
At Roosevelt economics goes beyond the curriculum that is currently being taught at universities around the world. It presents and challenges students with radically different economic perspectives and alternative schools of thought. Roosevelt is one of the few universities in the United States where students can study economics from green, institutionalist, Post Keynesian, anarchistic, rhetorical, Marxist and other points of view, while gaining technical proficiency in conventional Neoclassical and Keynesian methods. Our faculty are drawn to the study of economics by a commitment to social justice. Economics students are prepared to be socially conscious citizens and leaders in their professions, whether in business, public service, research, teaching or other careers.
The economics program follows the tradition of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in seeking to foster creation of an economic system that works for the benefit of all people. Heterodoxy, pluralism and diversity of thought are key characteristics of the Roosevelt approach. Roosevelt economics students learn that economics is as much about creating a more just world as it is about creating a more prosperous world.
Roosevelt economics students learn how to conduct research, apply economic theory, analyze policy, ask the important questions and contribute professionally to a more humane and prosperous world. Our goal is to provide students with theoretical lenses and analytical skills with which they can critically examine economic, political, and social issues, weigh evidence, and prepare themselves for a successful and rewarding career.
The benefits of being an economics major transfer in large measure to the economics minor: acquiring analytical and critical reasoning skills, impressing future employers, higher than average wages, and understanding how the world works, among others.
Course offerings regularly include topics addressing inequality, economic justice, the history of economics, economic history, rhetoric and writing, the transformation of work, the theory of the market order, globalization, achieving full employment, social policy, alternative economic futures, social democracy, immigration, international trade and development, the economic lives of women, the economics of money, banking, and financial crises, and economic statistics.
Internships at local government offices, social service agencies, non-profit organizations, and for profit businesses are available, for credit, to assist students in career choice and development. Chicago is a dynamic city and major world center of finance, business, government, social activism and philanthropy. Our internship program provides students with opportunities to get a start in all these areas.
“Studying economics at Roosevelt has changed me in many ways. Through the pluralistic instruction, I became familiar with the entire spectrum of economic thought. That’s not common in economics programs. And every member of the faculty is willing to help you succeed.”