Economics Major, B.A.

Economics has an increasingly widespread effect on our social and political environment. Economists influence policy in areas as far-reaching as resource depletion, climate change and wealth distribution.

An Economics bachelor’s degree from MSU Denver will enable you to critically analyze and evaluate economic issues. You will graduate with a fundamental knowledge of domestic and foreign economies and have the tools you’ll need for independent analytical research and thought. In addition, you’ll gain skills needed to succeed not only as a professional economist, but also in related fields.

If your interest is in teaching, pair MSU Denver’s Economics degree with secondary social studies licensure. This meets Colorado Teacher Licensure Standards and prepares you to pass the corresponding licensure content exam and to teach to the Colorado Model Content Standards. If you are planning to seek teacher licensure, consult with an advisor in Economics as well as in Teacher Education.

MSU Denver economics professors noted experts in areas such as the global markets and macro-monetary theory. They will give you the opportunity to conduct research that can be submitted to the annual MSU Denver Undergraduate Research Conference, and even co-author published journal articles, enhancing your marketability after you graduate.

The Department of Economics’ Exploring Economic Freedom Project brings eminent scholars to MSU Denver to discuss the role of economic and political freedom in promoting entrepreneurship, economic growth, prosperity and peace. The project also provides funding for senior Economics students to present their research related to economic freedom at the Association for Private Enterprise Education’s annual research conference.

Economics graduates start businesses, work in finance and government and attend graduate school for degrees in law, economics, public policy and business. Entry-level positions include research assistants, financial analysts and market research analysts. Economists are well-prepared for jobs in any field attracting liberal arts graduates.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Occupational Outlook Handbook, financial analysts had a median salary of $96,220, and the field had a faster-than-average growth rate of 8 percent. Market research analysts had a median salary of $68,230, with a 13 percent growth rate.

Employers include:

• Business, banking and finance
• Economic development organizations
• Federal Reserve and public finance
• Federal/state/local government agencies
• Health care
• International trade
• Marketing and retail
• Public policy think tanks
• Real estate and urban planning

“The chairs of MSU Denver’s Economics department were Ralph Byrns and Gerald Stone, who, at the time, had the nation’s No. 1 selling macroeconomics textbook. They got me focused on, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’”

Hugo Teufel III, MSU Denver ’85, was named by President George Bush as the second-ever chief privacy officer for the then newly created U.S. Department of Homeland Security and earned his law degree from American University.

MSU Denver Economics graduates have worked for Morgan Stanley, CoreFirst Bank & Trust, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Denver Public Schools, Level 3 Communications, the State of Colorado, Great West Financial, U.S. Bank and Presbyterian Health Care Services.

They have also pursued advanced degrees from universities including American University’s Washington College of Law, Harvard Law School, CU Denver and Regis.