Department News
Coming to Economics
What can I do with an economics major (or minor)?
Just about anything, thanks to the systematic approach it brings toward analyzing a wide variety of situations. Economics is one of the most versatile and useful majors because it hones your analytic and critical thinking abilities while you learn about the global economy - an international system which results from the aggregation of practical decisions made by households, firms and governments in our nation and abroad.
The Economics program is designed to introduce the basic theoretical and empirical techniques of economics. The major provides an opportunity to study economics as a social science with a core theory and to study the process of drawing inferences from data and historical evidence. The aim of the program is to develop students' ability to apply systematic economic thinking to social problems.
The ten members of the department offer expertise in a variety of topics. In addition to theory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and a course in economic statistics, students can take elective courses in environmental economics, labor economics, game theory, industrial organization, financial markets, Marx, business cycles, public finance, poverty, international trade and finance, econometrics, development economics, economic history, economics of technology, demographic economics, and law and economics.
Economics at Bowdoin offers introductory classes that are exclusively taught by professors. Although economics is a popular field and some 250 students each year complete these introductory courses, class size is no larger than forty. All students therefore have the opportunity for substantial personal interaction with the instructor.
Faculty members are active in research and publish articles in academic journals and edited collections, and write books. Students can become involved as research assistants and/or conduct their own research under the guidance of a faculty member through an independent study.
The Economics Department is also involved in several interdisciplinary areas. Selected economics courses are cross listed in the Asian studies, Latin American Studies, Environmental Studies and Women's Studies. We also offer a joint Mathematics-Economics major for students with an interest in mathematics or who plan to go on to graduate school in economics.
Contact
Department Coordinator:
Elizabeth
Hernandez Palmer
Email: epalmer@bowdoin.edu
Telephone: (207) 725-3340
Fax: (207) 725-3691
Location: Hubbard Hall, Room 105 - campus map »
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-2pm
Mailing Address:
9700 College Station
Brunswick, Maine 04011-8497
Librarian Liaison
Carr Ross
cross@bowdoin.edu
x3545
Image Credits (left to right):
Professor Greg DeCoster with students at an Economics Club dinner and debate
Hubbard Hall roofline from the South
Studying in the Economics Library