An American university in the heart of Rome
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance | Degree Program
John Cabot University: the Academic Experience
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance | Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance in Rome

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance at John Cabot University participates in the CFA® Institute University Affiliation Program (UAP). This status is granted to institutions that embed a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge™ (CBOK) into their curriculum.

The Major in Economics and Finance is designed to give students a solid base in the theoretical, quantitative, and analytical skills necessary to pursue further study and careers in the areas that require a solid background in economics and finance. Through appropriate choices of major electives, students can further develop their expertise in finance, economics, law, international affairs, marketing, and management. The major features a senior seminar that strengthens students’ ability to undertake research, work with empirical information, communicate their knowledge effectively via position and policy papers, and become aware of the CFA Institutes’ Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, following the University’s liberal arts tradition, students undertake study on the history of economic thought or business ethics to develop an understanding of the power of ideas that shape economic opinions and policy.

“A study of the history of opinion is a necessary preliminary to the emancipation of the mind.”  
John Maynard Keynes, English economist and financier, 1883-1946.

We offer numerous merit-based Presidential Scholarships and need-based Assistance Grants.

Learning Outcomes for the Economics and Finance Major

Requirements for the degree (as of Fall 2022)

See the pre-Fall 2022 degree requirements

A. The Proficiency and General Distribution Requirements of the University.

B. Additional Requirements (Prerequisites) for the Economics and Finance Major

  • CS 160 Programming Concepts and Applications
  • MA 197 Pre-Calculus
  • MA 198 Calculus I
  • MA 208 Statistics I
  • ACCT 201 Financial Accounting
  • ACCT 202 Managerial Accounting
  • EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 202 Principles of Macroeconomics


C. Core Courses

  • EC 301 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • EC 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics or EC 316 International Economics
  • MA 209 Statistics II
  • EC 360 Econometrics
  • EC/MKT 361 Applied Data Analytics or EC 369 Applied Economics
  • FIN 301 Finance
  • EC 350 History of Economic Thought or ETH/BUS 301 Business Ethics
  • FIN 372 Financial Institutions and Capital Markets
  • EC 480 Research Seminar in Economics and Finance

The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses required for the major.

D. Major Electives

Five major electives are required for the major.  A minimum of three must be chosen from 300-level or higher EC, FIN, MA, or 200-level or higher CS courses (MA 299 can also be used as one of these three courses). Up to two major electives can be 200-level or higher courses in BUS, MKT, MGT, LAW, PL, PS, and SOSC.

More specifically: 

  • Students interested in graduate school either in Economics or in such Finance sub-fields as quantitative/computational, mathematical finance, asset pricing, portfolio management, risk analysis etc. should consider pursuing the minor in Mathematics and taking EC 302, EC 369, MA 299, MA 491, MA 492, MA 497. It is advisable to take also CS 320, EC 327, and EC 328.
  • Students interested in data analysis should consider taking both EC/MKT 361 and EC 369, and MA 299, MA 491, and CS 320.
  • Students interested in supply chain management/logistics or MBA should consider taking EC/MKT 361, MGT 301, MGT 330, MGT 335, MGT 338, CS 230, BUS/EC 336, EC 310.
  • Students interested in the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation awarded by the CFA Institute or graduate studies in Corporate or International Finance, or Business, Management should consider taking EC 316,  FIN 331, FIN 312, FIN 330, FIN 340, FIN 350, and FIN 360.

Please see the CFA® Institute’s website for further information on the CFA program: www.cfainstitute.org. A limited number of scholarships are available for the Level I exam for qualified degree-seeking and visiting students; interested students should refer to the CFA or contact Dr. Mary Merva, CFA, [email protected].

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by the CFA Institute.

Students should consult with their advisor regarding the major electives most appropriate for their interests and future career or academic plans.