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Economics and International Studies

Overview

School of Arts and Sciences / Economics and International Studies

As the world becomes more interconnected, the decisions made in the U.S. or abroad have effects around the world.

Understanding the connections and how policy decisions will affect people around the world is at the heart of the major in economics and international studies at La Salle. We prepare our students to take a deeper look at what it means to be a global citizen, with a particular emphasis on policy analysis.

Commitment to Student Success

Each student will have regular one-on-one meetings with a faculty adviser to structure the coursework to align with the student’s goals – including planning double majors or minors. Double majors have included programs ranging from political science, to sociology, math, finance, marketing, history, and others. The shaping of the major and the assistance in achieving double majors can help students have a unique story to tell as they move into the workforce or as they apply to graduate school. Our students have used their stories to become Fulbright Scholars, lawyers, analysts, and much more.

Flubacher Scholarship

All economics and economics and international studies majors are eligible to apply for the Joseph Flubacher Scholarship for their junior and senior years at La Salle. The scholarship is added to existing aid and can be used to cover tuition, on-campus room and board, and textbooks. The scholarship is competitive based on academic performance, financial need, and a commitment to social justice.

Courses in this Major

Economics and International Studies majors have the opportunity to choose from a variety of courses. Here is a sample of the course offerings.

ECN/HIS/POL 332:Political Economy of Africa
This course examines the political and economic conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa and provides a historical perspective on these conditions. Issues examined include the political and economic consequences of colonialism, post-independence political forces and economic policies, and U.S. foreign policy toward Africa.

ECN 331: International Economics
This course involves an introduction to the theory of international trade. Topics include specialization and the gains from trade, tariffs, and protectionist policies, trade imbalances, the role of international institutions, foreign exchange markets, and monetary and fiscal policies in an open economy.

ECN 335: International Trade and Trade Wars
This course provides an overview of the U.S. in the global economy and the history of the World Trade Organization (WTO), an examination of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, and an examination of major trade disputes that involve the U.S. The course ultimately explores how international trade laws, politics, diplomacy, and multi-national corporations in pursuit of profits interact.

"To argue against the global economy is like stating opposition to the weather – it continues whether you like it or not."

—

Blaze Your Own Path

Career Paths

With a degree in economics and international studies, your career could take you anywhere around the world. Whether you’re working in an embassy or as an analyst, your education in research, policy analysis, and social justice will have prepared you for your future. With a degree in this major, you could go on to become a(n):

Government Economist
Financial Analyst
Diplomat
Political Analyst
International Lawyer

Our graduates have gone forth to further their education at institutions like:

University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Virginia, Master’s in Public Policy
Harvard University, Master’s in Russia, Eastern European, and Central Asia

Career Paths

Internships

Through relevant internships you’ll be able to gain valuable hands-on experience in your industry. From this experience you’ll not only be able to build your resume, you’ll be able to determine what path you wish to follow. Our students have interned at places such as:

Shell Aerospace
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
World Affairs Council
Bureau of Economic Analysis in Washington, D.C.
The United Way

Internships

Research

At La Salle we know our students each have a unique life story full of experiences and traditions. We encourage our students to expand their viewpoints through rigorous research on topics that interest and inspire them. From an international student choosing topics that affect their homeland to a local student studying the world economy, everyone develops their expertise in a designated area. Some of our past student research projects include:

“Economic Impacts of Joining the European Union after 2003”
“The Efficiency of Bookmaker’s Odds as Forecasts in English Premier League Soccer”
“The World Food Program’s Food Aid Program: Helping or Hurting Haiti?”
“Is NAFTA Meeting its Goal of Increasing Economic Growth in Mexico?”

Research

Richard Mshomba, Ph.D., ’85

To La Salle University Economics professor Richard Mshomba, being a good teacher requires a passion for the subject you teach and a passion for the potential of the students who learn from you.

Richard Mshomba, Ph.D., ’85

To La Salle University Economics professor Richard Mshomba, being a good teacher requires a passion for the subject you teach and a passion for the potential of the students who learn from you.

(more…)

Beyond the Classroom

Clubs

Get involved in a student organization

Clubs

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) Honor Society

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) honor society in economics was established in 1963. In addition to publishing a journal, The American Economist, the honor society was founded to promote closer student and faculty relationships at colleges and universities. Each year the society grants the Frank W. Taussig Undergraduate Article Award for the best undergraduate paper submitted. Omicron Delta Epsilon has more than 430 chapters in the United States and other countries, with more than 10,000 active members.

To see a full list of La Salle’s 120 clubs and organizations visit http://www.lasalle.edu/student-life/clubs-and-organizations/

Study Abroad

Journey to a new place for an entire semester

Study Abroad

Students who study abroad have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture, a new language, and a new environment for an entire semester. Through our own programs in Italy, Mexico, Ireland, and Australia, or through partnerships with other Lasallian schools around the country, students can choose among programs on six continents.

To explore more about study abroad visit http://www.lasalle.edu/travelstudyabroad/.

Philadelphia, Our Largest Classroom

The City of Brotherly love stands at your doorsteps

Philadelphia, Our Largest Classroom

The education you find outside of a classroom is just as important as the one you find inside. As the fifth-largest city in the U.S., Philadelphia is rich in unique historical and cultural opportunities. Whether you’re searching for the best cheesesteak, catching an Eagles game, or running the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the City of Brotherly Love has it all. Philadelphia is brimming with global corporations, nonprofit organizations, leading media outlets, and professional sports teams. From co-ops to internships to future employers big and small, each is readily accessible to provide you with real-life learning beyond a class on campus. How much of a role Philadelphia plays in your life is entirely up to you, but the options are limitless.