About
Explore the Systems that Drive Our Economy
Economics provides a mental toolkit to analyze and solve real-world problems. It is a great field of study for students who are interested in how people, institutions, and markets interact in the context of critical social issues such as climate change, people lacking health insurance, the cost of living, and financial crises. By learning how to use quantitative and statistical methods, you can begin to predict how businesses and large systems will behave and generally understand our society better.
While Economics is an academically rigorous major, it also provides flexibility for students to follow their passions and interests. Many students come to Econ in their sophomore year and/or double with another major such as Environmental Science, Political Science, International Relations, Psychology, or Public Health. While the program features challenging requirements, it is not overly prescriptive in the sequence, and there are multiple paths to filling the requirements.
Faculty
In Depth
As an Economics major, you’ll get a strong foundation to understand how models, markets, and systems work and intertwine to create specific economic conditions. With that foundation, you’ll be prepared to dive into topics such as environmentalism, healthcare, political science, and more, all through the lens of the economic landscape.
As a liberal arts college with a mission to help students find their way to positively impact the world, Economics majors at Saint Michael’s learn not only strong analytical skills, but also the skills to help others understand economics and its impact. You’ll learn about how variables like inflation, GDP, interest rates, unemployment, and trade flows interact, and how to apply and explain these variables in different contexts.
Your studies will culminate as a senior in a research thesis. This two-semester requirement will take you from developing your own research question to then doing the research and analysis to come to a conclusion about that query. The second semester is an independent study that culminates in you presenting your findings. This experience gives each student valuable applicable experience that can lead to grad school or employment.
Careers
Economics majors have wide-ranging options for careers in well-paying fields such as insurance, banking and finance, real estate, government, applied statistics, and healthcare management. Many Economics majors pursue careers such as:
- Financial planner
- Financial analyst
- Market analyst
- Public policy analyst
- Business consultant
- Staff economist at state or federal agencies
- Environmental consultant
- Healthcare consultant
In addition to working for well-known financial institutions such as Fidelity Investments and UBS Financial Services, our graduates go on to work in top companies across many different industries, where they are able to use their strong financial and analytical skills.
Graduate Study
Economics students from Saint Michael’s go on to graduate studies at prestigious schools including the London School of Economics, University of Connecticut, Cornell, Boston University, and many others. In addition to furthering their economics education, some students go on to study law, business, or healthcare administration. A strong foundation in economics is a great springboard to so many other opportunities!
Research
All Economics students conduct research as part of their senior seminar, where they are responsible creating a study around a research question of their choosing. Once their research is completed, students are required to write and present a report on their findings. This is the same process followed by working economists and is intended to give students real-world experience that will support their next steps post-graduation no matter what they choose to pursue. Recent senior projects have tackled diverse topics including mental health resources, the effects of Medicaid expansion, the effectiveness of foreign aid, and the relationship between personality and financial decision-making.
For students who are eager to do more hands-on research, all faculty have ongoing research and welcome student involvement in those projects.
In Depth
As an Economics major, you’ll get a strong foundation to understand how models, markets, and systems work and intertwine to create specific economic conditions. With that foundation, you’ll be prepared to dive into topics such as environmentalism, healthcare, political science, and more, all through the lens of the economic landscape.
As a liberal arts college with a mission to help students find their way to positively impact the world, Economics majors at Saint Michael’s learn not only strong analytical skills, but also the skills to help others understand economics and its impact. You’ll learn about how variables like inflation, GDP, interest rates, unemployment, and trade flows interact, and how to apply and explain these variables in different contexts.
Your studies will culminate as a senior in a research thesis. This two-semester requirement will take you from developing your own research question to then doing the research and analysis to come to a conclusion about that query. The second semester is an independent study that culminates in you presenting your findings. This experience gives each student valuable applicable experience that can lead to grad school or employment.
Careers
Economics majors have wide-ranging options for careers in well-paying fields such as insurance, banking and finance, real estate, government, applied statistics, and healthcare management. Many Economics majors pursue careers such as:
- Financial planner
- Financial analyst
- Market analyst
- Public policy analyst
- Business consultant
- Staff economist at state or federal agencies
- Environmental consultant
- Healthcare consultant
In addition to working for well-known financial institutions such as Fidelity Investments and UBS Financial Services, our graduates go on to work in top companies across many different industries, where they are able to use their strong financial and analytical skills.
Graduate Study
Economics students from Saint Michael’s go on to graduate studies at prestigious schools including the London School of Economics, University of Connecticut, Cornell, Boston University, and many others. In addition to furthering their economics education, some students go on to study law, business, or healthcare administration. A strong foundation in economics is a great springboard to so many other opportunities!
Research
All Economics students conduct research as part of their senior seminar, where they are responsible creating a study around a research question of their choosing. Once their research is completed, students are required to write and present a report on their findings. This is the same process followed by working economists and is intended to give students real-world experience that will support their next steps post-graduation no matter what they choose to pursue. Recent senior projects have tackled diverse topics including mental health resources, the effects of Medicaid expansion, the effectiveness of foreign aid, and the relationship between personality and financial decision-making.
For students who are eager to do more hands-on research, all faculty have ongoing research and welcome student involvement in those projects.
Related Programs
Related Programs
News View all news
