The Economics Department prides itself on the diversity of interests and fields of its faculty. All of the faculty are actively involved in research and publication activities, and are active in international, national, and regional professional societies. Faculty members have also served in positions with the national and state governments, and international institutions.

The Department of Economics seeks excellence in research, teaching, and service. Both faculty and students are responsible for carrying out this mission.

  • In RESEARCH, the standard is refereed scholarly publications in leading journals and books. By-products of research excellence should be (1) participation at national and international meetings; (2) success in winning external funding; and (3) integration of research into our undergraduate and graduate courses, along with student involvement in that research. We encourage creative scholarship of any kind, on any topic. We believe in and support collaborative research and publication, and we pledge to maintain a collegial research atmosphere.
  • In TEACHING, the standard is effective, committed teaching at all levels — principles, intermediate, advanced undergraduate, M.A. and Ph.D. While students have primary responsibility for their own educations, we consider it our duty to provide them with diligent, competent guidance. Excellence in teaching is not only compatible with but is actually strengthened by high-quality research, provided we always remember that good teaching matters. Giving Ph.D. students teaching experience is important, but it must not take precedence over staffing our courses, especially in principles and intermediate theory, with experienced economists who offer sound intuition along with analytical technique.
  • In SERVICE, we recognize our unique obligation to offer economic expertise to the citizens and governments of Connecticut, the nation, and the world. We also have obligations to serve the national and international communities of scholars and the University community. These obligations are in fact an opportunity: High-quality service both depends on and spawns high-quality research, and it also sharpens teaching skills by exposing faculty to different audiences.
  • For more information, please visit Storrs Department of Economics Website

Why Major in Economics?

Whether you realize it or not, you already have a rich personal experience with economics. You make dozens of economic choices every week: how much to study, sleep, work, spend (or save); what courses to take; which snack to buy; and what to do Saturday night. An Economics Major draws on that experience to help you understand how the economy works, not only for you personally but across the region, the nation, and even the world. Economic theory helps you cut through the buzz of everyday events, in order to focus sharply on how people make choices, at what costs, and with what effects on their own lives and those of others. Learning how to find and work with economic data enables you to monitor real economic activity and to test theoretical ideas about causes and effects.

Ultimately, studying economics prepares you to deal with a rapidly changing world. Not surprisingly, employers value such skills.

  • A bachelor’s degree in Economics prepares you for a career in any number of occupations — in business, banking, the non-profit sector, journalism, international relations, education, and government. Below, we suggest some course groupings for an economics major that would be especially apt for particular careers.
  • An Economics degree is also excellent preparation for graduate study — in the law, business, economics, government, public administration, environmental studies, health-care administration, labor relations, urban planning, diplomacy, and other fields. Your Advisor can suggest specific courses for your Major that will prepare you for your intended graduate field.

Advising

The department holds informational meetings for prospective or current majors. Watch for announcements posted around the department, or check the Storrs website, (www.econ.uconn.edu). Meetings provide information about completing major and minor requirements, fields within economics, and careers available to economists.

When you declare your major you will be assigned an Academic Advisor. You may ask for a particular Economics faculty member as your advisor, or we will choose one for you.

  • The role of your advisor is to help you to meet your academic goals and complete the major or minor requirements. Thus, it is important that you take the time to discuss your goals and concerns with your advisor, so that he/she can provide you with the best advice on meeting these goals. You, however, are ultimately responsible for your academic progress.
  • Before meeting with your advisor, read through the Course Descriptions Catalog. The advising session will be more productive the better informed and prepared you are beforehand. The first time you meet with your advisor, complete a Preliminary Plan of Study to help plan your course of study. Discuss this with your advisor at subsequent meetings and keep it updated with any changes.
  • At the beginning of your last semester, you must file with the Degree Auditor’s Office of the Registrar a Final Plan of Study as an indication of your intent to graduate. (Your advisor has to sign this before submitting it). You may give this Final Plan of Study to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, who will make the appropriate copies and forward the original to the Degree Auditor.
  • In order to register for courses each semester, your advisor must lift the Advising Bar on PeopleSoft for you. It is best not to wait until the last minute to register, as your advisor may not be available.