Economics

The economics major trains students to have strong technical skills and to be well-versed in policy analysis and implementation. Throughout the curriculum, we discuss managing and allocating scarce natural, human, and financial resources, environmental policies, and sustainable economic growth.

Learning Outcomes for Economics Majors

B.A. in economics graduates of the University of Portland will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical understanding of the key concepts and models of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
   1. Describe the key advantages of competitive markets and the types of market and government failure that can occur in economic systems.
   2. Articulate how regulation and policy addresses market failure, in theory and in practice.
2. Appropriately apply economic theory and methods to current issues within particular economic fields.
   1. Identify and utilize economic analysis to evaluate field specific problems.
   2. Analyze and propose specific solutions to problems, including policy prescriptions as appropriate.
3. Appropriately use economic theory and statistical methods to analyze and draw conclusions from data.
   1. Construct and interpret statistical evidence, including estimating economic relationships and hypothesis testing.
   2. Examine economic analyses for faulty logic, unrealistic assumptions or inappropriate methods.
4. Effectively communicate economic ideas, problems, and findings.
   1. Present economic analysis clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
   2. Write up economic analysis clearly in report and research paper formats, utilizing data a graphs as appropriate.