About Us
Programs
The Department of Economics at Western Michigan University offers three undergraduate majors (B.A., B.S., and B.B.A.), several minors, and a graduate program (M.A.). At the undergraduate level, our programs are designed to build strong analytical, quantitative, and communication skills that prepare students for a wide range of careers or further professional study.
Undergraduate programs and pathways include:
- Economics Majors (B.A., B.S., B.B.A.) – A flexible, rigorous foundation for careers in business, public policy, analytics, law, education, and graduate study.
- Economics Minor – A strong complement to many majors across the university.
- Behavioral Economics Minor – An interdisciplinary minor developed in collaboration with Psychology that examines how people make decisions in real-world economic settings.
- Economics Minor for Social Studies Majors – Designed for students preparing for careers in high school teaching, with coursework that supports social studies and economics instruction.
Graduate pathways include:
- Accelerated M.A. in Applied Economics – Allows motivated undergraduate economics majors to begin earning graduate-level credits toward a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree.
- M.A. in Applied Economics – Preparing students for advanced careers in research, policy analysis, teaching, and consulting.
Across all programs, the department emphasizes data analysis, applied research, and real-world problem-solving, ensuring students graduate with skills that translate directly to careers in business, government, education, and analytics.
Research
Our faculty publish in journals such as:
Agricultural Economics, American Economic Review, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Economic Development and Cultural Change, Economic Inquiry, Health Economics, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal of Economics Management & Strategy, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Journal of Human Resources, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Population Economics, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Journal of Sports Economics, Journal of Urban Economics, Labour Economics, Lancet Planetary Health, Land Economics, Oxford Development Studies, Public Health, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics, Review of Industrial Organization, Review of International Economics, Review of World Economics, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Southern Economic Journal, and World Development.
Departmental research efforts have recently benefited from the following external granting sources: United Nations, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, State of Michigan, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Global Center for Food Systems Innovations (Michigan State University), Northwestern University/University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Department members have been awarded over 10 Fulbright Scholar and/or Fulbright Senior Specialist Awards to countries such as China, Germany, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Faculty members have served as external consultants for the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations, and the World Bank. Faculty are often called upon by law firms from around the country to provide economic consultation and expert court testimony.
Teaching
Our faculty have particular strengths in research and teaching (undergraduate and graduate) in the core areas of microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and economic statistics. In addition:
- Economic development
- Environmental economics
- International economics
- Labor economics
- Monetary economics
In addition, our course offerings continue to adapt to the changing landscape of the economy as well as student needs. This includes courses such as:
- Behavioral Economics
- Economics of Immigration
- Health Economics
- Sports Economics