UB Programs At-A-Glance

Economics

Department of Economics
College of Arts and Sciences
415 Fronczak Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-1520

Phone: 716.645.2121, ext. 419
Fax: 716.645.2127
Web: www.economics.buffalo.edu

Isaac Ehrlich
Chair

Jose Plehn-Dujowich
Director of Undergraduate Studies

About the Program

Economics is the study of scarcity. At the core of this study is a set of principles that determine the most effective use of resources for promoting the welfare of the community. Matters discussed include production and employment, the money and banking system, government taxation and spending, international trade, and industrial organization and regulation, as well as their applications to urban issues, environmental problems, and the structure of the rules that define an economic society.

The department’s faculty is distinguished for its research and teaching accomplishments. All members of the faculty are active and accomplished researchers.

About Our Degrees

Acceptance Criteria - B.A., Minor

Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours.
Completion of MTH 121 or MTH 131 or MTH 141.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in two or more economics courses.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.

Acceptance Criteria - B.A./M.A.

Students must apply for and be accepted into both the undergraduate economics major and the M.A. in economics program.

Acceptance Criteria - B.A./M.B.A.

Students must apply for and be accepted into the undergraduate economics major by the beginning of their second year of study, and should apply to the School of Management during their third year of study; SOM requires the GMAT as part of the application.

Acceptance Information

Deadlines: Rolling
Percentage of applicants accepted: 90%
Number of majors currently enrolled: 160

Degree Requirements

See the Undergraduate Catalog.

About Our Courses

Suggested Introductory Courses

  • ECO 181 Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • ECO 182 Introduction to Microeconomics
  • MTH 121 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I


ECO 181 and ECO 182 can be taken in any order.

The typical class size for:

Freshman/introductory courses is: 275
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 30-40
Upper level/advanced courses is: 15-25

For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.

About Our Faculty

The department's faculty is distinguished for its research and teaching accomplishments. All members of the faculty are active and accomplished researchers.

See a list of our undergraduate faculty.

Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities

Notable Program Features

Special Economics Programs
For majors who are particularly interested in graduate work in economics, the department offers specific course alternatives, as well as several joint major options.

Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience

Undergraduate Research
Students have the opportunity to participate in faculty research projects or to conduct their own original research under the supervision of a faculty mentor, thereby gaining first-hand experience in economic research. Academic credit for participating in this program is given through ECO 498 Undergraduate Reserach.

Independent Study
ECO 499 Independent Study may be an option when no course in a specific area of interest to the student is currently offered. It requires a B average, a well formulated project and/or outline of a course of study, and a prior agreement between the student and the particular faculty member who will supervise the work.

Teaching Assistant Program
Students who are at least juniors and have excellent academic records can provide teaching assistance for the introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses, earning credit for this under ECO 495. Teaching assistants lead discussion sections in the principle courses, reviewing core concepts and theories, answering questions from the students, preparing and grading quizzes, keeping the records of individual students, and participating in the preparation of final grades. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant application forms are available outside of the department office.


Honnors, Awards, and Scholarships

Omicron Delta Epsilon
This is the international honor society in economics.

Department Honors
The department nominates for honors in economics majors who have taken ECO 406 Topics in Microeconomics and whose GPA in Economics is at least 3.25 (Honors), 3.50 (High Honors) or 3.75 (Highest Honors).

Extracurricular Activities

Undergraduate Economics Club

Undergraduate students engage in a variety of social and academic activities. Past events include panel discussions of major current events, speakers on career opportunities, and faculty-student coffee hours. The club also provides a liaison between the students and Director of Undergraduate Studies and, along with its e-mail list, is a source of information about department events.

See the UB Student Association.

Complementary Programs and Courses


Career Information and Further Study

Skills gained in this program include:

  • Designing surveys and planning methods for collecting data
  • Gathering economic information
  • Recording findings accurately and in detail
  • Participating in team work
  • Using mathematical, statistical, and computer methods to analyze and interpret data
  • Making oral presentations
  • Writing clear, concise reports and illustrating them with charts, tables, and graphs to represent statistical data in an easy-to-grasp way


Career Choices

  • Accountant
  • Actuary
  • Auditor
  • Bank officer
  • Buyer
  • City manager
  • Controller
  • Educator
  • Environmental economist
  • Foreign exchange trader
  • Forensic economist
  • Geographer
  • Home economist
  • Insurance agent
  • Investment advisor
  • Personnel manager
  • Policy economist
  • Political scientist
  • Securities analyst
  • Statistician
  • Stockbroker
  • Systems analyst
  • Trust officer
  • Underwriter
  • Urban planner


Career Hints

In government and business, a bachelor's degree is sufficient for a beginning job as an assistant or trainee. Collecting data is a large part of entry-level jobs. An advanced degree--in economics, business administration, or law--is needed for more responsible positions and for teaching in a college or university.

Salary Information

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual salary for economists was $68,000 in 2002. The middle fifty percent earned between $50,560 and $90,710 and the lowest ten percent eanred less than $38,690. The highest ten percent earned more than $120,440.
However, salaries range greatly from one occupation, position, and work setting to another and also vary by level of education. A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed that, in 2004, average pay for economics/finance graduates was $40,630.

What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?

5-10%, most usually in economics, management or law.

Links to Further Information About This Program

Last Modified: Tuesday, 7-Nov-2006 10:26:06 EST