Business and Political Economy Curriculum Overview
NYU Stern's unique Business and Political Economy curriculum incorporates business, politics, and economics coursework with international study to offer you a real-world understanding of today's global business environment.
Along with all NYU Stern students, you take required courses in our business, liberal arts, and social impact cores at NYU's Washington Square campus. Then, you'll study abroad for two semesters your sophomore year in London in the Fall and Shanghai in the Spring. You have the option of spending an additional semester away at a site where you will be able to fulfill the BPE requirements.
The Liberal Arts Core, the cornerstone of the NYU Stern curriculum, is a solid grounding in the liberal arts and sciences. For students in the BPE Program, the Liberal Arts Core includes four courses designed to hone critical quantitative skills, promote creative and logical thinking, and heighten cultural awareness, focusing on the regions in which students study abroad.
The Business Core provides an introduction to the key business disciplines of accounting, finance, and marketing, as well as an introduction to international business. After completing these business fundamentals, you may choose advanced business courses to complete some of the NYU Stern elective requirements.
The Economics Core exposes you to the major concepts, tools, and debates of economics today, with a strong focus on global economic linkages and trends.
The Politics Core introduces you to the study of politics. Coursework covers political theory, comparative politics, and international relations. Classes stress the challenges of globalization as well as focus on how politics, economics, and business interact at the international level.
The Social Impact Core is a four-course sequence focusing on issues of personal and professional ethics; corporate social responsibility; the role of law in business and commerce; and the interconnections between corporations, markets, cultures, governments, and our global society. Coursework emphasizes writing, debate, and discussion.
University Electives in the liberal arts complete the undergraduate degree requirements. You have the opportunity to pursue elective courses, which can be used to pursue a minor, fulfill the BPE foreign-language requirement or to sample a wide range of courses that align to professional or personal interests.
Along with all NYU Stern students, you take required courses in our business, liberal arts, and social impact cores at NYU's Washington Square campus. Then, you'll study abroad for two semesters your sophomore year in London in the Fall and Shanghai in the Spring. You have the option of spending an additional semester away at a site where you will be able to fulfill the BPE requirements.
The Liberal Arts Core, the cornerstone of the NYU Stern curriculum, is a solid grounding in the liberal arts and sciences. For students in the BPE Program, the Liberal Arts Core includes four courses designed to hone critical quantitative skills, promote creative and logical thinking, and heighten cultural awareness, focusing on the regions in which students study abroad.
The Business Core provides an introduction to the key business disciplines of accounting, finance, and marketing, as well as an introduction to international business. After completing these business fundamentals, you may choose advanced business courses to complete some of the NYU Stern elective requirements.
The Economics Core exposes you to the major concepts, tools, and debates of economics today, with a strong focus on global economic linkages and trends.
The Politics Core introduces you to the study of politics. Coursework covers political theory, comparative politics, and international relations. Classes stress the challenges of globalization as well as focus on how politics, economics, and business interact at the international level.
The Social Impact Core is a four-course sequence focusing on issues of personal and professional ethics; corporate social responsibility; the role of law in business and commerce; and the interconnections between corporations, markets, cultures, governments, and our global society. Coursework emphasizes writing, debate, and discussion.
University Electives in the liberal arts complete the undergraduate degree requirements. You have the opportunity to pursue elective courses, which can be used to pursue a minor, fulfill the BPE foreign-language requirement or to sample a wide range of courses that align to professional or personal interests.
Sample 4-Year Curriculum
The following is a sample 4-year curriculum for a typical student pursuing NYU Stern's BS in Business and Political Economy degree. Your personal program would vary depending on your individual interests, such as your concentration(s), minor(s), study abroad option(s), and more, and you would work closely with an academic adviser to help you adjust your courses to meet your academic and personal goals.
First Year in New York City
- Cohort Leadership Program (CLP) (Business Core)
- Microeconomics (Economics Core)
- Macroeconomics (Economics Core)
- Natural Science (Liberal Arts Core)
- Statistics (Liberal Arts Core)
- Writing: Intro to Political & Economic Thought (Politics Core)
- Business & Society (Social Impact Core)
Sophomore Year in London (fall) and Shanghai (spring)
- Foreign Language
- Foundations of Finance (Business Core)
- International Economics (Economics Core)
- Introduction to Marketing (Business Core)
- Organizational Communication & Its Social Context (Social Impact Core)
- Political Economy (Politics Core)
- Political Economy of East Asia (Politics Core)
Junior Year
- Business and Government (Politics Core)
- Electives
- Law, Business, and Society (Social Impact Core)
- Option to spend an additional semester away at any NYU global site or International Business Exchange (IBEX) location
- Principles of Financial Accounting (Business Core)
Senior Year
- Area studies elective in East Asian or European studies (Liberal Arts Core)
- BPE Senior Seminar (Capstone)
- Economics elective (Economics Core)
- Electives
- Professional Responsibility and Leadership (Social Impact Core)
- Partner with the Wasserman Center for Career Development to complete your job search
Voices from Abroad
Matt Robinson (BPE '19)
Parliament and Pastries: A BPE Trip to Brussels