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Economics Major

Gain new insights into how the world works and acquire advanced quantitative tools that equip you for an impactful career in business, law, government, or economics.

College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

When you major in economics at Drake University, you build an analytical mindset that helps you make sense of the world around you in new ways, from the prices of goods to the effects of policies to the factors influencing recessions or inflation. This framework gives you the tools to understand why things work the way they do and how we can shape laws, institutions, and business operations to achieve economic and social goals.

If you’re interested in studying economics, you have a choice of two bachelor’s degrees. Offered through the Zimpleman College of Business, the B.S.B.A. exposes you to marketing, accounting, management, strategy, and more broadly applicable business principles that all companies utilize to some extent. This context plus an introduction to data analytics dives deep into economic theory and its applications in areas like labor, natural resources, banking, and international trade.

Managed by the College of Arts and Sciences, the B.A. program covers the same courses in economics without the business core. This frees room in your schedule for an additional major or minor in political science, international relations, environmental sustainability, or another area that matches your career trajectory.

About the Economics Major

  • Flexible program options shape your economics training to match your career trajectory.
  • Gain a rigorous analytical foundation for careers in business, law, or government.
  • Develop in-demand skills in research and data analysis, culminating in a capstone research project.
  • Enjoy small class sizes and close faculty support.
  • Lay the groundwork for further study or find job opportunities in diverse industries, joining alumni at employers like Amazon, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Washington, D.C., consulting firms.

Program Facts

  • On campus
  • Attend full-time or part-time
  • 120 total credits; 39-75 credits for the major
  • Economics minor: 21 credits

Program Options

Economics is a surprisingly versatile domain. Whether for graduate studies, a business career, or simply a deeper grasp of our world, all program options explore how people and organizations make decisions and the relationship between business, policy, and society.

B.A. in Economics

Position yourself for careers in law or government. Study both core and advanced topics in economics while reserving your remaining credits for a complementary major or minor.

B.S.B.A. in Economics

Combine a solid grounding in business fundamentals with an in-depth study of economics and data analytics to ready yourself for careers in business or business law.

Economics Minor

Infuse sophistication and analytical rigor into your major for a competitive edge and to unlock unique career directions. You’ll take seven economics courses, including three electives to give your studies focus.

Meet the Faculty

Drake’s economics faculty have diverse backgrounds ranging from working for the World Bank to earning advanced degrees in China to researching areas like labor, development, environmental, and international economics. These perspectives result in a broad and nuanced view of today’s economy.

Heath Henderson, PhD

Heath Henderson, PhD

Associate Professor, Economics

Liping Zheng, PhD

Liping Zheng, PhD

Associate Professor, Economics

Brian Vander Naald, PhD

Brian Vander Naald, PhD

Associate Professor, Economics; Research Coordinator

William Boal, PhD

William Boal, PhD

Professor, Economics

Sean Severe, PhD

Sean Severe, PhD

Professor, Economics; Department Chair, Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Business Law

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

At Drake, you’ll find multiple ways to enhance your personal and professional growth, from diving into entrepreneurship as a member of a student club to gaining an international perspective through a study abroad program.

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Internships

Practice your analytical skills while observing economic theories in the real world. As a regional hub of business and government, Des Moines provides abundant internship options, with many students completing two by graduation. Or for a more political angle, sign up for the Washington Semester Program.

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Student Clubs

Accelerate your professional growth and build your network by joining national organizations like the Econometric Society or any of the 14 business-related student organizations on campus.

A professor, sitting behind a desk, and an Economics student, standing, discuss a math problem written on a whiteboard

Research

Set yourself apart in graduate school applications. Conduct and disseminate original research through the Drake University Social Science Journal or the annual Conference on Undergraduate Research.

A group of Economics majors stand on stage, in suits, with their award certificates at their sides

Awards

The Zimpleman College of Business cultivates an ethos of social, environmental, and economic responsibility. The Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Impact recognizes students who invest in the local community through service and outreach.

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Scholarships

100% of full-time Drake undergraduate students receive scholarship support. You may be eligible for both merit- and need-based aid, including scholarships specifically for economics majors.

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Study Abroad

From studying the European economy in Austria to interning with a multinational company in China, trips to more than 70 countries equip you for a globalized business climate.

Careers & Skills

Deploy your finely honed analytical abilities and nuanced understanding of economics in roles related to law, government, business, and policy. Nearly all industries see your quantitative skills and data-rooted insights as assets, which gives you a wide choice of job opportunities. Professional economists (with a master's degree or higher) enjoy excellent pay and solid employment growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employers

  • Amazon
  • Deloitte
  • Global Atlantic Financial Group
  • Nationwide Insurance
  • Piper Jaffray
  • Principal Financial Group
  • The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
  • Washington, D.C. consulting firms
  • Wells Fargo

Skills

  • Advanced mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Data analytics
  • Micro- and macroeconomic analysis
  • Quantitative research
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Professional communications
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Salary & Growth Outlook

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The average salary for financial analysts as of 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

“Economics Club is a way for people to have a community so they can [have] connection [and] networking … You have something to do outside the classroom, that’s what we try to be. It’s a hobby for everyone, everyone from in the econ major and outside the econ major, too.”
Dew Veeraphan BN’24
Finance and Economics Major

Related Programs

Not sure if economics is the right fit? These majors pair an interest in business with analytical rigor.

Accounting, BSBA

Provides a strong foundation in financial reporting, auditing, and managerial accounting, preparing students for careers in public, corporate, and governmental accounting and CPA exams.

Actuarial Science, BSBA

Balance a practically focused business core with expert instruction in actuarial science to position you for success in finance, insurance, risk management, or another field that values an analytical mindset.

Finance, BSBA

Prepare to help businesses and individuals manage their money and reach their financial goals in a career-focused program that places real-world experience at the center.

Take the Next Step

See where Drake’s in-depth, intersectional exploration of economics can take you—be it graduate school, law school, or the data-diving roles in demand in today’s job market.

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A group of Drake Economics majors wander outdoors along a path past a few trees