2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Economics
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 Return to: Majors and Minors
Why do some countries prosper while others do not? Who benefits from increasing country wealth? How? These basic questions motivated the first economists some two centuries ago and continue to be at the core of what economists do. They have also gone far beyond the initial questions while seeking to explain a wide range of human behaviors. Modern economics has thereby become a practical, mature social science offering interesting career paths in business and government. The economic way of thinking about human behavior –as taught in our degree programs – also provides essential support to the College liberal arts mission and is a valued part of the educational experience offered at Saint Mary’s.
The major in economics leads to either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The BS major is a quantitatively oriented program that provides excellent preparation for graduate studies and careers in economics or business administration. The BA major is a social science-oriented program that is ideal for students planning professional studies and/or careers in law, teaching, business or the public or nonprofit sectors.
The regular BA and BS degrees offer a wide range of choice regarding which courses to take in the junior and senior years. Under each degree option, students may, however, choose an interdisciplinary concentration focusing on international and development issues or the sustainability challenges facing growing economies. Students choosing one of these concentrations should consult their advisor as early as possible, and normally no later than the beginning of their junior year, to discuss their academic and career plans.
All degree options are based on a rigorous core of economic theory and methods and the opportunity to use these to explore a wide range of applications, which may be combined with coursework in other disciplines. Throughout, the emphasis is on developing practical skills that can be used to address real world issues.
The economics minor is an excellent complement to many majors such as politics, history, mathematics, communication, accounting and business administration. The minor provides students with a core of economic theory and a sampling of the many fields of economics.
Faculty
Roy E. Allen, PhD, Professor
Jackson Battista, PhD, Assistant Professor
William C. Lee, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Andras Margitay-Becht, PhD, Associate Professor
Anna Maximova, PhD, Assistant Professor
Xiangyi Meng, PhD, Visiting Professor
Asbjorn Moseidjord, PhD, Professor, Chair
Andrew Williams, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Why do some countries prosper while others do not? Who benefits from increasing country wealth? How? These basic questions motivated the first economists some two centuries ago and continue to be at the core of what economists do. They have also gone far beyond the initial questions while seeking to explain a wide range of human behaviors. Modern economics has thereby become a practical, mature social science offering interesting career paths in business and government. The economic way of thinking about human behavior –as taught in our degree programs – also provides essential support to the College liberal arts mission and is a valued part of the educational experience offered at Saint Mary’s.
The major in economics leads to either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The BS major is a quantitatively oriented program that provides excellent preparation for graduate studies and careers in economics or business administration. The BA major is a social science-oriented program that is ideal for students planning professional studies and/or careers in law, teaching, business or the public or nonprofit sectors.
The regular BA and BS degrees offer a wide range of choice regarding which courses to take in the junior and senior years. Under each degree option, students may, however, choose an interdisciplinary concentration focusing on international and development issues or the sustainability challenges facing growing economies. Students choosing one of these concentrations should consult their advisor as early as possible, and normally no later than the beginning of their junior year, to discuss their academic and career plans.
All degree options are based on a rigorous core of economic theory and methods and the opportunity to use these to explore a wide range of applications, which may be combined with coursework in other disciplines. Throughout, the emphasis is on developing practical skills that can be used to address real world issues.
The economics minor is an excellent complement to many majors such as politics, history, mathematics, communication, accounting and business administration. The minor provides students with a core of economic theory and a sampling of the many fields of economics.
Learning Outcomes
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Graduates will be effective economic analysts.
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Graduates will be able to apply economic theories.
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Graduates will have well developed critical thinking skills.
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Graduates will be able to analyze and interpret economic data.
Internships
Students who want to combine study with practical experience in economics should contact the department director and the Career Center for information on a variety of opportunities available in both the private and public sectors. Course credit for internships may be available through enrollment in ECON 495 .
Honors
Majors and minors who maintain a GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.0 (3.25 for minors) in their economics courses will be considered for induction into and a lifetime membership in the Saint Mary’s chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the internationally recognized economics honors society.
ProgramsBachelor of ScienceBachelor of ArtsMinorCoursesEconomics - Lower DivisionEconomics - Upper Division
Return to: Majors and Minors
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