The goal of our program is to provide students with the theoretical and empirical foundations with which to understand economic arguments and address current economic issues. We have formulated our learning objectives to achieve this goal. We have organized our learning objectives into the following four categories: Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Communication Skills and Learning in Practice. We expect that students who have completed the Economics major will be adept in each of the following four categories with the specific skills described below.

Critical Thinking

  1. Apply economic analyses to their everyday lives and see economics in real world situations. 
  2. Apply the materials learned in our program to policy relevant issues and be able to understand current events and to assess the likely impact of specific policies put forth by various government entities.
  3. Evaluate the role played by assumptions in arguments made for and against economic and policy issues.

Quantitative Reasoning

  1. Use quantitative evidence along with the economic models to assess the validity of various economic and policy relevant arguments.
  2. Understand statistical methodology and interpret statistical evidence.
  3. Use data to construct quantitative economics arguments and understand the statistical problems associated with interpreting the results.
  4. Understand the role of sample selection/endogeneity in affecting results and how one might best correct for these issues.

Communication Skills

  1. Formulate written arguments that state assumptions and hypotheses and evaluate the evidence pro and con.
  2. Present a carefully reasoned economic argument orally and respond to questions pertaining to their argument.
  3. Present a carefully reasoned economic argument by means of graphs, figures, and charts, and potentially through the use of packages such as PowerPoint or similar products.

Learning in Practice

  1. Possess a working knowledge of information data bases and know how to use the web to assist in the gathering of reliable information.
  2. Know how to locate and use primary data sources (e.g., Current Population Surveys, Census, American Community Surveys).
  3. Use their knowledge to understand and evaluate current economic events and new economic ideas.

See the LearningObjectiveMatrix to find how these objectives are addresses by each course we currently offer.