About the Economics Department

What is Economics?

Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments choose to allocate resources to best satisfy their needs and objectives. The discipline draws from history, political science, philosophy, and mathematics to examine a wide range of topics, such as :

• Public debates about economic policy such as taxation, government expenditure, trade, and globalization
• The trade-offs and dynamics between unemployment and inflation
• How markets function, and what are the factors that influence interest rate setting and stock pricing
• The development and growth of the economy, health, and welfare

Benefits of Studying Economics

The field offers students a clear and concise way of thinking about the ordinary business of life as well as preparation for a wide array of professional careers. Indeed, the demand for economics majors is strong in the private sector and government, and growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 14 percent for economists from 2019 to 2029. Not only is it excellent preparation for careers in business, non-profits, finance, and government organizations, but it also serves as a stepping stone towards graduate study in business, law, public policy, and economics.

Learning Outcomes

Our expected learning outcomes center around imbuing students with the analytical tools and intuitive skills they need for the next phase of their careers. This is supported by the wide breadth of research our faculty specialize in, which includes topics such as macroeconomics, applied microeconomics, development, international economics, econometrics, financial economics, game theory, monetary economics, and microeconomic theory.

Programs of Study

We offer undergraduate majors in Economics, Mathematics and Economics, and International Political Economy, as well as a number of minors, a one-year M.A. Program, and a part-time and a fully-funded full-time Ph.D. program.