Department of Economics

Scott Simkins, Chairperson

Mission

The mission of the Department of Economics is to develop globally competitive graduates with high-quality analytical reasoning, quantitative, and communication skills in economics and the potential for leadership positions in business, law, education, non-profit organizations, and the government.

Accreditation

The Economics (Business) program is included in the programs accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Degrees Offered

Economics - Bachelor of Science - Offered on campus and online
Economics (Business) - Bachelor of Science
Economics (Law) - Bachelor of Science

College Requirements

All students completing the Bachelor of Science in Economics degree programs in the Department of Economics must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, consistent with the respective economics curriculum guides. Students in the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics must earn a minimum grade of “C” in the following courses when required as part of their degree program: ENGL 100 , ENGL 101 ; MATH 111 (or the combination of MATH 103 and MATH 104 ), MATH 112 ; ACCT 221 , ACCT 222 ; BUAN 132 ; ECON 200 , ECON 201 , ECON 206 ; FIN 343 ; MGMT 110 , MGMT 201 , MGMT 260 , MGMT 303 , MGMT 315 , MGMT 495 ; and MKTG 230 .

Department Requirements

In addition to meeting the General Program Requirements above, majors in the department must earn a minimum grade of “C” (not C-) in the 10 courses (30 credit hours) listed as major program requirements for their chosen major in the applicable Undergraduate Bulletin. Economics majors must also earn a minimum grade of “C” (not C-) in the economics electives required in their major program.

Career Opportunities

Students majoring in economics are prepared for a variety of careers with regional, national and international companies, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations, as well as law school and graduate programs in economics and related fields. Our graduates are hired by manufacturing companies, banks, insurance companies, securities and investment companies, economic research firms, and management consulting firms, among others. Economics graduates also have career options in a wide range of government and nonprofit agencies. Economics graduates will find that the analytical, quantitative, communication and critical thinking skills developed in the major are in high demand in a wide variety of careers.

Directory of Faculty

Fafanyo Asiseh; Associate Professor
B.S., University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana; M.S., University of Idaho; Ph.D., Washington State University

Mark Burkey; Professor
B.S., Appalachian State University; Ph.D., Duke University

Johnny Ducking; Associate Professor
B.A., University of Mississippi; M.S., Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Jeffrey Edwards; Professor
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Lyubov Kurkalova; Professor
B.S., Tajik State University, USSR; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Huan Li; Assistant Professor
B.S., Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China; M.A., North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China; M.A., Ph.D., State University of New York at Binghamton

Eduardo Minuci; Assistant Professor
B.A., Winthrop University; M.S., Ph.D., West Virginia University

Cephas Naanwaab; Associate Professor
B.S., University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana; M.S., Ph.D., Auburn University

Alfredo Romero Aguirre; Associate Professor
B.A., University of the Americas, Puebla, Mexico; M.A., PhD., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Ryoichi Sakano; Associate Professor
B.S., Keio University, Tokyo, Japan; M.B.A., M.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ph.D., University of Alabama

Scott Simkins; Associate Professor and Chairperson
B.A., St. John’s University (MN); Ph.D., University of Iowa