Overview
Economics is the study of the way people produce, consume and deliver goods and services. The Keene State economics program takes a heterodox approach, combining rigorous training in economic theory with application to contemporary issues like globalization, financial market volatility, and the environment, all while maintaining the mission of producing graduates who understand real-world economics.
The Economics Department is a tight-knit community, and majors and minors can expect to work closely with faculty and with each other.
We are committed to maintaining the primacy of economic theory in our program, even as we encourage students to take enough mathematics to succeed in wealth management, data analytics, and public policy. Our commitment to theory shows up in our Keynesian approach to Intermediate Macroeconomics, in our critical approach to Intermediate Microeconomics, and in our required course in the History of Economic Thought—a course which in essence validates many of the theoretical questions which have been asked and remain unsettled by economic theorists.
Peer-reviewed articles by our faculty come out every year in journals such as the Review of Radical Political Economics, the Journal of the European Society for the History of Economic Thought, or the History of Political Economy.
We value civic engagement and encourage students to involve themselves in issues by attending speakers during election years, asking questions at public events, organizing speakers on campus, and discussing analytically economic and political issues in the classroom. The faculty commitment to social justice is strong, as evidenced by courses, leadership on campus and beyond, and research.
The economic honors society, Omicron Delta Epsilon, organizes field trips to conferences and brings in visiting speakers and alumni.
Economics Minor Options
The world of finance has its own markets and institutions, its own models, and its own terminology. Want to be part of it, or gain an understanding of how it works? The financial economics minor will familiarize you with the ins and outs of a market economy. It’s open to all students except economics majors, who may instead choose a specialization in financial economics.
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Career Opportunities
Recent graduates have gone on to careers in data analytics, law and public policy, and wealth management.
If I could do it again I would still go to Keene and still be an Econ major. The hard part to convey here is how well rounded an education I received at Keene, through the liberal arts, and how well rounded an economics perspective I was given due to the exposure to heterodox economics.
Rob Clifford ‘05, Senior Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
My double major in Economics and Political Science at Keene State really gave me a leg up in my Master’s program in Public Policy at Georgetown University.
Alex Dutton ’13, Human Resources Coordinator at Carr Maloney PC, Washington, DC
Outcomes
Economics majors at Keene State graduate with content knowledge, professional skills, and intellectual competencies to prepare them for their next challenges, in graduate or professional programs or in their careers.
Students who earn a degree in economics will demonstrate:
- Awareness of the assumptions and policy implications of different economic paradigms.
- Proficiency in the application of graphical tools and models of microeconomic analysis, including knowledge of trade-offs, incentives, and resource allocation mechanisms in a market economy.
- Proficiency in the application of graphical tools and models of macroeconomic analysis mindful of the interconnections between national economies and the global economy.
- The ability to interpret, manipulate and analyze economic data, and will demonstrate the ability to conduct economic research.
