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Economics program

Undergrad major Undergrad minor

Learn to think like an economist. Your career possibilities and growth potential will expand.

An economics degree provides students with the ability to think clearly and analyze problems. This prepares them for diverse careers — in and outside of the business world — such as law, politics, government, education, consulting, advising, and international relations.

Economics and these related occupations are expected to experience above average employment and wage growth over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Economics is an attractive major for those who are ambitious and willing to work hard as courses are rigorous and require significant writing and analytical reasoning skills. The payoff for that work can be huge. UW-La Crosse economics graduates have a reputation for being bright, clear-thinking, creative, hardworking and independent people who make significant contributions in their careers. 

 

I would not be where I am today without the help of my professors and friends at UWL.

Rodrigo De la Pena Alanis

Portrait of Rodrigo De la Pena Alanis

Jobs for economics majors

Economics majors find a variety of career paths in diverse sectors of economy such as banking and finance, international business, law, non-profit organizations and government. By mid-career (45-54 years old), around 7.1% are lawyers, judges, magistrates, and judicial workers; almost 6.6% are in a management role; 4.5% are chief executives and legislators; 4.4% are financial managers; 4.3% are supervisors of sales workers; and 4.0% are accountants and auditors.

The median economics major starts out earning about $50,000 per year. Median earnings rise sharply from the start of one’s career until about 15 years since entering the workforce. Earnings stabilize from that point, with the median workers earning about $105,000 per year, according to information from The Hamilton Project.  

Economics degree jobs

  • Accountants and auditors
  • Financial and investment analysts
  • Management analysts
  • Computer systems analysts
  • Financial managers
  • Treasurers and controllers
  • Investment fund managers
  • Personal financial advisers
  • Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
  • Primary, secondary, and postsecondary teachers
  • Computer programmers
  • Software and web developers
  • Marketing and sales mangers
  • Credit counselors and loan officers
  • Marketing research analysts and marketing specialists

- data from the American Community Survey.

 
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Economics definition

Economics is a social science concerned with how people make choices and allocate resources. Economists learn clear thinking and effective decision making, so they can analyze problems from different angles. For instance, a multinational corporation may use someone with economics training to forecast foreign demand for their products and determine how to sell more overseas. Or an economist could help government officials decide the best way to use a community’s financial and physical resources.

What distinguishes UWL's economics program?

International education opportunities

The Economics Department is actively involved in international education. The faculty regularly teach courses for UWL students abroad, and economics majors are encouraged to participate in one of the many international study opportunities available.

Classroom activities are varied, engaging

Instructors include multi media presentations and small cooperative learning groups to develop students’ writing, oral communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills. Many courses feature computer tutorials and simulation games to enhance learning. Computers are used as a search tool and applied to common business and economic problems in most classes.

Faculty are committed to student learning

Faculty members are dedicated teachers, who are concerned about and committed to improving student learning. The faculty regularly develop tools to measure student learning and then create plans to improve learning and continually assess it.

Join faculty in research

The Economics Department has a history of involving undergraduate students in research. And faculty are actively involved in pursuing new research. Over the last five years, the economics department faculty have collectively published more than 60 papers in peer-review academic journals.

Become a paid tutor

Upper level economics students with an exemplary academic record are invited to become department tutors for freshman economics courses.The position provides prestige, additional income and valuable experience that is attractive in the job market.

Earn an economics student scholarship

Three annual merit scholarships are offered exclusively for economics students: the David M. Cole Scholarship, the Barry Clark Award ,and the Maurice O. Graff Scholarship. Scholarships are available in amounts up to $2,500.

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