Economics

The Business and Economics Department of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business offers a Minor in Economics to the traditional undergraduate students. Economics is the study of the way individuals and societies choose to use scarce resources in both the private and public sectors. Economic concepts are applied to nearly every aspect of human activity from ensuring food safety; supporting transportation systems and health care services; shaping international trade policy, government monetary and fiscal policy; and evaluating political, social, environmental and other issues. As an indication of the importance of economics, it is the only social science for which a Nobel Prize is awarded.

Economists use their knowledge and skills to advise business firms, banks, and other financial institutions, government agencies, international organizations, environmental organizations, special interest groups, and others. The overarching goal of the Economics Program of Study is to enable students to "think like an economist." Thinking like an economist requires problem-solving skills and creative thinking.

Economics graduates from Notre Dame have used their education and internship experiences as avenues to careers in local, state and federal government agencies, as well as in the private sector. Many also have used their classroom and practical experiences as stepping-stones to advanced degrees in economics, law, business and a variety of other fields. Our graduates are employed by organizations such as Motorola, Inc., Legg Mason, and the Federal Reserve Bank. Several own their own companies. Students have earned graduate degrees at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Polytechnic University, Georgetown University, the University of New York, and the University of Brussels, Belgium.

The following Economics courses satisfy the General Education Requirement in Social Sciences: ECO-211, ECO-212 and ECO-220.