Economics Major
It may sound all analytical, but there’s a human aspect, too. One of the most influential academic disciplines, economics is the study of the market and how and why people make the choices they make. Economists are interested in incentives and prices, earnings and employment, investments and trade. Studying economics at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ will develop habits of careful thought, the application of mathematics and practice in clear writing – skills that are all invaluable to employers.
Why Choose an Economics Major at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½?
Our Bachelor of Arts in economics provides students with a flexible curriculum, which can be tailored to each student’s interests. There are 36 hours of free electives that can be used to obtain one or more minors, or even a second major. Recent economic students have minored or double-majored in finance, political science, mathematics, history and philosophy.
At ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, economics majors go beyond the blackboard. Students are expected to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real problems. Undergraduate research is an integral part of the economics program.
Because their skills are useful in all sectors of the economy, students holding a degree in economics face more employment opportunities. The study of economics leads naturally to careers in business, law and economics research and consulting. Methods developed by economists serve as foundations for core areas of fields such as:
- Management
- Finance
- Political science
- Sociology
- Environmental sciences
- Law
- Statistics
Recent job placements testify to the importance of the problem-solving skills students learn in our program. Our economics graduates have found positions in:
- Banking and finance at MBNA America Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank
- Companies such as Perdue Farms and Intel
- Government with Bureau of Labor and Statistics, U. S. Department of Defense and EPA
Recent graduates have also been successfully recruited to graduate programs at Georgia State University, George Washington University, University of Tennessee, The College of William and Mary, and the University of Delaware, among others.
For those interested in this field, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ also offers an economics minor, which can complement many other ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ majors.
Meet Jasmine – Economics Major
Find out how the economics major can support your other interests, such as Jasmine’s interest in sustainability.
Careers for Economics Majors
Your education is valuable and a huge factor in preparing for your future career. What jobs can you get with an economics degree? Our economics program’s emphasis on applying logic to questions of personal choice and public policy makes it ideal for careers in education, law, research or administration, such as the following:
- Actuary
- Economist
- Financial Analyst
- Loan Counselor
- Personal Financial Advisor
- Real Estate Agent
- Research Associate
- Sales Representative
Economics Faculty with Real-World Experience
Our dedicated faculty offers students opportunities to meet outside the classroom and further develop their skills.
Meet Your Economics Faculty:
Jill Caviglia-Harris
Dr. Jill Caviglia-Harris is an engaged faculty member both inside and outside of the classroom. Her research, funded by the National Science Foundation, is focused on understanding the underlying tradeoffs between development and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and identifying answers to complex (and often politically energized) questions concerning the degree to which the ecological costs of deforestation are offset by local gains from economic development. She also works on investigating best practices for teaching and motivating students. Dr. Caviglia-Harris was awarded ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2004, the State of Maryland Board of Regent’s Award for excellence in teaching in 2010, and other fellowship and professorship.