The department offers courses for majors and minors in economics, courses supporting other majors, and courses for general electives and Liberal Studies requirements. Accordingly, economics courses fall into four types: an introductory course, basic principles, rigorous theory, and applied economics.
The Economics Department at Northern takes pride in its longstanding tradition of emphasizing the application of theory to relevant and current economic issues. The department aims to provide students with a solid understanding of how economics sheds light on the way property rights, social institutions, and market and political processes affect real-world economic activity at all levels, from the local to the global. Although the subject matter can be challenging, many students who have never taken economics before are pleasantly surprised with both the power and the wide scope of economic analysis.
A major in economics prepares for graduate work for those students intending careers as professional economists. Students also frequently use a major in economics as the basis for entry into professional schools such as law, business, and public administration. Other students directly enter careers in business or government. The department also offers a major in social studies in cooperation with other departments.
The department offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in economics and a minor in economics.
Department programs are tailored to meet the particular needs and vocational aims of students. Students planning to use the undergraduate major in economics as a foundation for further study in graduate school should minor in mathematics. For careers with the government, statistics is recommended; for law school, accounting and finance; and for high school teaching another social science. As there are many career opportunities for the economics major, there are correspondingly many alternatives in choosing electives and a minor field of study
DEPARTMENT HEAD
David L. Prychitko
DEPARTMENT OFFICE
Mildred K. Magers
Room 159
Phone: (906) 227-2220
Fax: (906) 227-2229
