May 22, 2025  
2025-2026 Western Washington University Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Western Washington University Catalog

Economics/Accounting, BA

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham


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  • Combined major offered by the department of Economics and the department of Accounting, College of Business and Economics.

Introduction

The study of Economics will provide an understanding of economic concepts and the functioning of the economy in addition to the ability to apply economic analysis in problem solving. The Economics Department strives to provide a program which gives students rigorous training in both economic theory and applications. Accounting is an important tool used by managers of organizations to plan, control and report financial activity. A thorough knowledge of Accounting is necessary to understand the operation and financial condition of any business, non-profit organization or governmental agency.

Why Consider an Economics/Accounting Major?

This major is designed for students wishing to obtain a strong preparation in both Economics and Accounting and especially those who intend to go into careers in business. It is an excellent undergraduate study for the Master of Business Administration.

Student Resources

Department website: Economics and Accounting

Contact information: 

Department advising: See the pre-major advising section of the College of Business and Economics website.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample careers: Actuary/Banking, Financial Planner/Analyst, Accountant, Corporate Attorney, Insurance Consultant

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Application Process

Students must confirm admission to Western Washington University before applying to the College of Business and Economics (CBE). Students are encouraged to apply as soon as they meet the requirements listed below. The online application form is located on the CBE website and submissions are processed on a continual basis.

Application Requirements

Students with 45 or more college-level credits, a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher for all college-level coursework, and a Western cumulative GPA (if any courses have been completed at Western) of 2.50 or higher may apply regardless of how many business courses have been completed. Students who have not completed the eight business foundation courses will be admitted as pre-majors. Students who have completed all eight foundation courses will be admitted as full majors.

Please note: No individual course grade lower than a C- will be accepted and credited toward degree requirements. Cumulative GPA requirements for College of Business and Economics degrees are listed below.

Academic Status

Pre-major: A student who has applied and been accepted to CBE but has not completed the foundation courses required for their major/concentration.

Provisional major: A student who is enrolled in their last foundation course(s). Note: If at the end of their provisional quarter a student does not meet all requirements for full major status, they will revert to pre-major status and cannot register for any major-restricted courses until they repair the deficiency. A student is eligible for provisional major status in CBE only once.

Full major: A student who has completed all foundation courses required for their major/concentration and has a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher for all college-level coursework and a Western cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Advising tips

1) Complete MATH 157 and DSCI 205 requirements early; 2) For information regarding the MIS 220 Equivalency Exam see the Department of Decision Sciences website for test-out information: cbe.wwu.edu/mis-220-test-out; 3) Meet with your faculty advisor (assigned following admission to the major).

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (100-103 credits)


Upper-Division Courses (72 credits)


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