<p>How strong is USC's economics program? Would you recomend a major in finance or economics given the strength of each program?</p>
<p>Marshall (business administration) is a more prestigious and reknown program. BUT, you can only pick your concentration your senior year and its comprised of 4 separate classes. Aside from your concentration (ex. finanace, marketing, etc.) you take what I would call a business general ed. There's little flexibility in the classes you can pick, actually there is NO flexibility aside from the 4 courses you pick for your concentration. It's one of the more extensive unit requirement majors. There's also pre-reqs (micro/macro econ, calculus, writing)</p>
<p>The econ program on the other hand is only 9 courses. </p>
<p>Basically do whichever program sounds more interesting to you. For me personally my primary interest was in economics and I wanted to double major so I opted not to do Marshall. </p>
<p>And if it's any consolation, you can do practically the same things with an economics degree as you can with a business administration degree. I know people who upon graduation which were offered jobs at investment banking firms as well as wealth management firms with economics degree so dont let any Marshall people tell you that a BUAD degree is essential for either of these professions</p>
<p>Marshall has a very rigid course set up. There are a lot of required classes as mentioned above and the prerequisites. However, writing is a university wide class. But Micro/Macro, Calc, and Stat can all be passed out of by IB/AP credits (4 and 5s), so those do help. And everyone is either an accounting or business administration major. But as Solomonm stated, you choose a concentration your junior or senior year and take 4 classes for it (which can ALL be completed through study abroad if that interests you). Don't really know much about the Econ degree though. But Marshall is a top 10 business school, so you really can't go wrong here.</p>
<p>EDIT:
Forgot to mention, it's not SO rigid that you can't do other things. For most people who come in with no credits, you have space to take 5 elective classes. My course plan actually has be graduating in 3 years actually with the normal course load (16 units a semester), so don't let that deter you from Marshall.</p>