Economics (B.A.)

  • Major, Minor
  • 4-year, On Campus

Why study Economics at La Salle?

What can you do with a B.A. in Economics? At La Salle University, the answer is almost anything. Economics is not simply about money, graphs, or financial markets. It is about understanding why people, businesses, and governments make the choices they do—and using data, evidence, and critical thinking to solve real-world problems. La Salle’s emphasis on ethics and social responsibility encourages students to consider the broader consequences of economic choices.

Economics teaches you vital career skills: how to think, ask better questions, analyze evidence, understand incentives, evaluate competing arguments, and make informed decisions. La Salle is in Philadelphia, an economic center with opportunities in banking, finance, healthcare, real estate, consulting, government, nonprofits, and business. Students can intern with regional organizations to gain valuable experience, build a professional network, and explore possible careers before graduation. An Economics major prepares you for a career as an analyst, consultant, researcher, or policy professional. It provides an excellent foundation for graduate school in law, business, and public policy.

Curriculum, Courses and Requirements

Highlighted Courses

ECN 150 – Introductory Macroeconomics: The U.S. in the Global Economy I 

After introducing students to the what and how of economic thinking, this course explores the causes of national economic prosperity and economic problems such as unemployment and inflation.  

ECN 287, 288 – Economics Internship 

Working approximately 10 to 15 hours per week under professional supervision, students discover the connections between their formal studies and the demands of specific positions.   

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, and the role of international institutions. 

Meet the Faculty

The Economics Department is committed to providing students with a rigorous and relevant economic education necessary for informed citizenship. We will teach you to develop a deep understanding of how markets and economies do and do not work and to apply the tools of economic reasoning to consider questions of policy, efficiency, and equity. 

Career Opportunities

Internships and cooperative education opportunities are readily available within corporations, nonprofits, and governmental agencies. Graduates have obtained jobs in industries such as: 

  • Banking and Investment Banking 
  • Consulting 
  • Insurance 
  • Nonprofit Management 
  • Sports Management 

Below is a sampling of what some of our graduates are up to:

  • Greg Fat, ’14, Vice President and Business Development Officer, Bankcorp Bank
  • Judrick Fletcher, ’15, Attorney, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
  • Emily Dabas, ’21, Senior Managing Consultant in Economics, Disputes, and Investigations, Berkeley Research Group
  • Rebecca Piergallini, ’21, Senior Finance Business Partner in Strategic Financial Planning, ZS Associates.

La Salle’s Economics Program taught me skills that are crucial to my work, such as statistics, theory, and econometrics. The program enabled me to land an internship that allowed me to begin my career straight out of school. I attribute much of my success to the Flubacher Scholarship program, a scholarship unique La Salle, which alleviated the financial stress of college. I would not be as successful as I am without the La Salle Economics Department.

Madison Jane Griffin, ’25
Policy Analyst, Office of the Philadelphia Controllers Office
Madison Jane Griffin, ’25