The Department of Economics at Western Michigan University plays a major role in enhancing basic economic understanding on campus in economics programs and through the inclusion of curricula for other programs such as business, engineering and general education.

At the undergraduate level, the department offers several majors and a minor that equip students for employment or further professional study.

Western Michigan University seniors may enroll into the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program to begin accumulating up to 12 credits (four courses) toward the completion of a master's degree while completing their bachelor's degree. Students pay the undergraduate tuition rates for these courses.

At the graduate level, the Master of Arts degree prepares students for careers as professional economists in both academic and nonacademic settings.

 Western essential studies (wes) courses

Information on WES Economics courses can be found here

recent News

On Thursday, April 4th from 5-9pm, join the Department of Economics for a watch party of the 'Women in Economics Symposium'.  Available to WMU Students, Faculty and Staff.  Register here 

We congratulate Dr. Vinod Thomas (MA 1971) on his recently published "Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change" (2023, Palgrave Macmillan). Vinod, former Senior VIP of Independent Evaluation at the World Bank and Director General of Independent Evaluation at the Asian Development Bank, is a board member of the International Evaluation Academy and a distinguished fellow at the Asian Institute of Management. For a full list of Vinod's publications, see his website

Congratulations to Isabel Ruiz, 2006 Ph.D. graduate, and awardee of the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award for the Economics Department 2023.

Congratulations to Cecelia Chapleau, winner of the Economics Department Spring 2023 Presidential Scholar Award! This annual award is given to an undergraduate student who shows exceptional academic achievement in economics.
 
We would also like to congratulate Morgan Ross, who was chosen by the faculty as the winner of the William Monroe Scholarship!