FUTURE FOCUSED

Evaluate policy by actively questioning mainstream thinking. From energy and the environment to poverty and welfare, you’ll explore a breadth of topics in economic theory and analytic methods. Developing the skills necessary to understand, analyze, research and evaluate economic phenomena, processes and issues, you’ll graduate prepared to be an active citizen and successful professional.

Student SpotlightAnnabel Ramsay '25

Majors: Economics, Asian Studies
internships: rxsense, bce consulting  
Study abroad: new taipei city, taiwan

"Coming into college, I wasn’t sure economics was the right major for me. It was the professors in the economics department who made me believe that I was capable. I’ve spent hours with various professors outside of class time, re-working problems, asking for explanations, or simply talking through what's going on in my personal life. 

What I’ve discovered is that I love the policy side of economics, examining the real-world implications of governmental decisions. I view economics as sort of the ultimate liberal arts course of study. Economics subject matter delves into political science, history, sociology, critical social studies–bleeding into gender studies, and racial studies, etc. It's also highly applicable to various career paths, and I know my economics course work and experiences with professors have been tools to lean on during my various internships."

 

 

Honors
honors

And Research

Economics students looking to engage more in their work can study and complete Honors and research projects in their chosen topic with the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Past examples of Honors projects include:

  • William Roger Lewis '23: Quantifying Racial Disparity in Indoor Environmental Quality
    Christina Houseworth, Adviser 
  • Caroline Reid Martocci '22: Institutional Student Housing Securitization Feasibility at Hobart and Willliam Smith Colleges
    Feisal Khan, Adviser 
  • Julia Ann Ricciarelli ’21: MMT and the Job Guarantee: An Institutionalist Assessment
    Jacob Powell, Adviser 
  • Brian A. Schaumloffel ’20: Beyond Industrialization:  An Alternative Approach for Transitioning of the East Asia Growth Model
    William Waller, Adviser

Experiential Education

Learn what it’s like to work on Wall Street during a networking trip to New York City or help local entrepreneurs craft a viable business plan at the Bozzuto Center.

At HWS, learning goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. You’ll gain high-impact, practical experience that deepens learning and opens doors.

 

GRADUATE WITH LEADERSHIP DISTINCTION

Amplify your Economics degree with the skills, knowledge and ethical foundation needed to be a leader in the 21st century. In partnership with the Centennial Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, our department offers the opportunity to engage in leadership development that culminates in a degree with leadership distinction and provides a competitive edge when applying to internships, jobs and graduate or professional school.

To graduate with leadership distinction, you will complete a series of foundational, action-oriented and reflective milestones within the Economics and Leadership curriculum. We encourage you to begin your leadership journey as early as your second semester on campus. 

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No Borders:Global Education

Examine the environmental economics of Central Europe in Czech Republic, study macroeconomics in Germany or explore political economy in Taiwan.

Wherever you go, our nationally-ranked global education program will allow you to apply classroom knowledge, develop cultural understanding and build global connections that expand your personal capacity and sense of purpose.

abroad

Learn how economic issues connect to our daily lives.

  • ECON 218 INTRODUCTION TO INVESTMENTS

    Learn about the US financial markets, instruments and the related major financial theories and models.

  • ECON 122 THE ECONOMICS OF CARING

    Explore, analyze, and assess how our society cares for those who cannot provide all of the necessities of life for themselves, including children, the infirm, and the elderly.

  • ECON 212 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

    Students move back and forth between theory and practice, learning how basic principles from economic theory can be applied to environmental questions. Evaluate how these principles have been used to implement policy nationally and internationally.

"econometrics" students learn linear regression analysis and statistical analysis, becoming better citizens and thinkers   

Teaching Fellows

The Economics Teaching Fellows for Spring 2024 are JT Anderson, Guillermo Castaneda, Cailin Kessman, Esme Pham, David Wynne and Annabel Ramsay.

There will be dedicated hours for ECON 202 (stats) and ECON 160 (intro) from 5-7 p.m. on Sundays, with a guided hour for each (160 at 5 p.m. and 202 at 6 p.m.). Click the link below for the full schedule. Please note, there will not be teaching fellow hours on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb 11.

FacilitiesA Wealth of Information

Stern Hall

Learn economics in the 27,000 square-foot Stern Hall. The hall encompasses the departments of economics, political science, anthropology, sociology, environmental studies and Asian languages and cultures and features classrooms, research and seminar rooms and a laboratory. Stern Hall is named for Honorary Trustee Herbert J. Stern ’58, P’03, LL.D. ’74. Stern served as judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and as judge of the United States Court for Berlin. A trial lawyer, Stern is the author of numerous works including Diary of a DA: The True Story of the Prosecutor Who Took on the Mob, Fought Corruption, and Won.

Alum ImpactGrowth Inside and Outside the Classroom

nick kriak '22

Position:
Legal Assistant at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Location:
New York, NY

"HWS prepared me for my future through the skill sets I acquired in the classroom and on the athletic field. The Economics classes allowed me to enhance my critical thinking skills while the Educational Studies classes further developed my interpersonal skills. Being on the men’s soccer team and fulfilling the role of a captain has taught me how to become a leader in all facets of life. The combination of these three has forced me to grow intellectually and is the reason I got to where I am."

COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OUR GRADUATES

  • ACLU
  • Barclays
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Bryce Capital Management
  • By Kids for Kids Co.
  • CBS Sports
  • Charles Schwab
  • Credit Suisse
  • Department of the Treasury
  • DeWitt Stern Group, Inc.
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • Fidelity Investments Brokerage Group
  • Frick Capital
  • Geneva Business Improvement District
  • Goldman Sachs
  • HBO Sports
  • IBM
  • ING
  • International Trade Administration
  • J. P. Morgan
  • John Hancock 
  • Lazard Capital Markets LLC
  • Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc.
  • Mathematica 
  • MGM Studios, Inc.
  • New York State Health Department
  • New York Yankees
  • Oppenheimer & Co.
  • Society for International Development
  • UBS Financial Services
  • U.S. Dept. of Commerce
  • U.S. Dept. of State
  • United States Embassy
  • Wells Fargo
  • World Health Organization
  • Yahoo!

UNIVERSITIES WHERE OUR GRADUATES ARE STUDYING

  • California State University
  • Georgetown University
  • Indiana University
  • New York University
  • Rice University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Seton Hill University
  • Syracuse University
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Kentucky
  • University of New Mexico
  • University of Rochester
  • Villanova Law School