Economics Program

Economics is the study of how people use scarce resources to achieve their goals. Although this description seems vague and even a little bland, the reason is that any definition of economics needs to be general enough to reflect its wide application into all facets of life, both within business and outside of it. Understanding how consumers with limited budgets make decisions about what to buy helps businesses market products. Other economists advise businesses on how to develop cost effective production techniques, including ones that are more eco-friendly. Still others forecast market trends so as to help businesses make strategic decisions and to identify investment opportunities.

Outside of business, those with economics degrees go to law school and can apply economic arguments to legal cases. Other graduates go to poverty centers or international agencies helping to devise policies that help those less fortunate. Economists work in government offices developing budgets across competing priorities.

In all of these pursuits, economists combine economic theory with data analysis to facilitate wise decision making. The career paths available to economists are virtually limitless and include the fields of economic research, financial consulting, investment analytics, economic consulting, banking as well as alternative career paths such as politics, government, or law.

Scholarships for Economics Majors

The Economics program is proud to help financially support our students. The Thomas and Chany Chung Scholarship is given EACH semester to EACH Economics major carrying a 3.0+ GPA in all SIU coursework as well as in SIU's Economics courses. Everyone who qualifies receives the award. The amount of the award can vary but has run $1500 to $2000 per individual in recent semesters, totaling $10,500 to $14,000 across one's four years at SIU. (The scholarship is typically not given the first semester at SIU since no SIU GPA has been established at that point.) You don't even need to apply for the award! We will contact everyone who qualifies.

Other scholarships include:

Elizabeth Goyak: Awarded to an outstanding student in Economics, $900

Glenn W. and Cornelia Y. Miller: Endowed Scholarship Fund Award: Awarded to a Junior, Senior, or graduate student majoring in economics or public policy with an interest in labor economics, $3800

Garrett E. and Susan J. Pierce Scholarship: Awarded to an outstanding student in economics, $2000

Visit Undergraduate Academic Scholarships to apply!