<p>Hey,</p>
<p>what's the difference between getting a business and economics degree/major?</p>
<p>is it that economics is more theoretical and academic while business is more applied and preparing for the work-force?</p>
<p>To explain in a very precise form, Business is Applied Economics.</p>
<p>Economics is a social science. Business is a bit more applied and generally demphasizes the social science aspect of economics.</p>
<p>To elaborate on dhl3's post:</p>
<p>Business is Applied Microeconomics.</p>
<p>Microeconomics deals with the individual company or companies, while Macroeconomics deals with the economy taken as a whole-both domestically and globally.</p>
<p>Most business courses (but not all) concern themselves with the profit-motive and handling of an individual company. Accounting, finance, operations/manufacturing, human resources, computer systems (information technology), and marketing courses are all focused towards this end.</p>
<p>Economics focuses on two areas--the business and the government and how each should operate. But it looks at this from the 10,000 foot level, while business courses get into the day-to-day details of how to do this for the business only. Non-profit businesses are covered only to a minor degree in the business programs, unless you are in a school specifically geared to this (which some programs are). Usually the business side of government is covered in Public Administration programs.</p>
<p>Business: a combination of accounting, finance, management, operations, marketing, communications, information technology, etc. Overall, it's more case study-based.</p>
<p>Economics: economic theories, some applications/policy, quantitative and graphical analysis of economic outcomes</p>
<p>At Wharton, all their major is Economics, but it's actually a business degree though.</p>
<p>is it just that they're unique?</p>
<p>any more comments on it?</p>
<p>from above responses, I just feel that business is more "micro" and "personal" and "applied", while economics is more "macro" and "academic/intellectual"
Am I getting the the right direction?</p>
<p>Besides, why do Wharton Undergrads get a BS in economics not business?</p>
<p>BS in Econ has been the main Wharton undergrad degree for over a century. </p>
<p>Basically, Wharton was originally a school of both business and social sciences until the mid 70s when the school was reorganized to be just a "business school". Before then, the economics, sociology, and political science were all part of the Wharton school until they were transferred to a newly reorganized "School of Arts and Sciences." During the time before the move, Wharton also offered PhD and Masters in Econ, political science, sociology and a lot of other fields now under the SAS at Penn.</p>
<p>The undergraduate degree name was probably kept because it because it can also be disguised with the Ivy league tradition of liberal arts.</p>