Economics

William S. Kern, Interim Chair
Donald L. Alexander
Eskander Alvi
Sisay Asefa
Bassam E. Harik
Matthew L. Higgins
Emily P. Hoffman
Kevin M. Hollenbeck
Wei-Chiao Huang
James Hueng
Jean Kimmel
Donald J. Meyer
Christine Moser
Debasri Mukherjee
Jon R. Neill
Susan Pozo
Michael Ryan
Edward Van Wesep
Mark V. Wheeler
Huizhong Zhou

Economists study fundamental problems arising from scarcity such as how to manage resources efficiently, how to organize individual and social efforts to improve standards of living, and how to avoid excessive unemployment and inflation. They also apply rational decision-making procedures to complex questions. Economists analyze policies in such specific areas as international trade; money and credit; government finance; industrial organization; labor and other resources; and economic development.

You may select economics as a field of study in order to obtain preprofessional training for business, law, journalism, public administration, foreign service, teaching, and social work; to prepare for graduate work in economics; and/or to gain an understanding of the economy as an essential part of the modern world. Several courses are designed to contribute to General Education by providing basic understanding of the U. S. economy, as well as other economies throughout the world.

A career as a professional economist typically requires graduate study and a master’s or doctoral degree in economics.

Economics is a prestigious major or minor that is appreciated by prospective employers who recognize it as a demanding curriculum. The undergraduate advisor of the department will assist students in selecting courses suited to their needs in fulfilling the minor and major requirements.

The honors program of the Department of Economics is designed for the student who possesses special talents and abilities and who is particularly interested in exploiting them to the fullest extent. Students wishing to participate in this program should consult the Chair of the department.