Economics

What is economics?
Economics is the study of the behavior of individuals, firms, and the economy as a whole.

What interest economists?
Financial markets, the unemployment rate, taxes, politics, real estate, crime, the environment . . . the list is endless.

What can I do with an economics major and how much money can I make?

Private sector opportunities include banking, finance, insurance, and consulting. Public sector opportunities include any number of government agencies, such as the IRS or the Federal Reserve. Other opportunities include graduate studies in economics (M.A., Ph.D.), law school, and business school.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported in 2007 that, on average, economics graduates received higher starting salaries ($47,782) than either finance ($46,442), accounting ($46,292), or business administration/management graduates ($43,256).

Be famous!

Did you know that Ronald Reagan, Danny Glover, Barbara Boxer, John Elway, Ted Turner, Kofi Annan, Lionel Richie, Ben Stein, Cate Blanchett, Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Mick Jagger all majored in economics?

The Economics Major

Ten courses, totaling 30 credits, are required for the economics major. All courses are three credits each.

Core Courses

  • ECON 101 – Principles of Microeconomics

  • ECON 102 – Principles of Macroeconomics

  • ECON 201 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and Policy

  • ECON 205 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory and Policy

  • ECON 210 – Statistics for Economics and Business

Electives

  • Choose five 300-level or higher economics courses.

 The Economics Minor

A total of 21 credits are required for the economics minor, including ECON 101, ECON 102, ECON 201, ECON 205, ECON 210, and any two 300-level or higher economics courses.

Upper-Level Course Offerings

  • ECON 301 – Industrial Organization

  • ECON 302 – The Canadian Economy: A Comparative Approach

  • ECON 315 – Money and Banking

  • ECON 320 – Comparative Economics

  • ECON 321 – International Economics

  • ECON 325 – The Economy of Crime

  • ECON 331 – Public Economics

  • ECON 340 – Law and Economics

  • ECON 350 – Urban Economic Problems and Policies

  • ECON 360 – Environmental Economics

  • ECON 375 – Labor Economics

  • ECON 377 – Sports Economics

  • ECON 400 – History of Economic Thought

  • ECON 410 – Mathematical Economics I

  • ECON 411 – Mathematical Economics II

  • ECON 420 – Econometrics I

  • ECON 421 – Econometrics II

  • ECON 430 – Managerial Economics

  • ECON 498 – Internship in Economics

  • ECON 499 – Directed Study in Economics

For more information on this major contact:

Chairperson: Dr. Margaret Brooks
Administrative Assistant: Ann Reichert
Web Site: Economics
Phone: 508.531.1716
Fax: 508.531.6136
Building: Hunt Hall (26 School Street)
Floor: 1st floor, Room 113

 

Last Modified: November 2, 2011