Economics

Are you interested in starting your own business or working in banking and finance? Are you drawn to social policy issues dealing with poverty and the environment? Majoring in Economics provides an excellent background for a wide range of careers, ranging from business, law and politics to international and government policy-making. Students who choose to pursue Economics further in graduate school become professional economists and work for academic and private research organisations, Fortune 500 companies such as Google, as well as institutions like the Federal Reserve, United Nations and World Bank.

Economics is a social science which analyses decision making at the individual (micro) and aggregate (macro) level. Economics majors use theoretical and empirical tools to study the ways in which individuals, organizations, societies, and nations make decisions about the allocation of scarce resources and the distribution of the product or output. Students in the program complete a core curriculum of seven courses in economic theory, mathematics and quantitative methods. They also choose four elective courses in topics ranging from game theory to environmental, social and international economic issues.

Students interested in pursuing graduate study in economics are strongly encouraged to consult closely with a member of the economics faculty. Graduate work in economics is highly mathematical, so it is important to have the necessary background in mathematics before applying to graduate programs. A double major in economics and mathematics or minor in mathematics is recommended. The economics department has an excellent record of placing students in graduate programs.

Visit the Economics department website at http://sites.elmira.edu/economics for more information.