| Program description | Economics is the study of choice and how choices made by individuals and society affect our standard of living. Its subject matter is society, how people choose to lead their lives and how they interact. Economics brings methods of science to the fundamental questions and problems faced by society. By doing so, economics helps us understand and explain a variety of topics such as employment, inflation, business cycles, economic growth, markets, production, distribution, wages, profits, interest rates, money, taxes, competition, monopoly, international trade, economic history, public policy and many others. Courses range from the very practical and applied to the more abstract and theoretical. A major in economics prepares students for careers in a wide variety of private and public sector occupations as well as for graduate study in economics, law, public policy and business. Past graduates have worked as stockbrokers, bankers, union officials, market analysts, managers, researchers and salespersons. Export/import firms, public utilities, consulting firms, railroads, airlines, banks and a variety of local, state and federal government agencies, have employed them. Others have successfully completed graduate studies in economics at schools such as Yale, Purdue, UCLA, Rice, Oregon, WSU and Washington or received law and MBA degrees at numerous other universities. The Economics Major provides students with a strong foundation in economics and the opportunity to select from a broad range of upper-division courses. It allows the flexibility to craft a program related to individual student interests and goals. For example, students preparing for graduate school in economics or interested in a career in technical economic analysis would be advised to take a program similar to the Economics Major with Mathematics Option. Those considering careers in the private sector are advised to add a strong business minor. |