Economics Major (BA)

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Hamline’s Economics major prepares students to examine and analyze issues of great societal importance: from consumer and corporate behavior to climate change policy, health care markets and more. Economics students will develop their critical thinking skills through careful analysis of many of the most important issues facing the world today. Students will build their understanding of economic theory while also gaining skills to test those theories, applying knowledge of data analysis and software skills to real-life applications. Economics students will have hands-on learning experiences throughout the major and every student will design and complete a personal research project based on their own interests and goals. Many Economics students participate in Hamline’s summer collaborative research program and present their work at local and national conferences, and all students complete at least one internship.

Economics majors have the option to complete an interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics or public policy. See below for details.

Economics Major Requirements

One course chosen from the following:

One statistics course chosen from the following:

One communication course chosen from the following:

Electives:

Choose four courses from the following list, at least three must be ECON courses.

Note

Students interested in graduate school in economics may want to consider additional courses in computer programming and/or mathematics. Please discuss with your advisor if that is of interest to you.

Optional Interdisciplinary Concentrations

Students pursuing an economics major may also choose to complete an interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics or public policy.

Behavioral Economics Concentration

Human decision-making is nuanced and complex. Over the last few decades, psychologists and economists have forged a new area of study – behavioral economics – to better understand and predict judgment and decisions. This field combines ideas and methods from economics, psychology, and neuroscience to create a more complete view of human behavior. A growing number of employers are seeking to use behavioral economics to inform their policies and practices. Insights are being applied to a wide range of contexts and industries, including health care, education, personal finance, advertising, and public policy.

In the interdisciplinary concentration in behavioral economics, students will learn core theories and methods in economics and psychology, then integrate and apply this knowledge through applied projects. Students will design field and laboratory experiments, informed by behavioral theory, and analyze data for insights. Each student will also design a research project that explores an area of judgment and behavior, tailored to their personal interests and goals. Students can pair this concentration with a BA in Psychology or a BA in Economics.

The Behavioral Economics Concentration is open to students majoring in Economics or Psychology .

Concentration Requirements

Statistics (select one):

One of the following:

Public Policy Concentration

The public policy concentration educates students about public policy and helps them to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create innovative, socially responsible solutions to the most critical issues facing society. The program forms an arc, beginning with an introduction to ethical public policy, building skills with methodology coursework, and culminating with a capstone experience in which students engage directly with a public policy issue in a semester-long applied project or internship. Students will acquire an extensive set of skills in policy evaluation and analysis, equipping them to become agents of change to improve the quality of life for people and their communities, at home and abroad. The public policy concentration is open to students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice , Economics , Environmental and Climate Studies , Legal Studies , Political Science , or Public Health .

Concentration Requirements

PSCI 1200 - Introduction to Ethical Public Policy

One foundational methods course chosen from the following:

Two public policy courses:

Two electives chosen from the following:

(these courses help students to engage in policy analysis or navigate political/legal systems effectively)

Two electives chosen from the following:

(these courses help students to develop expertise in specific policy areas)

One senior capstone chosen from the following:

The capstone should be completed in the student’s major area and should include an applied public policy research project or internship.