Economics is the study of how people establish social arrangements
for producing and distributing goods and services to sustain and
enhance human life. Its main objective is to determine an efficient use
of limited economic resources so that people receive the maximum
benefit at the lowest cost.
In the Department of Economics at Pacific Lutheran University, our
faculty are committed to helping students develop the tools and skills
of the discipline in order to explore their own interests. We offer to students
the Bachelor of Arts in Economics as well as the following
concentrations: Domestic Economic Analysis, International Economic
Analysis, Mathematical Economics, and the Modern Economic Enterprise.
We also offer an Economics minor.
Required courses for all economics majors include principles and
intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics. All majors are also
required to take statistics and to perform individual research in their
Economics capstone project.
The Domestic Economic Analysis concentration allows students to choose elective economics courses concerned with the US economy. The concentration also includes two political science courses and an academic internship. See specific course requirements in the PLU Catalog under Economics.
The International Economic Analysis concentration allows students to
choose elective economics such as International Economics and European
Economic Integration. The department also offers a unique study abroad
experience studying economics in a class entitled Investigating
Environmental and Economic Change in Europe during the January
term. An academic internship is required. See specific course requirements in the PLU Catalog under Economics.
The Mathematical Economics concentration is intended to provide
preparation for students interested in graduate studies in Economics.
The concentration requires three semesters of calculus as well as
Mathematical Economics and Econometrics. See specific course requirements in the PLU Catalog under Economics.
The Modern Economic Enterprise concentration is intended to allow students to integrate several topics in Business within their Economics major. The concentration requires that students study Industrial Organization, Strategic Behavior, and one other economics elective. A minimum of nine semester hours of Business is required. See specific course requirements in the PLU Catalog under Economics.