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Economics

With over 30,000 businesses, the Quad-Cities is a great place for economists.

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Economics and Augustana's liberal arts? A great combo. Because in your field you’ll want to: 

• Communicate well.

• Understand the ethics and social impact of economics.

• Solve problems through research and analysis, and exposure to multiple perspectives.

As an economics major or minor, you’ll study macro- and microeconomics, and focus on topics such as development or environmental economics, international trade and finance. Many students double-major in accounting, business administration, data analytics or mathematics. Others broaden their education and future opportunities through a second major in a language or the natural or social sciences.

What you'll learn

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Critical thinking and information literacy

Critical thinking and information literacy

Judge and construct arguments, raise questions and define problems. Make a conclusion based on evidence.

Quantitative literacy

Quantitative literacy

Interpret, represent and summarize information. Use math and statistics to solve problems.

Communication competence

Communication competence

Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.

Intellectual curiosity

Intellectual curiosity

Set yourself up for lifelong intellectual growth. Take responsibility for your own learning.

Outside of class

You’ll have many opportunities for professional experience, including:

• Student Investment Club, managing a portfolio of about $100K in 2020

• Business Club

• CFA (Chartered Financial Analysis) Institute Research Challenge 

• EDGE Entrepreneurial Center in CORE (Careers, Opportunities, Research, Exploration)

• Internships in the Quad Cities, around the country and internationally

Distinctions

• About 75% of Augustana economics majors continue on and excel in graduate programs — most in law school or M.B.A. programs, others for economics, statistics, finance or public policy. Still others go directly into careers in government or industry.

• Home to more than four municipalities and more than 30,000 businesses — including Deere & Company World Headquarters, 3M, Arconic and the Rock Island Arsenal — the Quad Cities is a rich environment for economists.

• During the annual Business Day, a premier job-shadowing event exclusively for Augustana students, economics majors job-shadow with an employer they choose from among hundreds of area companies.

• Our students shine in the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge global competition, which tests college/university students’ analytic, valuation, report writing and presentation skills. In only our second year participating, Augie won the silver in the Chicago region, beating the University of Chicago, among others.

Recent graduates

Allison Bandera ’21 is studying environmental law at Marquette University.

Chandler Behrens ’20 is a financial analyst at HNI Corporation.

Maggie Jokinen ’20 is pursuing a juris doctorate at Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law.

Jake Knox ’19 is pursuing a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

Mitch Johnson ’18 is an actuarial analyst at Horace Mann Educators Corporation.

Zineb Zinari ’18 is an investment analyst for Prudential International.

Sarah Funke '17 is senior auditor for Deloitte in Minneapolis.

Mai Nguyen
More Than I Imagined Mai Nguyen
“I used Augie Choice for my study abroad term in London where I developed a much deeper knowledge and appreciation for art, history and architecture, besides studying economics and finance.”
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Luke Robinson
More Than I Imagined Luke Robinson
“My peak experience was my internship at MD Anderson through Augustana's Texas Medical Center program.”
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Jake Knox
More Than I Imagined Jake Knox
“The economics faculty gave me sage advice and opened me up to opportunities that I could have never imagined on my own.”
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