Whether you're trying to reduce poverty, decide whether to buy or lease a car, or figure out how a company can make the best use of its employees' time, you're using economics. As an economics major, you'll see exactly how we apply economics every day in our professional and personal lives. UB's economics program is designed for people who want to make the world better (and more efficient) by understanding how we distribute money, land and other limited resources.
As an economics major, you'll study foundational concepts like inflation, interest rates, wealth and trade—including how psychology helps shape our behavior. You'll learn how to gather data, analyze and develop economic policies, and present your findings. And you'll discover the role of applied economics throughout society as you take courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.
Some of the most memorable lessons happen when you're not even in the classroom. Here are just a few of the ways you can take your education to the next level.
Economics is one of the most flexible majors you'll find. While most economics students go to work in financial services (including banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies), you’ll quickly see how economics applies to everything from advertising and retail to health care and the environment. As one recent economics student said, "I chose economics to affect social change."
Here are just some of the places economists work, along with a sampling of what you can do there:
At UB, undergrad economics students learn from well-known authors, editors, speakers and experts in their fields. Our faculty has earned many prestigious honors, including major research awards from the National Science Foundation and United States Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
But perhaps what stands out most is how our faculty truly enjoy teaching the next generation of economists. You can see it in the recognition they've received—including the Milton Plesur Award for Teaching Excellence and the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. And when you come to UB, you’ll see it for yourself in the classroom.