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Economics

Bachelor of Science in Economics (B.S.E.)

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Get Your Degree in Economics at UW

How can we help more people prosper? How do we evaluate tradeoffs? How do we consider all values, both market and non-market, in policy decisions? Why do oil prices fluctuate? Why does the Federal Reserve raise or lower interest rates? How much land should be conserved for ecosystem service production? Why do some countries face entrenched poverty while others experience rapid growth?

Studying economics teaches you to ask and answer these types of hard questions.

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Program Details

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Program Requirements

Curriculum & Courses

Department

College of Business
Department of Economics

What is Economics?

It’s tempting to think economics is just the study of money. But it’s much broader than that. Economics looks at how we create economic value through trade, manage time and other scarce resources, build wealth, make informed decisions and influence behavior—issues that affect everyone on the planet.

For example, economic policies can improve local health, protect the environment and make it easier for students to afford college. Economic analysis helps companies better understand market forces, assists nations in predicting the outcomes of new initiatives and enables people to make appropriate financial and planning decisions.

Why study econ? Because the world needs more people who can think strategically, who can leverage data into great decisions and who can conduct unbiased policy analysis on the challenges facing us all including prosperity, poverty, trade, equality, energy and climate change.

Plus, economics is a great major for employment-ready graduates—students interested in higher salaries and analytical jobs in fields such as the environment, health, nonprofits, poverty and social welfare. It’s also excellent preparation for graduate work in law, political science, business and economics; UW graduates are routinely accepted into top graduate programs in the country.

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The economics program provides students with a comprehensive education in economics with five distinct areas of focus. This approach allows students to tailor their degree according to their individual interests and career goals. By offering a diverse range of areas to concentrate on, students can gain a well-rounded education that prepares them for various careers in the field of economics.

Areas of Focus

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Development Economics
  • Energy Economics
  • Environmental Economics
  • Resource Economics

Our department also offers a quantitative concentration that dives deeper into the analytical skills utilized by business economics majors. Using a quantitative approach, business economics majors analyze the means of production and overall strategies implemented by businesses to ensure efficient allocation of resources throughout.

Quantitative concentration courses include economics, statistics and electives.

 

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What Can You Do With an Economics Bachelor’s Degree?

Studying economics at UW will help you acquire critical thinking and research skills you can parlay into careers in government, business and nonprofit organizations. As a STEM field, economics provides analytical tools that you can apply to a wide range of issues, decisions and settings. It also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in business, economics, political science, public administration and law.

Economics Careers

UW economics graduates have gone on to careers with the following titles:

  • Director of Business Development
  • Senior Technical Recruiter
  • Senior Director, Strategic Government Relations & Economist
  • FP&A Manager
  • Director of Product Development
  • Assistant Vice President, Internal Wholesaler
  • Senior Manager
  • Portfolio Manager/Securities Analyst
  • Energy Policy Advisor

 

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Here are just a few of the places where University of Wyoming Economics alumni are working:

  • NFP Partners
  • Google
  • Harvard Business Review
  • MultiState Associates Inc.
  • GiftCard Partners Inc.
  • Bonfils Blood Center
  • Black Creek Capital Markets
  • Alpha FMC
  • WealthSource Partners LLC
  • University of Wyoming
  • First Western Bank Trust
  • Thrivent Financial

UW Economics alumni have also pursued graduate degrees at Duke University, University of Illinois, University of Denver, the University of Montana School of Law, NYU Stern School of Business, University of Utah, Pepperdine Law, University of Wyoming and other institutions.

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Economics Bachelor’s Degree Program Highlights

When you choose to study economics at UW, you will engage with some of the nation’s best economists, whose work informs policy in Wyoming and all over the world. IDEAS lists the University of Wyoming among the top 10 percent of institutions in environmental economics. Our “principles” courses in economics are taught by faculty not graduate students, so you get the benefit of learning the fundamentals of the discipline from experienced teachers and scholars.

This highly flexible program gives you an outstanding foundation in economics, while also providing the flexibility to tailor the degree to your interests through studies in environmental economics, energy economics, resource economics, development economics and behavioral economics.

Here are some other reasons to consider majoring in economics at UW:

Summer Undergraduate Research in Economics (SURE)

Take part in a 10-week program working one-on-one with faculty on a policy analysis research project. The mentoring and training you receive at SURE will prepare you to conduct your own research and provide the skills needed for your future career or graduate school.

Study Abroad

Gain a broader understanding of the global economy, the differences among countries in economic institutions and policy and the roles culture and ecosystems in economic policy and trade play by studying internationally. UW faculty have relationships with schools all over the world in places like Chile, India, France, Germany, Tanzania, the U.K., Sweden and more. Plus, the University has one of the most generous study-abroad scholarship endowments in the country.

Internships

Obtain real-world experience and career insights by completing an internship. UW economics majors have interned at The Heritage Foundation, T. Rowe Price, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Laramie Depot Museum, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Atmos Energy and for U.S. Senator John Barrasso.

Student Economics & Business Organizations

Get involved on campus in the UW Economics Club and other College of Business organizations where you will learn more about potential careers and begin building a professional network.

 

M.S. Quickstart

The M.S. Quickstart program offers students pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics the opportunity to expedite their academic journey and earn a master's degree in a shorter timeframe. This provides a valuable opportunity for students to fast-track their education and enter the job market or pursue further academic pursuits sooner.

 

I have had so much support from the economics faculty to dream big and to seek answers and opportunities that led to me applying to jobs that I thought were too big of a reach.

- Kirby Lawrence, B.S. in Economics and Statistics ’16
Mathematical Statistician for the U.S. Census Bureau

Related Programs

Many students choose to combine their economics major with another degree program. Common dual degrees include:

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College of Business

Green Johnson Student Success Center

BU 060 | 1000 E. University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-8249

Email: success@uwyo.edu