The Economics BA Program | Academic Requirements | Student Learning Outcomes | Minor in Economics | Courses | Faculty

The Economics BA Program

The economics major at Purchase College is designed to give students:

1. a rigorous understanding of economic theory and its historical development
2. the ability to apply theory to important real-world problems
3. the analytical skills needed to succeed in a highly competitive economy

The economics faculty has an unusual breadth of teaching, research, and policy perspectives rarely found in liberal arts colleges. This provides students with an exposure to contemporary Austrian, behavioral/experimental, Keynesian, and neoclassical theoretical approaches, and to a wide range of policy issues concerning the role of government, economics and the arts, cities and culture, and international issues (e.g., U.S. trade policy and development in the Third World). These may be studied in regular courses and in tutorials and independent studies. In every case, the faculty is dedicated to developing each student’s ability to think critically, write clearly, and conduct research.

Students majoring in economics are also encouraged to pursue internships and study abroad programs during their four years at Purchase.

Many of our alumni pursue graduate training in economics, public policy, business or law; others want a broad-based liberal arts education in economics, but do not pursue advanced work after graduation. Alumni of the economics program have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, including finance, journalism, the arts, education, government, law, and entrepreneurship.