Economics
The economy is the central focal point of the running of our society's business endeavors. By understanding the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth along with their financial implications, you’ll learn the skills to be a valued advisor in a business or governmental setting. As an Economics major, you'll obtain the analytical tools to forecast and understand a variety of social, political, and business issues through internships and practical research. Economics is a popular choice as a double major with Finance, Mathematics, or International Studies. Economics is one of the most popular minors at the University.
Why Choose Economics?
Economics is one of the great social sciences. It encompasses how human beings interact with their world and investigates the great mysteries of how people can attempt to control their lives. Economists are in the important profession of helping businesses, governments, organizations, and citizens see trends, assess risks, and take advantage of opportunities. Because economics is such a critical area of policymaking, it is vital to have a significant understanding of its workings.
What Will You Study?
Your studies will focus on the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth. You will gain an understanding of how society distributes scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services. Research assignments will teach you to collect and analyze data, monitor economic trends, and develop forecasts. You’ll see how economists may analyze energy costs, inflation, interest rates, imports, or employment levels, and then use their understanding of economic relationships to advise businesses and other organizations. You may also be a part of the Department of Economics' joint research project with the Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce (MECACC).
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities are available in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Typical employment might be in banking, with public sector agencies such as a board of health, with the federal government, as a stockbroker, in secondary level teaching, or in private sector management. Students with economic degrees may pursue graduate studies in economics, law, business, and public administration. Students with just one year of graduate training may enter Federal Civil Service, or upon completion of a graduate degree, teach at the college level. Our alumni have been hired at Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), Pennsylvania State University, Capitol Capital Group LLC, American Honda Motor Company, Inc., General Dynamics Electric Boat, Tacoma Public Utilities, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Faculty
Your classes will be small, interactive groups that are lead by experienced professors who are passionate about economics and take a personal interest in your progress. Their primary focus is teaching and mentoring you by one-to-one consultation. Our faculty has a wide range of research and industry expertise, business regulation, human capital and labor economies, macroeconomics, microeconomics, wealth and income equality, and globalization.
Unique Learning Opportunities
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Internships and Field Work
As an Economics student, you'll gain professional skills and experience through internships, fieldwork, or student teaching. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to take a test drive of your future career in a practical setting. You'll have access to a network of more than 1,000 internship sites where you will learn from the best. Our Economics majors have interned at Pension Associates, kglobal, and MassMutual Financial Group, Capitol Capital Group, REMI, and Develop Springfield.
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Study Abroad: Become a Global Citizen
Today’s workforce needs professionals who see the big picture. The College of Arts and Sciences will help you to become a student of world cultures and histories as they relate to your studies while making valuable contributions in your explorations. Whether you participate in a faculty-led summer seminar course or spend a semester at an international university, the experience will broaden your horizons and help you compete in the global landscape.
Study Abroad
