Economics and Business Department

Economics in the Liberal Arts
At Hampden-Sydney College, economics is an exploration of the world using the tools of economic analysis, an exercise in critical thinking, and a chance to enhance your ability to operate successfully in the world.

The many distinct specialties that potentially emerge from a base of economic knowledge require us to offer three distinct majors within the department.

• Economics and Business Major
• (General) Economics Major
• Mathematical Economics Major

As an economics department within a liberal arts college, we serve the student body at large as well as our majors. To do this we focus our efforts in four areas…

Accessibility
Our introduction to economics class is taught as if it were the only course that students will ever take in economics, as opposed to the first class in a series. We want every student, not just economics majors, to have the opportunity to learn the economic way of thinking. 

Breadth
What we do matters. If applied properly, the tools of economics can lead to greater insight into many issues of great importance. We offer a wide variety of courses that allow students to apply economic analysis to different areas including commerce and finance, public policy, health, globalization and the environment.

Advanced Scholarship
We offer several courses in advanced theory including financial analysis, Austrian theory, econometrics, history of thought and mathematical economics. In addition, senior seminars offer opportunities to do meaningful research in business management and public policy.

Co-curricular Opportunities
The faculty of the economics department is actively engaged in the scholarship of their fields and we want our students to have that opportunity as well. To this end we offer independent studies for credit, research grants through various privately funded sources as well as extra-curricular activities related to the study and application of economic principles.

• Tiger Fund
• CEPE Entrepreneurship Program
• Boinest Honors Research Fellowship
• Citrone Student/ Faculty Research Fellowship
• CEPE Research Fellowship
• Hobbie Business and Ethics Program
• Pre-Business Society

The Wall Street Journal  is a great teaching tool.

I teach most of my classes using the Wall Street Journal along with a textbook. Applying economic concepts to current events helps students to engage the course material.

DR. SARANNA R. THORNTON,
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS