Economics Major at FSU

The Economics major provides excellent preparation for many professional careers.  The study of  economics provides students with a logical and ordered way of examining problems and issues.  It draws material from such diverse fields as history, philosophy, mathematics, political science, and business administration in analyzing topics ranging from how an individual household or business can make sound decisions to societal issues such as how to fight unemployment, inflation, and environmental decay.  Economics majors learn how to formulate questions, collect information, identify an appropriate framework to analyze that information, and arrive at an answer to the question.  The economics major is widely recognized as providing a solid background for many professions.

The faculty of the Department of Economics are highly qualified economists who have distinguished themselves as excellent teachers as well as scholars.  The expertise of the faculty covers a broad range of subfields including economic development, economic education, environmental economics, experimental economics, international economics, labor economics, monetary economics, quantitative analysis, public policy analysis, public sector economics,  race and gender economics, and regional economics.

Program Structure
The economics major at Frostburg State University provides a choice between two concentrations: general economics and business economics.  The credit hour requirement in the major is low enough to permit a combination with an additional major or minor, and students are encouraged to supplement their major requirements with electives that enable them to best develop their particular areas of interest.  The major allows students the opportunity to apply the principles of economics to a broad range of topics.  The curriculum stresses analytic mastery, applied computer skills, and the development of written and oral communication skills.  In most cases, students majoring in economics will not complete their first required economics courses until their sophomore year.  This enables them to complete many of  their basic liberal arts requirements during their freshman year.

Career Opportunities
Career alternatives for economics graduates are unusually varied.  These include careers in business, government, law, journalism, teaching, and public or private international service. While a significant proportion of economics majors do not become professional "economists," they are able to use their economics backgrounds in a large variety of occupations.  Undergraduate study in economics also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in a second discipline or a related area, such as law, business administration, or public administration.  About one half of our economics graduates have gone on to do graduate work.  Virtually all of these students have received financial awards in the form of graduate assistantships.

For more information contact Dr. David Kiriazis by phone at 301-687-4390 or by e-mail at dkiriazis@frostburg.edu.