Resources for Current Students

Advice and Tips for Political Economy and Commerce Department Students

ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS, & ECONOMICS MAJORS – you should consider having an advisor within the PEC department. PEC faculty have a better understanding of relationships between specific course offerings and your individual career goals; they are also more knowledgeable about "every-other-year" course offerings and unique course planning due to upcoming sabbaticals.

FIRST YEAR BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING STUDENTS - (becoming sophomores) – by the end of the first year, students should have completed Math 106. Most students will have also completed Business 110 and Business 111 (or Business 113). During the sophomore year, most students should complete Economics 200, Business 211, Business 212, Accounting 213 and Accounting 214. Some students will have also taken one or two additional 300 level business or economics courses.

SECOND YEAR BUSINESS MAJORS - (becoming juniors) – During the junior year most business majors should take Economics 300 (or Economics 301), Business 305, Business 306, and Business 307. Some students may want to delay one (or perhaps even two) of these courses until the senior year. All four of these foundation courses should be completed by the end of the fall semester of the senior year. Students should also begin to take 300 and 400 level elective courses. Consider a summer internship. Consider going to the Paris program as a junior.

THIRD YEAR BUSINESS MAJORS - (becoming seniors) – finish up the four required courses (300/301,305,306,307). Take 300 and 400 level electives. Take either Business 405, 406, or 409 as your capstone experience. Consider an internship during sophomore and junior years.

Four year recommended programs

Business Administration
International Business
Economics

BUSINESS MAJORS – The guidelines above are rather general. Students can be slightly ahead or slightly behind and still be very much on schedule for timely graduation. You should seriously consider the off-campus business programs in Paris. If you plan to attend an off-campus program, course planning on campus is more critical.

ECONOMICS MAJORS – Econ 300 and 301 should be completed by the end of your junior year. You should also consider an off-campus program such as Oak Ridge Semester or Washington Semester.

ACCOUNTING MAJORS – The first two years of the accounting program is practically the same as the first two years of the business program – as long as you complete ACCT 200s in your first year. During the third year, accounting students begin a very important sequence of accounting courses by participating in Intermediate Accounting. It is very important that your advisor is knowledgeable about the accounting program and the accounting profession. Course selection and sequencing is critical for timely graduation and proper career preparation. Students seeking a Certified Public Accountant designation are required to take a minimum of 26 credits beyond graduation.