B.S. in Economics

You should consider Economics if you enjoy clear and logical approaches to exploring the riches and poverty which characterize economic life. Your studies in Economics will help you gain perspectives and solve problems related to public life, the business world, and the decisions shaping your future.

If you pick up the newspaper or turn on the news, it’s clear that economic forces impact all of us on a daily basis. The field of economics encompasses important societal issues, from social welfare programs, employment rates, and income inequality to inflation, monopolies, and antitrust laws.

Why study economics?

A background in economics helps you understand, debate, discuss and form national and international policy. Economists ask questions about societal programs and problems and employ mathematical and statistical tools to form sound policy. If you’re interested in international trade, international affairs, business cycles, or the stock markets, consider majoring in economics. A degree in economics also prepares you for careers in banking, law, marketing, journalism, environmental science, and medicine.

Program Highlights

Siena’s economics program is committed to undergraduate education and takes seriously the principles of economic justice related to Siena’s Franciscan tradition. The program provides an education valuable for employment and for life via:

• Liberal arts focus, preparing students for a variety of rewarding careers.
• Focus on data, policy, and Siena’s Franciscan tradition.
• Strong analytic foundation, including calculus and econometrics.
• Diverse faculty of over 40% women

The program emphasizes community engagement and undergraduate research including:

• Working with community partners is an essential element of selected economics classes.
• Undergraduate research mentored by departmental faculty
• Funded summer research
• Off-campus presentation of research
• Econometrics capstone project
• Fed Challenge competition on monetary policy
• Honors program thesis mentoring

The B.S. provides professional preparation appropriate for immediate employment in business and public sector occupations within and outside economics. The program also provides a foundation for graduate study in areas including Business Administration, Law, Forecasting, and of course Economics.

Requirements for the Major (30 credits)

• ECON101 - Principles of Economics, Micro 3 credits
• ECON102 - Principles of Economics,Macro 3 credits
• ECON201 - Micro-Economic Analysis 3 credits
• ECON202 - Macro-Economic Analysis 3 credits
• ECON430 - Econometrics 3 credits

Economics electives (15 credits). Three courses (9 credits) of electives must be at the 300 level or above.

Economics electives will be selected after consultation with an academic advisor to determine the best mix of courses to prepare the student for their career and educational goals.

Skills Developed

Economics graduates at Siena College become particularly skilled at analysis and problem-solving. Taking seriously our objective to use economic theory and data together to assess economic policy in light of Franciscan values, students pursuing the major and minor work develop not only data management skills but also logical and ethical frameworks in which to analyze data. Employers repeatedly comment on the exceptional analytical thinking shown by our graduates.

Employers of our Graduates

• Bank of America
• Briglia, Hundley, Nuttal & Lopez, P.C.
• Campbell Soup Company
• CFI Securities LLC
• Cioffi Slezak Wildgrube PC
• Dion Money Managment
• Forbes
• Franciscan Community Center
• General Electric
• Goldman, Sachs & Co.
• Governor’s Budget Division
• H.D. Fayette Elementary School
• Halliday Financial Group
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
• New York Independent System Operator
• New York Life Insurance Company
• New York Stock Exchange
• NYS Assembly
• NYS Dept. of Health
• Oppenheimer & Company
• Orange County District Attorney
• Pitcairn Properties
• State University Construction Fund
• Sweetwater Logistics
• The Albany Academies
• The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc
• Travelers Insurance Company
• Travelers Insurance Company
• Union Savings Bank
• University of California, Davis
• Walsh, Wicks & Sallisbury

Internship Sites

• City of Schenectady
• Connecticut State Department of Corrections
• General Electric Global
• New York State Office of the Controller
• Peter Young Housing, Industries and Treatment Program
• Public Service Commission
• Riverkeeper (Hudson River)
• U.S. Senate
• United States Public Interest Research Group
• Bank of America
• The Ayco Co. (a Goldman Sachs Company)
• Peter Harris Clothing