<p>i am currently a biology major and would like to change it to a math major. i wanted to go into economics but the school im currently in does not have it, they only have mathematics and accounting. which one could be better to stay with and then later on change into economics. should i get an associates in mathematics and then a bachelor in economics or an associates in accounting and then a bachelor in economics ?</p>
<p>Accounting will do you no good for economics. Mathematics is the way to go.</p>
<p>Accounting and econ aren’t similar. Accounting is very specific, firm-oriented, and requires lots of information processing. You’ll be nitpicking transactions to determine how they affect the business and how you want to record them to provide the best information to insiders and outsiders. You might also learn some tax law and auditing practices. By the time you’re done with accounting, you’ll be flipping through annual reports and financials like they’re nothing, but there is no macro picture involved.</p>
<p>Econ is far more conceptual/broader picture and math will prepare you nicely for this.</p>
<p>If you want your associates to help you build up to your econ degree, then take math. But accounting helps you understand the inner workings of a business very well, and econ doesn’t require much upper level math. So if you have a desire to learn accounting, don’t take math–it’s preparation for econ, but not completely necessary preparation.</p>
<p>BTW an Associates in accounting is one of the most marketable degrees you could have without a bachelor’s. Any non-CPA job is available to you–bookkeeping, A/R, A/P, internal accounting, tax prep. The only thing you can’t do is auditing.</p>
<p>Do you know what you want to do with your economics degree after graduation? A background in accounting can open doors for you in the job market that an economics degree by itself would not. On the other hand, if there’s a chance that you might want to go to graduate school in economics, you should start taking math sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>Either way, I would recommend you take at least Calc 1 before you transfer, as that’s required for the major everywhere and a prerequisite for many intermediate-level economics classes. Individual economics classes, especially advanced micro and macro theory classes, might require more math (possibly up through calc 3/multivariable calc, linear algebra and differential equations) but you may or may not be interested in taking those classes as electives for the major.</p>
<p>To echo b@r!um: what do you want to do in economics? If you’re interested in a career as an academic, Greg Mankiw of Harvard University (also the former head of the CEA) has some advice:</p>
<p>[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Advice for Aspiring Economists](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/05/advice-for-aspiring-economists.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Advice for Aspiring Economists)
[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Why Aspiring Economists Need Math](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/09/why-aspiring-economists-need-math.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Why Aspiring Economists Need Math)
[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Which math courses?](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/05/which-math-courses.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Which math courses?)</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you’re looking to work in the private sector, things vary considerably.</p>