Economics
Economists provide insight into how societies are organized to enable people to provide
for their material needs and wants. This provisioning process involves interaction
among businesses, government agencies and policies, and people who work for a living,
raise families, and purchase goods and services, as well as the non-profit sector.
Stockton’s Economics program provides a broad understanding of a variety of theories and approaches to understanding the complexities of economic life, so that students can develop their own perspectives on economic policy debates in the news and be prepared to analyze the impact of the economy on their daily lives.
An important goal of the Economics program at Stockton is to provide students with a recognized level of competence in the discipline, as well as essential skills in critical thinking, data analysis, research, and communication. Because economic activity increasingly crosses national boundaries, all Economics majors will take classes that incorporate material designed to enhance their global awareness.
Program Chair
Professor of Economics
609-652-4741
G265
ramya.vijaya@stockton.edu
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates should be able to:
- Develop economic literacy and critical thinking skills crucial for engaged citizenship
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of pluralist approaches to economic theory & policy
- Develop information and statistical literacy skills that can be applied across disciplines and topics of inquiry
- Develop competence in quantitative & qualitative research methodologies
- Demonstrate an ability to interpret, summarize, & present research findings
Curriculum Overview & Concentrations
The program requires 10 courses in Economics - seven in the core curriculum and three electives. Transfer students should note that at least five Economics courses must be taken at Stockton, including senior seminar (ECON 4695). The components of the core curriculum include the following:
Introductory Sequence:
- ECON 1200 Introduction to Macroeconomics*
- ECON 1400 Introduction to Microeconomics
*Note that ECON 1200 is a prerequisite course for ECON 1400.
Intermediate Core:
Two of the following three* courses:
- ECON 3601 Intermediate Micro Theory
- ECON 3602 Intermediate Macro Theory
- ECON 3636 Political Economy
*For those planning to continue with graduate courses, taking all three is recommended.
Economic Methods Core:
- ECON 3605 History of Economic Thought
- ECON 3610 Introduction to Econometrics
- ECON 4695 Senior Seminar
Economics Program Electives:
The remaining three elective program courses must be at the 2000 level or higher and can be drawn from other Economics program course offerings (except ECON 1120 which does not count towards the major) or other independent study options in consultation with a student's preceptor, or an economics internship (see "internships" tab for details). At least two courses (8 credits) should be 3000 level courses.
Cognates:
The study of economics is interdisciplinary; economics courses are well supplemented by courses from such fields as political science, sociology, anthropology, finance, public (business) law, philosophy and introductory psychology.
Economics program preceptors assist all economics majors in selecting courses from these fields to broaden the student’s understanding of the social and political implications of economics.
Some Economics majors choose electives that enable them to focus their study on the global economy. Course work within the concentration will make students aware of major international issues and international economic problems and demonstrate how domestic policy must go beyond the parochial or national levels to assure real progress.
In addition to the seven core courses in the General Economics curriculum, students selecting the Global Economics Concentration must include TWO of the following three courses as their 3000-level electives:
- ECON 3655 International Trade
- ECON 3670 International Economic Development
- ECON 3675 International Money and Finance
Students pursuing the concentration should also take ONE of the following courses as cognates:
- GSS 2606 Introduction to Global Studies
- GIS 4658 Global Challenges and Solutions
- GSS 2132 A Brief History of the Global Economy
- LITT 2306 Cultures of Colonialism
- POLS 2160 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- GNM 2475 Global Environmental Issues
The Economic Policy Concentration is for students intending a career as an economic policy analyst or advocate. Such positions may be in federal, state, or local government or with nonprofit policy research and advocacy organizations.
In addition to the seven core courses in the General Economics curriculum, students selecting the Economic Policy Concentration must complete the following courses as electives or cognates:
Choose ONE of the following:
- ECON 2104 Health Care Economics
- ECON 2200 Ecological Economics
- ECON 2276 Urban Economics
- ECON 2282 Economics for All Ages
Choose ONE of the following:
- ECON 3620 Money and Financial Institutions
- ECON 3690 Economics of Work and Pay
Choose ONE of the following:
- POLS 1100 Introduction to Politics
- POLS 2100 Introduction to American Politics
The Economics Program has a recommended track for students planning to attend graduate school in economics or a related field. Students in the General Economics major can also pursue graduate studies, but should work with their Economics preceptor in selecting appropriate cognates. They should also strongly consider a minor in Mathematics or at minimum two semesters of Calculus. Some economics graduate programs are open to applicants with less mathematical preparation; students wanting advice on the best programs for their skills and interests should consult with their preceptor.
Students electing the Pre-Graduate School Concentration should complete all the requirements for the General Economics major; however, they should complete all three courses offered in the intermediate theory core. They should also take one course emphasizing applied statistics (such as CIST 1206, GNM 1110, or GSS 2348). In addition, the following two courses should be completed as part of the student’s cognates:
- MATH 2215 Calculus I
- MATH 2116 Calculus II
Students in the concentration are advised, but not required, to complete the MATH minor by taking MATH 2217 (Calculus III), MATH 3325 (Foundations of Mathematics), and MATH 3323 (Linear Algebra). For the strongest preparation, MATH 3328 (Differential Equations) is also advised.
Many law schools view economics as rigorous preparation for the study of law. Some Economics majors who plan to attend law school pursue an minor in Political Science or even a double major in the two disciplines.
Students electing the Pre-Law Concentration should complete all the requirements for the General Economics major. In addition, they should complete the following cognates:
Required Cognates:
- POLS 2215 Law School Basics
- PHIL 1204 Symbolic Logic
Choose TWO of the following:
- POLS 3221 Constitutional Law
- POLS 3225 Civil Liberties
- PLAW 2120 Business Law
- PLAW 3110 Legal, Social, & Ethical Environment of Business
Students may obtain a minor in economics if they successfully complete at least 20 credits in Economics with passing grades, including ECON 1200 (Macroeconomics) and ECON 1400 (Microeconmics). At least two of the other courses (a) must be at the 3000-level or higher and (b) may not be transferred from another institution.
Curriculum Worksheets
- BA in Economics (Program minor included)
*Please refer to Degree Works for General Studies, At-Some-Distance, and Course Attribute requirements.
Economic Program Faculty
Oliver D. Cooke
Elizabeth A. Elmore
Eric Hoyt
Mariam Majd
Ramya Vijaya
Siavash Radpour
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Ronald L. Caplan
PROFESSORS EMERITI
Deborah Figart
G. Reza Ghorashi
Melaku Lakew
Ellen Mutari
Graduate School Prep
Students planning on attending graduate school in economics should complete all three courses in the intermediate theory core. They should also strongly consider a minor in Mathematics, or at minimum two semesters of Calculus. These MATH courses can be counted as Cognates toward the Economics major. Some economics graduate programs are open to applicants with less mathematical preparation; students wanting advice on the best programs for their skills and interests should consult with their preceptor.
An economics major is also excellent preparation for those who intend to pursue graduate study in business administration, public administration, urban planning or any of the social sciences. It is also useful for the study of law. Students intending to apply to law school should select appropriate Political Science courses as their Cognates.
Careers
Stockton’s Economics program is practical and flexible. Economics majors and minors develop a portable set of skills, making economics the pathway to a diverse array of careers including:
- Business analytics
- Banking and finance
- Government & public policy
- Law
- Journalism
- College teaching and research
The relative scarcity of Economics majors compared with other majors, both nationwide and at Stockton, draws a premium in the labor market. The recent employment opportunities for economists with undergraduate degrees have been better than for many other majors in part because Economics majors have the broad training to adjust to changes in labor market dynamics. In particular, studying economics trains students to utilize, interpret, and write about quantitative data—highly desirable skills for employers.
Economics majors have several options for graduate studies as well. Some graduates pursue a Masters or Doctoral degree in Economics in order to pursue a career in advanced research, public policy analysis, or college-level teaching. An Economics major is also excellent preparation for those who intend to pursue graduate study in business administration, public administration, urban planning, international relations, or any of the social sciences. Economics majors also stand out among law school applicants. Finally, some Economics majors have gone on to obtain teaching certifications in social studies, financial literacy, and business studies.
You can find more information on careers for Economics majors, including salaries, from the American Economic Association website.
Internships
Economics majors and minors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may earn credit for an upper-level economics elective through successful completion
of an internship.
How to for Majors:
The best way to find an internship substantively related to economics is to use the Stockton program’s Handshake account (but you can also find one on your own):
1. Sign into Handshake
2. Click “Employers” tab
3. Search “Stockton University: Economics Program”
4. Click “See all” (bottom of the “Jobs at Stockton University: Economics
Program” card)
Tell us here about the internship(s) you’re interested in applying to at least 2 weeks before the application deadline. You will receive email confirmation once your request is approved or denied.
Please note that you may also notify us here if you would like to intern with an institution that does not currently offer an internship opportunity.
Stockton’s Career Center will help you to submit a competitive application, as well as create and revise a resume. You can schedule an appointment with Patrick Burns, your Career Advisor. You can also complete their virtual trainings on resume writing and interviewing for the position.
Immediately notify Mariam Majd (mariam.majd@stockton.edu) if you are selected for an internship.
For you to receive University credit, a formal agreement between Stockton and your employer must be in place prior to the start of the internship.
How to for Minors:
Find an internship related to economics with one of these institutions:
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Urban Institute
New Jersey Policy Perspective
Center for American Progress
Roosevelt Institute
Economic Policy Institute
Tell us here about the specific internship(s) you’re interested in applying to.
You will receive email confirmation once your request is approved or denied.
Stockton’s Career Center will help you to submit a competitive application, as well as create and revise a resume. You can also complete their virtual trainings on resume writing and interviewing for the position.
Immediately notify Mariam Majd (mariam.majd@stockton.edu) if you are
selected for an internship.
For you to receive University credit, a formal agreement between Stockton and your employer must be in place prior to the start of the internship.
