Economics Major
If you’ve ever wanted to predict the future, the perfect major is in your forecast
Maybe you’ve heard a behavioral economics podcast, or you’ve considered how green industries will change human behavior. Maybe you’re always thinking of how one factor can influence another. If so, you’re already an economist. As an economist you’ll study people and how they might respond to cultural shifts and a changing world.
For example, will Gen Z college grads take jobs in larger cities and move away. How will that impact the tax base in their state or the health of their home state. And will it put pressure on needing more housing in new markets. Or how will automation, robotics, and AI change people’s jobs in 10 or 20 years? An economics education helps you analyzing historical data, current trends, and today’s headlines so you guide businesses, governments, and nonprofits in doing what’s best for what’s next.
Career Placement
As an economics grad, you’ll be prepared for what’s next from day one. (2020).
Skills Employers Want
Employers cite analytical thinking, innovation, and critical thinking in among the most important skills for new hires (Monster 2021).
Median Economist
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). This field is only expected to grow in the future.
Find out More About Economics
Tell us more and we'll send information on how you can succeed with an economics degree from the David W. Wilson business college.
Types of Economist
There are many career paths as an economist. Here are three:
The Business Economist
A business economist helps firms understand business outlook and adapt to a changing world and environment. They interpret and forecast the general economic climate, analyze conditions for their firm and industry and guide business decisions.
The Government Economist
For every area of government, there are economists. Government economists work for agencies in the fields like agriculture, business, banking and insurance, finance, labor, transportation, utilities, urban economics, and international trade.
The Academic Economist
Take your skills and teach others to predict and forecast the future. Countless opportunities exist for Economics majors to teach at the high school and college levels. At the collegiate level, Ph.D. economists are continuously in high demand.
Beyond these paths, Economics majors find work in almost every industry. Economics teaches you how to develop your analytical problem-solving skills that employers rank among in the top three skills for graduates and new employees.
Economics Careers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of economists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects are best for those with strong analytical skills and experience using statistical analysis software. The BLS (2020) also reports the national median annual wage for economists was $108,350.
Below are some occupations where those with an economics degree are found:
- Actuary
- Attorney
- Bank Manager
- Economic consultant
- Energy Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- International Tax Manager
- Legislative Aid
- Operations Manager
- Professor
- Stock Broker
- Underwriter
- Research Analysts
Economics Courses
An Economics major gives you a solid understanding and experience in economic theories and practices along with great flexibility to determine the courses that will best serve your career goals. Economics majors complete coursework in the following areas:
- Intermediate Macroeconomics Theory
- Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- Introduction to Econometrics
- Money and Banking
- Public Finance
- Environmental Economics
- Economics of Labor Markets
- International Economics
- Law & Economics
- Sports Economics
- Economic Development
- Health Economics
- Economics of Social Issues
- Economics of Sustainability
- Economics & Business Forecasting
Top Employers
Our graduates are in demand! Whether you want to work in government as a legislative aid or help companies as a Business Analysts, you’ll be getting the business knowledge and professional skills to succeed at Wilson’s College of Business.
Here are a few of the organizations where our economics alumni work:
- CPM Holdings, Inc
- Federal Reserve
- GreatAmerica Financial Services
- Iowa Division of Banking
- Kingland Systems
- Kunkel & Associates
- OpticsPlanet Inc.
- Polaris
- PwC
- Wells Fargo
- LIFTinnovate
Beyond the Classroom
Student organization participation is the perfect way to dive deeper into your economics degree.
Open to all majors, the Economics Club hosts a variety of activities throughout the year including, service projects, guest speakers and panel discussions on timely topics. Past trips have included visits to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Chicago Board of Trade.
The Pre-Law Club is open to all majors and provides many networking opportunities for those interested in pursuing a law degree. Activities include Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) assistance, panel discussions with local attorneys and presentations by law school recruiters.