Department of Economics

Economics is a versatile discipline that studies individual and group choices in markets. We teach students how individuals, businesses, and national economies behave, as well as how public policies promote or hinder economic performance. Our graduates work for private industry, the government, and go on to graduate school and law school.

In the economics department, our faculty members are dedicated teachers and accomplished scholars. We have Fulbright scholars (in 2010 and 2023), a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship winner, and a winner of the USM Board of Regents' Faculty Award for Excellence.

Meet our faculty and staff.

Our Mission and Vision

Mission
The department’s mission is to develop our students’ critical thinking and communication skills to make them job ready for their chosen career path. Upon graduation, our students can use both theoretical reasoning and quantitative methods to analyze contemporary economic issues in this fast changing and complex world, including
- Why markets exist, how they function, and how the government can influence market outcomes through policy
- How economic data can be empirically analyzed using cutting edge software tools like Python and R
- Why national economies and business environment experience periods of prosperity and slow growth
- How the global system of international trade and finance operates and why today’s trade patterns have emerged
- How environmental issues are framed by economists and how market-based policies can be used to correct externalities
- How monetary, banking, and financial systems operate in a modern economy
- How employment and wages are determined in the labor market
- Why some nations and regions are highly developed while others are mired in poverty
Vision

The department’s vision is to create a supportive and inclusive teaching and learning environment where our students realize their full potential and develop into successful professionals, and, together with faculty, contribute to a global and dynamic world.

Some students will choose careers in industry or government upon graduation, while others will choose to pursue further graduate education.

Meet Jasmine – Economics Major

Find out how the economics major can support your other interests, such as Jasmine’s interest in sustainability.

Our Academic Programs

The department offers an engaging curriculum that is built on a rigorous foundation of economic theory. Our principles classes are open to all SU students and satisfy two general education requirements: Principles of Economics (ECON 150) and Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 212) satisfy the new “Social Issues” category, and Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 211) satisfies the “Social Configurations” category. We also offer a wide variety of relevant applied courses, including game theory, environmental economics, sports economics, money and banking, labor economics, health economics, international trade and finance, and development economics. In our courses, we emphasize hands-on assignments and exercises in which students work with real-world data to sharpen their analytics skills.

The department currently offers two majors: the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Economics, and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics. For students interested in economics but majoring in a different field, we offer a minor in economics.

Both our Economics (BA) and Business Economics (BS) programs are now classified as STEM degrees. This designation reflects our programs’ emphasis on quantitative analysis, mathematical modeling, and empirical research methods. It prepares our students for career paths in economic analysis, data science, financial analysis, policy advising, consulting, and further graduate studies. This change in classification does not affect the curriculum or degree requirements but will provide our international students with an OPT (Optional Practical Training) extension, allowing them more time to pursue advanced degree programs and gain relevant work experience.

More information on our programs

Experiential learning of economic science is fun and exciting! It allows students to learn rigorous economic theory by engaging in activities that real economists perform, such as data analysis and policy making, to make positive societal impact. Our students have enjoyed these learning opportunities and achieved notable accomplishments.

Dr. Ying Wu Professor of Economics

Post-Graduate Placement

What jobs our graduates do
Types of jobs for SU ECON graduates
Account Executive

Army Assistant Chief of Staff

Business Consultant

Business Development Manager

Data and AI Specialist (IBM)

Economic Analyst

Economist, Senior Economist

Financial Accountant

Financial Analyst

Financial Representative

Insurance Assistant

International Operation Representative

Lawyers

Managing Director

Media Director

Navy Lieutenant

Planning specialist

Professors

Program Analyst

Property Manager

Real Estate Consultant

Sales, Sales Representative, Sales Director

Security Analyst

Software Developer

Transportation Planner
Where our graduates work
Strong job placement record for SU ECON graduates

Our graduates have had tremendous success in the job market, receiving jobs at:
Alliant Energy Corporation

American Express

Bancorp Investment

Delaware State Treasurer

Fannie Mae

Fidelity Investments

Johnson & Johnson

Joint Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress

M3 Synergies

Maryland Public Service Commission

Morgan Stanley

NERA Economic Consulting

Northrop Grumman

Penn Medicine

Princeton Health

Prudential Financial

RockCreek Financial

SC Johnson

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Treasury

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
What graduate/law schools our graduates attend
Strong graduate school placement record for SU ECON graduates

Our students have been admitted into many prestigious graduate programs, including:
American University

Boston University

Fordham University

Howard University

The London School of Economics

Tulane University

University of Baltimore School of Law

University of Delaware

University of Maryland

University of Richmond

University of Tennessee

Washington University in St. Louis

For Our Students

Economics Club
The Economics Club is a student-run organization open to all students interested in economic studies and the economy. We gather to discuss current economic events, host economics-related gatherings to network for internships and jobs, and each semester we take a networking/professional trip to Washington, D.C.

The Economics Club is where everyone, regardless of their major, can come together to share economics-related information, explore the field, and connect through shared experiences. Understanding economics is crucial, and we are here to help you explore your interests. Currently, the club advisor is Prof. Silvana Chambers. If you have any questions about our club activities, please get in touch with the club president, Darby Trout (dtrout1@gulls.salisbury.edu).

We Offer The Following Opportunities:
- Social activities
- Discussing economic events
- Fall and Spring Washington D.C. networking/professional trip
- Job opportunities information sessions
- Volunteer opportunities
- Alumni events
- Faculty members’ research presentations
Economics Club Schedule (PDF)
Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) Honor Society
Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) is the International Honor Society in Economics.

It is one of the world’s largest academic honor societies, with 717 chapters in the United States and worldwide. Omicron Delta Epsilon’s objectives are to recognize scholastic attainment and honor outstanding achievements in economics. Since the installation of Maryland Xi chapter (Salisbury University) in 2003, over 150 SU students have been inducted to this prestigious honor society.

Admission Requirements:
- Completion of 12 credit hours of economics courses;
- Attainment of a GPA of 3.0 or better in economics courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.0;
- The student has a significant interest in the study of economics.
Latest inductees in Spring 2024:
Brianna Agwo
Economics, B.A.
Information Systems Minor

Samuel Brookbank
Finance, B.S.
Accounting, B.S.

Natalie Brown
Economics, B.A.
Mathematics Minor
Data Science Minor
Eli Johnson
Economics, B.A.
History Minor

Kendall King
Economics, B.A.
Philosophy, B.A.
Law, Justice, and Advocacy Minor

Brady Smith
Business Economics, B.S.
Networking and Professional Trip to Washington D.C.
The Economics Department organizes regular networking and professional trips to Washington, D.C., offering students a unique chance to immerse themselves in the heart of policy-making and economic discourse. These trips include visits to businesses, banks, and government agencies, bridging the gap between academic learning and practical, real-world applications and providing students with firsthand experience in economics.

Objectives:
- Enhance Professional Networks: Connect with economists, policymakers, and industry professionals.
- Gain Insight into Economic Policy Making: Understand the formulation and implementation of economic policies.
- Explore Career Opportunities: Discover various career paths in economics and related fields.
- Develop Professional Skills: Improve networking, communication, and professional etiquette skills.
Learn more about our Spring 2024 trip!
College Fed Challenge Competition
Salisbury University has been participating in the College Fed Challenge Competition (a team competition for undergraduate students) organized by the Federal Reserve system. Teams analyze economic and financial conditions and formulate a monetary policy recommendation, modeling the Federal Open Market Committee.

Past SU teams have done very well, winning the Fed Challenge and later finishing as a finalist at the regional competitions. Students who have participated the College Fed Challenge benefited tremendously from this unique experiential learning opportunity. Some of them continued with their graduate studies and earned doctoral degrees in economics. Some are now senior economists in the federal government and U.S. Congress, directly helping shape the national economic policies.

The Department faculty members also supervise students’ research projects, some have been presented in SU Undergraduate Research Conference (SUSRC). The topics include:
- Effects of Protected Areas on Human Migration
- ChatGPT and the U.S. Labor Market Analysis
- The conventional monetary policy (i.e., interest-rate targeting) and macroeconomic considerations that underlie the tug of war between interest-rate hike and interest-rate cut?
Scholarships and Awards
We celebrate students’ outstanding achievements and recently hosted an annual recognition event on May 2, 2024.

Outstanding Senior Award: Each year, the department faculty select one outstanding graduating senior from each of our degree programs:
- Outstanding senior for Business Economics (BS): Brady Smith
- Outstanding senior for Economics (BA): Daisy Holder
Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) Inductees:
- Brianna Agwo
- Kendall King
- Samuel Brookbank IV
- Brady Smith
- Natalie Brown
- Eli Johnson
Visit the Omicron Delta Epsilon page

Scholarship Winners:
- Scott N. Ralston Memorial Scholarship for Economics major: Darby Trout, Business Economics
- L. Fleming Scholarship: Eric Augustine, Business Economics and Accounting double major
Visit the SU Scholarships page

2 academic programs
48 academic research papers recently published by faculty
150 STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO ODE ECONomics HONOR SOCIETY

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