About Our Department

Students in the economics program acquire logical, consistent, and rigorous methods of thinking critically about the world and its economic issues. These methods can be applied to a wide variety of important topics including inflation, unemployment, international trade, poverty, income inequality, currency depreciation, monopoly power, bank failures, budget deficits and health-care costs.

The Department of Economics offers two majors and a minor in economics. All three programs are designed to provide excellent career-entry skills. Whether a major or minor in economics is pursued, students are strongly encouraged to complement their studies with work in other fields. In recent years, for example, graduates have done complementary coursework in such fields as mathematics, foreign languages, business, environmental studies, computer sciences, international studies and English.

The choice of major and of a complementary field depends upon the path the student wishes to pursue. For example, students pursuing a liberal arts major, wishing to double major, or who are interested in continuing studies in professions other than economics would likely find the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) best suited to their needs. Students wishing to engage the discipline at a much broader and deeper level would find the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) a better alternative.

Students graduating with a major in economics will be able to integrate the tools and concepts of the discipline in analyzing economic issues. The background provided by this major gives students sound preparation for a variety of careers or for further study at the graduate level.

The core for each degree consists of five economics courses and two allied requirements. The B.A. requires three additional elective of the student's choosing. The B.S. has three possible paths. Each path requires three particular additional courses, two additional electives of the student’s choosing, and additional allied requirements.

Students wishing to pursue graduate study in economics should consider the path in Mathematical Economics. Students interested in international affairs should consider the path in International Economics. Students seeking an economics degree, but would like it supplemented with additional technical skills and an introduction to the business field, and students who are looking towards an eventual MBA degree should consider the Business Economics path.