Undergraduate Overview
Economics student Sean Kaczmarek, winner of the Marshall Scholarship, in Davis Hall
Economics is the study of scarcity. The central challenge of this field is determining the most effective use of resources for advancing individual and social welfare. In the UB Department of Economics, undergraduate students embrace a rigorous curriculum that unveils the fascinating psychology and science behind production, consumption and wealth.
Our Mission
The mission of the undergraduate program in economics is to prepare students for careers in a variety of organizations or continued graduate or professional education by providing high-quality instruction in three core economics courses and a large number of electives in various sub-fields.
The Undergraduate Experience
The distinguished faculty in the UB Department of Economics have been singled out for their accomplishments in both research and teaching. Through a variety of instructional methods, including lecture, debate and discussion, our faculty foster the critical thinking and analyzation skills necessary for students to thrive in a complex discipline. Undergraduate students learn and apply the methods of economics in-depth, becoming familiar with the role economics plays in relation to other areas of study, and the impact of economics on decisions and policy making.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of their academic tenure, all undergraduate economics students should:
- Have a basic understanding of macroeconomics and microeconomics that will enable them to succeed in both academic and professional post-undergraduate pursuits.
- Have the ability to analyze current economic issues employing argumentation, written communication, mathematical modelsand graphical analysis.
- Present information in quantitative formats that are clear and move the argument forward.
- Recognize, define and analyze the constraints associated with resources and identify both cost and the benefits of particular “solutions” to social, economic and political problems.
- Evaluate the feasibility of the success of a particular social strategy based upon the underlying economic realities.
Degree Options
Undergraduate Teaching Assistants instruct students in introductory economics courses
Contact Us
To request an advising appointment, please email Haylee Sipos or Professor McLaughlin with the subject heading "Advisement Request." Please include your name, UB person number and the nature of your request in the message.