Economics
Learn how to solve problems in business and society.
The study of economics provides you with valuable skills and techniques to solve problems in business and society. Some of the topics studied by economists are:
- Costs versus benefits of a regulation to limit water pollution
- The Federal Reserve’s use of interest rates to spur the economy
- The tradeoffs consumers will face from the new federal health care legislation
- Why women tend to have lower wages than men
- Remedies to alleviate poverty in Third World countries
- The impact of China’s growing economy on global trade
- Effect of rising obesity on health spending and death rates
The economics major at Meredith College focuses on the practical applications of economics to everyday situations and dilemmas. The economics major at Meredith offers a high degree of flexibility. Because the economics major is 30 hours, students can easily combine an economics major with another major, thus preparing for positions in two different fields. Flexibility is further enhanced by permitting students to take up to six hours of approved courses in subjects such as business, history, politics, religion and ethical studies, sociology and mathematics as part of the economics major.
Our students are thoroughly prepared for graduate study in economics, but they are also well-equipped for meaningful careers right out of college. At Meredith, students can customize their program in a way that maximizes their success.
The economics major includes required courses in principles and intermediate economics and electives in the topics of international economics, money and banking, health economics and policy, environmental economics, and gender and the economy. The major ends in a culminating experience of a research project or internship.
Our academically-challenging learning experience prepares women to be leaders in industry, government and non-profit organizations. The economics major at Meredith offers these distinctive advantages:
- Accredited by AACSB International. The School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance of Collegiate Schools of Business. Less than 5% of programs worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB International accreditation. Meredith is one of only two women’s colleges in the world to have earned this distinction.
- Personal Attention from Faculty. Small class size (economics classes average 20 students per section) allows students to interact with outstanding faculty who know them as individuals. These faculty offer individualized advice for career or graduate school preparation.
- Preparation for Graduate or Professional School. Majoring in economics is excellent preparation for students who wish to go to graduate school to study law or public policy. Some of our graduates have been accepted at Vanderbilt Law School, Campbell Law School and the NC State Veterinary School.
- Internships. Economics majors have many opportunities for hands-on training by completing an economics internship with leading businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Our internship director places students in positions that match their career interests. Recently, economics majors have had internships at Credit Suisse, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Walk for Hope Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Urban Ministries of Wake County.
- Travel and Learn. Economics majors participate in a number of study tours led by the Business School faculty. In 2010, the Business School co-sponsored (with the Fashion Merchandising program) a study trip to New York City. Students made corporate site visits and met with Meredith alumnae working in the city. In 2012, Meredith faculty and students will spend 14 days visiting Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing learning about China’s dynamic economy and business environment. In recent years, our economics majors have also studied in Korea, Denmark and at the London School of Economics.
- Leadership Opportunities in Economics. Students who do well in their economics courses are eligible for induction into Omicron Delta Epsilon, which is one of the world’s largest academic honor societies and exists to recognize scholastic attainment and honor outstanding achievement in economics. Currently, Omicron Delta Epsilon has 652 chapters in the United States and many other countries.
Meredith's economics program offers numerous hands-on learning opportunities. Recent examples of internships completed by Meredith students include:
Walk for Hope Foundation, Raleigh, N.C.
Urban Ministries of Wake County, Raleigh, N.C.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Raleigh, N.C.
Habitat for Humanity, Raleigh, N.C.
Credit Suisse, Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Recent undergraduate research or honors thesis topics include "Rwanda and Ethiopia: The Impact of Women on Economic Growth," "Women in Medicine: Where are Today’s Women Going and Why?", "AIDS: How Much Does It Cost?" and "Microfinance Institutions and Afghan Women."
An economics degree prepares students for a wide array of potential careers as well as graduate study. Companies that have hired and graduate programs that have accepted recent graduates of Meredith's economics program include:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Credit Suisse
- College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State
- Vanderbilt Law School
The business faculty at Meredith are dedicated to the success of their students. The small class size means faculty know students as individuals, and they help students translate their unique strengths and interests into fulfilling careers in business. Faculty share their personal business experience and academic expertise in the classroom and one-on-one as advisors and mentors, which in turn allows faculty to identify exciting internship opportunities and helps them open doors for students through their connections to the business world.
Economics faculty members include the following:
- Douglas Wakeman, Ph.D., teaches environmental economics, international economics, and principles of economics (macro and micro). He uses his skills as an economist to provide analysis and insight to various non-profit and governmental agencies. He serves on the Board of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, NC Greenpower, and the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation.
- Anne York, Ph.D., teaches gender and the economy, and principles of economics (micro and macro). Dr. York’s main research relates to issues of equality for women in the labor market. A recent published article studied differences in the college and career aspirations of male versus female high school valedictorians.
For more information about the economics major, please go to the School of Business website.
For information about other majors at Meredith, return to the Admissions majors page.
