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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Economics is the most advanced of all social sciences. It is therefore both hard and useful. These two attributes together ensure that knowledge of economics pays off nicely. Below are a few reasons to acquire yours at Clemson. Our department has a truly outstanding faculty roster, if you consider all reasonable criteria -- education, research record, and awards for excellence. A number of our faculty come from the doctoral program of the University of Chicago, where they have studied under several Nobel laureates. Others come from such prestigious schools as UCLA, the University of Washington, and the University of Virginia. They all write and publish in the top journals of the profession, such as the American Economic Review, the Journal of Law and Economics, or the Journal of Political Economy. They have previously taught at such schools as Stanford, Dartmouth, Rochester and UCLA. The quality of their teaching has been recognized with awards and honorific titles such as Alumni Master Teacher, Philip Prince Innovative Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Honors Professor. If you care about intellectual directions within the science of economics, you may find it useful to know that our department is known as an outpost of the "Chicago school" of economics. In 1997 the Templeton Foundation cited Clemson as one of a handful of departments that "set examples for others to emulate", for the excellence of its undergraduate program. A more specific description of what this means you can find in the 1998 edition of Choosing the Right College: The Whole Truth About America's 100 Top Schools: Clemson's department of economics offers a superior education by giving students a broad view of the discipline while focusing on its traditional values as well. Most of the professors are followers of the Chicago school of economics, which favors free markets over government intrusion in the economy. The program emphasizes environmental economics, and its undergraduate curriculum prepares students for careers in business or government by emphasizing problem-solving skills. Come visit us in 222 Sirrine Hall and see for yourself. WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS? Majoring in economics will prepare you for a wide variety of career options. Fields traditionally entered by economics majors are law, politics, banking, academia, and government service. As you can see in the list below, Clemson economics is well represented in these fields. The common aspect of these diverse fields is their emphasis on analytical skills. Economics is a way of thinking about every aspect of human behavior, from the management of a business firm to the raising of children. At its core, the "economic approach" is the application of the basic principles of rational choice to business decisions, public policy issues, and everyday life. Economics majors become adept at thinking logically, which prepares them for success in the widest possible variety of occupations. WHAT SPECIAL ACTIVITIES DOES THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT OFFER ITS STUDENTS? Every spring we offer a Senior Seminar in Public Policy, a capstone course that allows students to apply what they have learned in other courses toward a comprehensive analysis of a current public-policy issue. The course includes a trip to Washington, DC, during which members of the class meet with a variety of policy-makers and analysts in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government as well as economists affiliated with the Federal Reserve System or independent "think tanks". All junior and senior majors are the department's guests at a banquet honoring that year's Harris Distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics. The Harris Professorship, endowed by a gift from the family of John Harris '74, brings an eminent scholar to campus for the purpose of interacting with undergraduates in and out of class. The list of previous Harris Professors is a distinguished one that includes three past presidents and several vice presidents of the American Economic Association, three members of the National Academy of Sciences, a former Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, a former member of the Council of Economic Advisors, and a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. WHAT DO ECONOMICS MAJORS DO AFTER GRADUATION? The simple answer to this question is, anything they want to do. If you want to begin your career right away, you should know that economics majors offer potential employers a set of skills that are valuable in just about every imaginable field. The most common first job for our graduates is in banking and finance, but Clemson economics majors are well represented in management and marketing positions also. Alumni of our department also hold key positions in government at both the state and federal level. If you want to get an MBA degree, you should be aware that the top business schools favor applicants with strong analytical and quantitative skills. The study of economics offers you one of the best opportunities to develop those skills, and admissions committees at the best business schools know this. If you want to go to law school, you'll want to know which majors offers the best pre-law training. Along with your grades, the most important factor in law-school admissions is the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). A recent national study found that economics majors consistently perform better on the LSAT on average than students majoring in any other subjects. The likely reason for this is that the LSAT is largely a test of logical reasoning skills, which economics majors have spent years developing. No LSAT-prep course is an adequate substitute for the training you will receive in the economics department. Perhaps that's why recent Clemson economics majors have been offered admissions to the law schools of Harvard, Virginia, UNC and the University of Chicago. John E. Walker '58 has been both an economics professor and a highly successful entrepreneur. Founder of Andesa TPA Inc., Dr. walker was a pioneer of the information economy, whose business vision was a direct outgrowth of his economics training. Because of his belief in the fundamental importance of economics as a field of study and his dedication to Clemson, in October 2001 Dr. Walker announced his gift of nearly $7 million to fund the expansion of the department's faculty and the enhancement of its programs. WHAT KIND OF REPUTATION DOES THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT HAVE? The department is recognized by students, alumni, and outside observers as a place that offers a first-rate education. Here are a few examples:- "Clemson's Department of Economics is a superior program which offers its students a broader view of the discipline while focusing on the traditional values of the field. The quality of the faculty is quite high." - The John Templeton Foundation, 1997 - "The department has an excellent reputation in the profession. I knew from past experience that Clemson economists are extremely smart and tough-minded. They concentrate on real economic problems rather than narrow theoretical issues." - Sherwin Rosen, past president of the American Economic Association, 1999 - "[Clemson students] have a team of all-star economists preparing them for careers in banking, finance, real estate or graduate study in business, economics and law." - Clemson World, Winter 2000 - "Prestigious Major Becoming Clemson's Best Pick" - The Tiger, November 30, 2001 |
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