Certificate in Applied Finance and Economics (CAFE)

The CAFE certificate integrates courses from two disciplines, synthesizing the broad theoretical subject overview and applications provided in economics with the practical and applied areas emphasized in finance.

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Economics – Academic Certificate

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Certificate in Applied Finance and Economics (CAFE)

Offered as an Academic Certification

The Certificate in Applied Finance and Economics (CAFE) is jointly offered by the School of Business and the Department of Economics.

The certificate is open to all students. In size and scope, the certificate is between a minor and a major. To be awarded this certificate, students must meet CAFE program requirements and requirements for a BA or BS degree at SOU (or the transfer equivalent). A majority of credits for the CAFE must be taken at SOU.

The purpose of the CAFE is to provide students with an opportunity to combine selected finance and economics courses into a coherent area of study. The CAFE program integrates courses from the two disciplines, synthesizing the broad theoretical subject overview and applications provided in economics with the practical and applied areas emphasized in finance.
The goals of the CAFE program are to provide students with a base of analytical methods and tools used in finance and economics and to develop their ability to critically and quantitatively apply those tools to actual problems encountered in the workplace. To meet these goals, students must select elective courses from one of five focus areas tailored to their career interests.

The CAFE program requires completion of 36 credits, consisting of five required courses and four electives from one focus area. All courses taken for the certificate must be completed with a grade of C or better and a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Degree Fit

Program Preparation

Students interested in any of the Economic programs are encouraged to take EC 201, 202 and MTH 243 during their first year at SOU.

Degree Roadmap

Students in the Economics program will complete a set of core economics coursework, personalize their degree by selecting electives that interest them, and participate in applying quantitative research methods and statistics through a capstone experience. Students interested in Public Policy are encouraged to take EC 310, EC 319, and EC 364. For an International focus, EC 321 and EC 379 are encouraged. Those students interested in Finance are encouraged to take EC 318, BA 385, and BA 472. For students intending to pursue graduate school in Economics, Calculus and Linear Algebra courses through the Mathematics program are encouraged.

Degree Integration

All Economics majors are required to complete a culminating capstone experience. The capstone must apply the principles, theories and skills of the economics major in a small class environment to challenging and sophisticated economic issues and topics. This experience challenges students to develop their critical thinking skills and to perform extensive professional academic writing.