Why study Economics?
What will an Economics major or minor do for you?
What majors and minors are offered?
Why should a student major in Economics at Western?
What are the admission requirements for the program?
As a high school student, how should I prepare for an Economics degree?
What is the typical class size?
How do students work together with faculty?
What student organizations are available?
Has the department recently been awarded any grants?

Why Study Economics?
Ever wonder why popcorn is so expensive at the movies?  Or why professional sports stars make so much money?  Or why private school vouchers might actually increase the resources available to public schools?  Economics can provide answers to these questions and many others.  Many believe that economics is merely the study of business activity, but it is much more than that.  The study of economics provides a way of thinking, a powerful conceptual framework that allows economics majors to recognize, interpret and adapt to change.  This flexibility is one of the reasons why economics is one of the most popular majors among the nations top one thousand CEO’s, and among the most highly paid.

What Will An Economics Major or Minor Do For You?

• Increase your ability to think logically.
• Enhance your job marketability.
• Develop your ability to think theoretically and apply to practical  situations.
• Utilize math and statistical knowledge in relation to real-world events.
• Develop a deeper understanding of how individuals interact with each other.
• Become a more intelligent consumer/voter

What majors and minors are offered?
The Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Economics. Many students from other disciplines choose Economics as their second major.

Why should a student major in Economics at Western?

1. Faculty Involvement:
   The Economics Department faculty pride themselves on their accessibility to students.  Their clear commitment to teaching is evidenced by the time that they devote to students, both inside and outside of the classroom.  The over 60 years of combined experience among the four full-time professors lends a valuable expertise to the learning process.
2. Student Research:
   At Missouri Western State University, students have the opportunity to work with professors while conducting student research.  The Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) and Aspirations, Inc. are both programs that provide financial assistance to student researchers.  Few schools in the nation promote undergraduate student research as aggressively as Missouri Western.
3. Teaching Experience:
   Students who demonstrate academic excellence can also gain valuable teaching experience by becoming content tutors and/or Supplemental Instruction Leaders.

What are the admission requirements for the program?
The admission requirements are the same as those required by the institution.

As a high school student, how should I prepare for an Economics degree?
A solid background in Mathematics, Statistics, History, and Government is ideal, but not necessary. An interest in current events and reading a daily newspaper or a weekly news magazine is also beneficial.

What is the typical class size?
The introductory Economics courses range from 25 to 40 students, while upper level courses generally have between 15 and 25 students. The department is small and friendly, with many opportunities for individualized attention to students.

How do students work together with faculty?
In the Department of Economics, faculty involvement is our biggest asset. All of the faculty pride themselves on their accessibility to students, and their clear commitment to teaching is evidenced by the time devoted to students, both inside and outside the classroom.

Students also have the opportunity to work with faculty on research projects, especially in the summer through the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute and the Summer Research Institute. When students declare a major in Economics, they are assigned an advisor who will closely monitor their progress toward a degree. The department is small enough for all faculty members to get to know the students and to take a keen interest in their education and careers.

What student organizations are available?
The Economics Department sponsors an active Economics Club and a chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in Economics. 

Has the department recently been awarded any grants?
Last fall, a faculty member applied for a grant from the state of Missouri to mentor two students to develop an economic forecasting model for use by local businesses. The grant was funded for two years.