonalities and the differences in the two disciplines as they study human economic behavior—its nature, its sources, and its consequences.

The major analyzes three key relationships. First, it examines the roles business and economics play within society, in particular the place of modern corporations and social enterprises in civil society and in government and economic policy. Second, it evaluates the impact of business on society, focusing on market forces, on market failures, and on services provided to all members of society. Third, it explores the effects of society on business and the economy, exploring how social issues frame business opportunities and strategies, and how corporations respond (or fail to respond) to social concerns.

By promoting knowledge of structures and processes central to democratic society in a global age, it hopes to shape effective citizens. Through this goal and through its emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking, the major contributes to the college’s commitment to the liberal arts.

PREREQUISITES

Students desiring to major in Business, Economics, and Society (BESoc) are required to pass the following prerequisites prior to admission into the major.  If a student has not taken these courses, that student may be admitted only if currently scheduled for a later section or by consent of the chair if mitigating circumstances exist.

To get started with this major, students will need our gateway courses of Principles of Economics, either as a 2-block course (EC100) or as two separate blocks (EC101 and EC102). Students will also need Introduction to Business and Society (BU201). *Note, students who entered the major before 2025-26 have a prerequisite of BU205 instead of BU201.