Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics

Economics is a social science which, at its root, is the study of behavior--of individuals, firms, organizations and governments. Economics studies how these groups make choices and the implications of their choices for themselves, for markets, and for the local, national and global economies. Economics is not a collection of information to be learned, rather, it’s a way of thinking and a set of analytical tools that helps better understand everything from banking to baseball. The world is changing rapidly, jobs that students aspire to today may not exist tomorrow; but an understanding of the core concepts of economics will continue to provide students with the ability to conduct meaningful, valuable analytical work across a wide variety of occupations, even those that do not yet exist.All Economics majors will take the same core classes, providing them with a solid foundation in the concepts, tools and analytical methods of economics. Students can then choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, both of which are structured to give students a greater depth of understanding in a few areas of Economics and experience applying their analytical skills and economic knowledge to real-world issues and problems.The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed to allow students to tailor their upper division Economics curriculum based on their interests, taking advantage of the wide variety of fields with which the study of Economics is compatible. Faculty advisers can help students create plans of study (e.g. International Economics, Political Economy, Monetary Economics, Economics and Law) that fit best with the students’ academic and career goals. This degree is exceptionally well-suited for students who want to double-major or minor in another discipline.Students who successfully complete an Economics degree, will have achieved the following Program Learning Outcomes:1. Thinking critically from an economic perspectiveApply the theory and tools of microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis to explain historical outcomes and to critique contemporary policy from an economic perspective.2. Conducting economic analysisInform decision-making by developing an analytical framework to conduct research—working independently and as part of a team—including identifying, compiling, and synthesizing relevant information and interpreting data using appropriate statistical analysis.3. Applying quantitative reasoning to economicsApply mathematical tools, concepts or approaches, as appropriate, to enhance comprehension of economic concepts and models.4. Communicating economic concepts and analysisClearly, concisely, and accurately communicate—orally or in written form—the process, results, and implications of economic analysis to a range of audiences.