2024-2025 Undergraduate General Catalog


Economics

Economics is a social science which focuses on the broad questions of how societies produce, distribute and consume goods and services. The study of economics involves theoretical analysis, statistical inference and the study of economic history and institutions. As one thinks about improving the quality of life–from the local to the global level–it is virtually impossible to avoid contact with “the economic way of thinking.”

The Economics program is designed to serve the general student as well as majors and minors. The Department’s goals are threefold: 1) acquaint students with economic aspects of society; 2) familiarize students with models and techniques for analyzing economic problems; and 3) enable students to develop critical skills for evaluating economic policy and institutions. Economics majors find employment in diverse areas of the economy (e.g. banking, finance, management, teaching, government). Some majors pursue graduate training in economics while others pursue MBA, law or other advanced professional degrees.

Augustana has a chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honor society, which encourages student-faculty interaction and recognizes scholastic attainment in economics.