Ave Maria University
The Economics major at AMU seeks to instill a profound understanding of both the concrete and the abstract of economics as well as the societal impacts of the free market and government policymaking. Most importantly, at AMU, you’ll study economics from a Catholic perspective seeing it as the fulfillment of the human person which emphasizes human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity.
Careers: Education, Finance, Government, Business Administration, Law
Through the study of economics, you won’t just learn how to use mathematical data or economic theory; you’ll also gain exhilarating knowledge of the principles that govern all human interaction. You’ll bridge the gap between the logical sciences and the social sciences. By understanding how human society works, you’ll be better equipped to help improve it.
Fast Fact: AMU is home to the Stein Center for Social Research, a non-partisan, interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding pressing social questions.
Welcome to Economics at Ave Maria University! The department is composed of a boutique group of social scientists with a passion for teaching and mentoring. Though Economics is a young department, students who have studied in our courses or programs have already gone on to graduate school at the University of Chicago MAPPS and Columbia University PhD Program; to research associate positions at top centers such as the American Enterprise Institute and Heritage Foundation; and to excel in private industries ranging from banking and finance to real estate investment. Some of our graduates are young entrepreneurs, and some are giving back to the next generation, accepting teaching jobs at both private and public schools.
As a small department, we owe these successes to doing a few things very well. One of our most popular programs is the Family & Society Program—a cluster of courses in social research focusing on the analytical study of marriage, family, demographics, neighborhoods, economic mobility, education and religion. Another feature of our department is the use of applied game theory in a variety of settings. Students may specialize in Managerial Economics and Strategic Analysis (MESA)—a unique interdisciplinary major drawing from Economics and Business. Finally, we feature the advanced study of Catholic social thought as a required and invigorating component of every economics program at Ave Maria. This course—unique to Ave Maria—has been developed around the exposition and analysis of Papal writings since Leo XIII, and draws upon the work of some of the greatest interpreters of papal thought in the late 20th century, including F. Russell Hittinger, George Weigel, and Michael Novak.
Education: B.S., Economics, University of Louisville; M.A., Economics, George Mason University; Ph.D., Economics, George Mason University Office: Prince 104 Email: zachary.bartsch@avemaria.edu Phone: (239) 304-7929 Curriculum Vitae: Download
Education: B.S., Economics, San Diego State University; M.A., Economics, San Diego State University; Ph.D., Economics, University of Georgia Office: Prince 105 Email: marilyn.ibarra-caton@avemaria.edu Phone: (239) 304-7928 Curriculum Vitae: Download
Education: B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, University of South Carolina; M.A., Economics, University of Notre Dame; Ph.D., Economics, University of Notre Dame Office: Prince First Grade Teacher Email: gabriel.martinez@avemaria.edu Phone: (239) 280-1611 Curriculum Vitae: Download
In addition to the core curriculum, economics majors take the following courses
The International Honor Society for Economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon now has a chapter at Ave Maria University. ODE is one of the world’s largest and oldest academic honor societies. The Ave Maria University Economics Department formally established the Sigma Chapter of Florida on March 1, 2010. Omicron Delta Epsilon is dedicated to the recognition of academic achievement and promotion of economic knowledge. It seeks to recognize scholastic attainment and honor outstanding achievements in economics; to establish closer ties between students and faculty in economics within and among colleges and universities; to publish its official journal, The American Economist, and to sponsor panels at professional meetings and the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions. Membership in an Honor Society sends a powerful signal to other students, faculty, potential employers, graduate school admission officers, scholarship awarders, and parents. Some of the benefits of membership in Omicron Delta Epsilon include: International recognition of scholastic achievement in economics.
For more information on the application requirements please contact: Dr. Gabriel Martinez Gabriel.Martinez@avemaria.edu
Spotlight:
Lilla Lukacs (2014) is working at the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy research think tank in the heart of DC. Lilla has been at AEI for a little over a year now, and she works for the housing policy research team led by a former Senior Advisor in the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Research and Statistics and a former Executive at Fannie Mae. She works on various projects, including an analysis of fundamental determinants of house prices in major US metros and the production of a monthly mortgage risk index.
Career Services prides itself on providing students, alumni and employers with the opportunity to connect. No matter where you are in your career search, whether it’s deciding on a path, preparing for your first job interview or working on graduate school or fellowship applications, we can help.
The spiritual life on campus is the beating heart of Ave. Whether it’s attending Mass, receiving the sacraments, participating in retreats or getting spiritual direction, you’ll find the spiritual support you need from the priests and staff of Campus Ministry.
With AMU’s core curriculum, you’ll not only achieve breadth of knowledge, but also depth of knowledge. You’ll encounter the truth about God and His creation more completely through the dynamic interplay of all of the liberal arts, including theology and natural science.
Sunny skies, warm temperatures, a beautiful campus. What more could you want? How about a community-like atmosphere, quality instructors who care about your success, a wealth of spiritual activities, expert career guidance… and that’s only the beginning. Imagine your future at AMU. It all starts by filling out our free application today.
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