Description:

The main goal of the economics program is to train students in the “economic way of thinking” and to use economics as a tool to understand, analyze, and solve problems in all walks of life.

The economics major at Purchase College is designed to train students in the tools and language used in economics and to give them:

  1. a rigorous understanding of economic theory and its historical development.
  2. the ability to apply economics theory to real-world problems.
  3. the ability to conduct interdisciplinary analysis.
  4. the ability to combine analytical skills, critical writing skills, and quantitative skills needed to succeed in a highly competitive economy.

The economics minor at Purchase College is designed to introduce students to:

  1. the economic way of thinking.
  2. analytical and quantitative tools.
  3. interdisciplinary analysis.

The economics faculty has an unusual breadth of teaching, research, and policy perspectives rarely found in liberal arts colleges. This provides students with rigorous training in neoclassical economics and an exposure to contemporary Austrian economics, cultural economics, public choice theory, law and economics, urban economics, and behavioral economics. Students have the opportunity to develop their quantitative skills. The program also exposes students to a wide range of policy issues concerning the role of government, economics and the arts, cities and culture, political economy, and international issues.

Given the specialization of the faculty at Purchase College, economics students can take courses that focus on cultural economics, quantitative economics, and political economy. These areas may be studied in regular courses and in tutorials and independent studies. Students also have the opportunity to work in depth on one area in their senior project, mentored closely by a faculty member. 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 engage in related activities, such as attending economics lectures, presenting at conferences, joining reading groups in economics, and pursuing internships and study abroad programs during their four years at Purchase.

About Our Alumni

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.

Requirements:

In addition to meeting  General Education requirements and other degree requirements, all economics majors must complete the following requirements (56 credits):

  • MAT 1150/Precalculus (4 credits)
  • Two introductory-level theory courses (8 credits); a grade of C+ or higher is required in each:
    ECO 1500/Macroeconomic Theory I
    ECO 1510/Microeconomics I
  • Two intermediate-level theory courses (8 credits):
    ECO 3010/Macroeconomic Theory II
    ECO 3260/Microeconomics II
  • One statistics course:(4 credits)
    • ECO 2040/Essentials of Statistics for Decision Making or
    • MAT1600/Introductory Statistics or
    • PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics
  • ECO 3070/Econometrics (4 credits) Required for students entering fall 2024 and later.
  • Four electives in economics* (16 credits)
    *Refer to the list of examples below.
  • ECO 3880/Junior Seminar in Economics: 2 credits
  • ECO 4880/Economics Senior Seminar I: 1 credit
  • ECO 4890/Economics Senior Seminar II: 1 credit
  • SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
  • SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits

Refer to The Senior Project for additional information.

Additional notes for economics majors:

  1. In addition to the grade requirement in the two introductory courses, economics majors must maintain a GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher in required courses, but not necessarily in any one course (except where specified).
  2. These requirements should, where possible, be taken in the years appropriate to their numbers: 1000-level in the freshman year, 2000-level in the sophomore year, etc. In addition to the required courses, there are many exciting opportunities for economics-related internships in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors.
  3. It is highly recommended that the senior thesis be written in a subject area in which a student already has some knowledge through prior coursework.

Minor requirements:

A minor in economics is awarded to any student who completes at least five economics courses, as outlined below.

This great flexibility permits students to design their own program around a series of economics courses of interest to them. Students interested in the minor should submit a completed Declaration of Minor form.

Members of the economics faculty assist students in designing their individualized minor. It is recommended that students begin their minor with one or both of the two required introductory-level courses: ECO 1500 and ECO 1510.

Academic Requirements for the Minor in Economics

At least five courses, as follows:

  • ECO 1500/Macroeconomic Theory I
  • ECO 1510/Microeconomics I

At least three electives (minimum 12 credits), chosen from the following:

  • ECO 2040/Essentials of Statistics for Decision Making
  • ECO 2085/Arts and Entertainment in Economics
  • ECO 2280/Environmental Economics
  • ECO 2300/Business Economics
  • ECO 2325/The Development of Modern Capitalism
  • ECO 2355/Gender Economics
  • ECO 3010/Macroeconomic Theory II
  • ECO 3070/Econometrics
  • ECO 3080/Game Theory
  • ECO 3100/Cities, Culture, and Economy
  • ECO 3190/Money and Banking
  • ECO 3195/Financial Economics
  • ECO 3200/The Global Economy
  • ECO 3260/Microeconomics II
  • ECO 3330/Cultural Economics
  • ECO 3360/History of Economic Thought
  • ECO 3400/Business, Government, and Society
  • ECO 3430/Entrepreneurship, Public Policy, and the Law
  • ECO 3440/Sports Economics
  • ECO 3550/Law and Economics
  • ECO 3600/Behavioral Economics
  • ECO 3650 Special Topics in Economics
  • ECO 4250/Advanced Seminar in Economics

Faculty

  • Lecturer of Economics and Mathematics
    • BS, SUNY Utica-Rome
    • MS, Polytechnic University
    • PhD, Fordham University
  • Assistant Professor of Economics
    • BS, Far Eastern National University
    • MA, Central European University
    • PhD, West Virginia University
  • Lecturer of Economics

    MS, Brown University
    BS, Lehigh University

  • Associate Professor of Economics
    • BA, Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium)
    • MS, PhD, Université Libre de Bruxelles, European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (Belgium)
  • Lecturer, Arts Management
    • ED.D, Executive Doctor of Education, Manhattanville College
    • MBA, Marketing, Leonard Stern School of Business, New York University
    • BS, Marketing, Leonard Stern School of Business, New York University
    • Professional Certificate in Innovation and Technology in Entrepreneurship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics

Courses