Economics

Through Gettysburg College’s Economics Department, you develop a robust understanding of economics by studying the subject within historical and contemporary contexts. You learn economics through a micro and macro lens to determine the “how” and “why” of important economic decisions.

To ensure students enter the program that’s right for them, the Economics Department offers a Bachelor of Arts in economics or a Bachelor of Science in mathematical economics.

Why study economics at Gettysburg College?

When you become an economics major or economics minor, you learn more than the fundamentals of economics.

Those who earn their bachelor’s in economics at Gettysburg College are prepared for pursuing graduate school for further study or career opportunities. Economics majors remain in demand by public and private sectors of the economy, as businesses seek individuals who can think critically and demonstrate adaptability.

As part of the Gettysburg Approach, students obtain a breadth and depth of knowledge of economics within a liberal arts and sciences curriculum. Through their coursework and co-curricular activities with the Guided Pathways, students in an economics program develop the following invaluable enduring and technical skills that will serve them throughout the course of their careers:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Data analysis
• Software proficiency
• Statistical analysis

Major in economics

Both the B.A. in economics and B.S. in mathematical economics degree programs incorporate foundational and upper-level economics courses. Contrasted with the economics major, the mathematical economics major requires students to take additional mathematics and computer science courses, helping them further strengthen their STEM skills.

The goal of the economics major and the mathematical economics major is to ensure that students can carry out the following:

• Interpret economic information and data
• Communicate economic arguments in oral and written form
• Understand economic theories and institutions on the micro and macroeconomic levels
• Answer economic questions through the application of advanced techniques using economics to study a wide range of economic data
• Analyze complex problems and arguments using formal mathematical economic models

Review the complete economics major or mathematical economics major requirements.

Minor in economics

Our six-course economics minor allows students to hone their understanding of the field of economics through two 100-level economics courses and four 200-level or 300-level courses. This format enables students to develop their knowledge of economics through the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics before enrolling in their choice of upper-level courses.

Review the economics minor coursework.

Curriculum

As an economics major or minor, you can enroll in a wide variety of classes in various subfields. Your course schedule might include classes covering topics such as gender issues in economics, political economy, or international economics.

Each program in the Economics Department aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of economics to enroll in upper-level courses that interest them.

Explore economics courses.

What makes Gettysburg’s Economics Department different?

From experimental economics lab research to discovering the correlation between politics and the economy, the Gettysburg Economics Department prepares students for success through interdisciplinary courses, experiences, and programs.

Gettysburg Laboratory for Experimental Economics (GLEE)

A unique experimental economics lab like no other, the Gettysburg Laboratory for Experimental Economics offers students and faculty opportunities to study human decision-making in various controlled virtual environments. Equipped with handmade work surfaces that transform from traditional classroom desks to research facility desks, students can actively participate in engaging experiments, from market decision-making to viewing how money influences others.

The Gettysburg Economic Review

The Gettysburg Economic Review is an undergraduate student journal edited and published by the Economics Department at Gettysburg College. It showcases some of the best work produced by students from the Economics Department each year.

Enrich your understanding of economics by studying abroad

More than half of all Gettysburg students decide to study abroad to broaden their understanding of topics related to their majors. Economics majors have previously participated in study abroad programs from the following locations:

• Australia
• China
• Denmark
• Greece
• Japan
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Honor societies for economics majors

Economics majors have two honor society options—Omicron Delta Epsilon and Pi Lambda Sigma.

Since Gettysburg College is a chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, select students may engage in undergraduate economic conferences where they present papers to their peers from other colleges. Pi Lambda Sigma is a social sciences honor society that provides economic majors with support to grow in their academic excellence and network.

Career preparation

Both the B.A. and B.S. in economics degree programs are formatted to ensure you have a solid comprehension of economics, from small-scale community decisions to global geopolitics. This need for career readiness is met through rigorous coursework, hands-on learning, and a valuable capstone seminar that lets you demonstrate your understanding of the world of economics.

Enrolling in the bachelor’s in economics degree program prepares you for success in nonprofit, public, and corporate sectors. Many students enter careers in the fields of banking, business, finance, government, and research. Review the list below of roles for students who earn their bachelor’s in economics:

• Accountant
• Actuary
• Economic consultant
• Economic researcher
• Finance advisor
• Policy analyst
• Portfolio manager
• Statistician

Graduates of the economics degree program are well-equipped for graduate school or immediate employment. Find out where Gettysburg’s economics alumni have launched their successful careers.

Strong Gettysburg alumni network

Economics students have access to the Gettysburg Network via the connectGettysburg platform. Serving as the College’s online engagement, networking, and mentoring platform, connectGettysburg offers endless connections for networking with more than 32,000 Gettysburg alumni.