Major in Economics

Understanding economics is important for anyone curious about wealth and poverty, financial events in the media, government programs and policies, and the structure of society.

A classical discipline, economics examines many of society’s most fundamental and controversial issues. As an integral part of a liberal arts education, economics explains how people and societies behave.

Careers and outcomes

The major in economics is designed for students with interests in either graduate studies (law, history, economics, business, sociology, political science, conflict transformation, economic development) or immediate employment in the public or private sector, like economics graduate Nessa Stoltzfus, who works for Oxfam America, an international relief organization. At Oxfam, Nessa coordinates the training of college students working toward social justice.

Our graduates are doing outstanding work in graduate school!

Double majors

To encourage double majors, the required credit hours are kept to a low 48 hours. To ensure economics majors have a liberal arts perspective, students are strongly encouraged to take upper-level courses that build on EMU’s core curriculum such as philosophy, history and art.

Economics majors do not need to take the business core courses.

Faculty

Chris Gingrich, Professor
Dr. Gingrich specializes in development and international economics. His research activities cover a variety of topics, including the fair trade coffee market, mosquito net delivery in Tanzania, microfinance programs in Nepal, and financial crises in Southeast Asia. He has worked extensively with Mennonite Economic Development Associates and Mennonite Central Committee(MEDA). A professor at EMU since 1995 . . .Learn more

Jim Leaman, Associate Professor
James M. Leaman, Ph.D., directs the MBA program and teaches graduate courses in organizational and leadership studies and undergraduate courses in business and economics. His industry experience has been in both private business and nonprofit administration, most recently including 12 years of service with an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kenya. Academic preparation includes a Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, Master . . . Learn more

Walt Surratt, Assistant Professor
Walt came to EMU with nearly 30 years of experience as a professional economist mostly with NERA Economic Consulting where he performed quantitative economic analyses in support of clients engaged in litigation or seeking professional advice and consulting. His work included the analysis of firms and markets and the calculation of business damages in a number of different industries. Walt retired from NERA . . .Learn more