So Many Opportunities
Students who major in economics learn how to research for and evaluate data involving items of monetary and production value, which can include natural resources, raw materials, land and human labor. Graduates with economics degrees can pursue interesting careers in many industries such as political consulting, banking, manufacturing, nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.
Areas of Study for Economics Degrees
Economics as an area of study is one of the oldest, so it is no surprise that a large number of economics schools exist. Almost all traditional colleges and universities contain a school of economics, and many institutions offer online economics degree programs. While some students appreciate the opportunities that a traditional college campus experience offers, many others choose to pursue their economics studies online. Students who are self-motivating, currently working or wish to remain with their families are good candidates for online degree programs.
Bachelor's degrees in economics prepare students for their careers with a range of core skills, while economics masters degrees often immerse students in specialized classes and allow them to work more closely with faculty members on research projects. Doctorate-level economics programs allow for even more specialized research and also generally involve the PhD candidate in teaching and mentoring undergraduates.
Economics students take courses in a variety of subjects. While course offerings vary by educational institution, typical courses for an economics degree include:
- American enterprise
- Business and government
- Collective bargaining
- Comparative economic systems
- Economic development
- Environmental economics
- Financial markets
- Health care economics
- Industrial organization
- Labor economics
- Macroeconomic theory
- Management of technological change
- Managerial economics
- Microeconomic theory
- Personal finance
- Poverty and welfare
- Public finance
- Statistical analysis
Prospects for Economics Graduates
A degree in economics is excellent preparation for a career in a variety of areas. Some of the more popular jobs for graduates of economics programs include:
- Business journalists, who report for periodicals or work as freelancers researching and writing about financial and economic issues.
- Financial economists, who work in banking and finance to understand the impact of fluctuating interest rates upon businesses.
- Labor economists, who study the supply and demand associated with labor, job markets and wages.
- Legislative assistants, who help to shape political policies and laws.
- Microeconomists, who perform research and work with suppliers, helping them to set optimal pricing, reduce overhead costs and maximize profits.
- Macroeconomists, who compare current economic and financial data to historical trends in order to prepare forecasts.
- Public finance economists, who track government spending, grants and taxes.
