Department of Economics

About Department of Economics

The Department of Economics at Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Situated on the university’s main campus along the shore of Lake Michigan, the department functions as a central unit within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. As an integral component of Northwestern University, the department operates under the broader institutional accreditation provided by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which maintains oversight for all academic programs offered by the university.

The department traces its academic roots to the late 19th century, evolving alongside the university’s expansion to become a primary center for economic research and instruction. It offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans undergraduate and graduate studies, leading to Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The academic structure is organized to provide students with a foundation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, supplemented by rigorous training in quantitative methods, econometrics, and applied statistics.

Educational offerings within the department encompass a diverse range of specialized fields. Students may engage in coursework covering labor economics, industrial organization, public economics, development economics, and international trade. The curriculum is designed to balance theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, requiring students to utilize data-driven approaches to understand market dynamics, government policy, and economic behavior. The department maintains close academic ties with other university divisions, including the Kellogg School of Management and the Institute for Policy Research, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration.

Facilities supporting the department are concentrated within the Evanston campus, featuring dedicated spaces for faculty research, graduate student offices, and seminar rooms. These facilities house various research centers and laboratories that provide access to statistical software, proprietary databases, and computing resources necessary for economic modeling. The physical infrastructure is integrated into the university’s library system, which provides extensive archives of economic journals, historical datasets, and government publications essential for scholarly inquiry.

Research activity is a primary function of the department, with faculty members contributing to peer-reviewed literature across multiple subfields. The department organizes regular workshops, seminar series, and conferences that serve as forums for the presentation of ongoing research. These academic gatherings involve faculty, doctoral candidates, and visiting scholars, promoting the exchange of findings in areas such as game theory, behavioral economics, and economic history. The department’s output is disseminated through working paper series and publications in academic journals.

The undergraduate program is structured to accommodate students pursuing a major or minor in economics. The program requirements include core sequences in economic theory and mathematics, followed by elective courses that allow students to tailor their studies toward specific interests. Many students participate in independent research projects or senior theses, which are supervised by faculty mentors. This structure is intended to prepare students for careers in finance, public policy, consulting, and data analysis, or for further study in graduate and professional schools.

The graduate program focuses on the training of doctoral students for academic and research-oriented careers. The curriculum emphasizes the mastery of advanced analytical tools and the development of independent research capabilities. Doctoral candidates work closely with faculty advisors to complete a dissertation, which serves as the culmination of their training. The department provides ongoing support for this research through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistant positions, ensuring that students are integrated into the professional economic community.

Administrative oversight of the department is managed in accordance with the policies of Northwestern University. This includes adherence to standards for faculty hiring, curriculum development, and student assessment. The department participates in the broader academic governance of the university, contributing to committees that shape institutional policies regarding research ethics, student life, and academic integrity. Through its affiliation with the university, the department maintains access to institutional resources that support its mission of advancing economic knowledge through teaching and systematic inquiry.