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Economics
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Economics is a major that offers three degree programs, two located in the College of the Liberal Arts and one in the Smeal College of Business. Economics is a social science concerned chiefly with the way that individuals and society choose to use resources to meet competing wants and with the description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics analyzes both private and social benefits and costs of alternative courses of action and their impacts on business firms, consumers, workers, government agencies, and on the economy as a whole.
Within the College of the Liberal Arts, the Department of Economics offers two programs: one leading to the bachelor of arts degree and the other to a bachelor of science, which requires specific skill courses.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
An honors program is available to economics majors. Admission to the honors program is by invitation of the Department of Economics honors program director. The program is designed to provide a more challenging educational experience.
The Undergraduate Economics Association is open to all interested students (including students who are not Economics majors).
CAREER DIRECTIONS
Economics graduates have numerous kinds of employment open to them. Economics majors in the College of the Liberal Arts generally have wide-ranging interests. Often they pursue careers in law, politics, teaching, research, or public service. Many corporations and government agencies hire Economics majors as analysts. In addition to government agencies and business operations, labor unions and nonprofit institutions are also employers of economics majors. Undergraduate training in economics provides a broad set of basic skills that are useful in preparation for a wide variety of interesting careers. Some occupations in which Economics graduates are employed include attorney, budget analyst, buyer, commodities trader, credit manager, economist, financial analyst, loan officer, management trainee (finance, marketing, banking), market researcher, sales representative, securities analyst, and wage and salary administrator.