A study referencing the Department of Education’s data has named Ripon College as the top school for Economics majors in Wisconsin. The Ripon College Department of Economics and Business Management prepares students to inform and lead organizations in making and carrying out effective decisions. We collaborate on defining goals and solving problems of resource use in business, nonprofit organizations and government. We integrate approaches from economics and across the liberal arts in study of fundamentals, diverse applications, research, internships and other organizational experiences. These open doors to advanced study, lifelong learning and productive and rewarding careers.
The department offers majors in economics, business management and finance. In the major and minor, students develop skills broadly applicable to many areas of work and life. They practice problem-solving by working through both quantitative and qualitative problems reflecting difficult choices among options. Critical thinking is essential as students consider competing explanations of the many cases of that problem and solutions to it in business and financial management and public policies. Students encounter an array of writing assignments ranging from essay exams to formal research papers, business plans and financial analyses.
Students engage in small group discussions, dialogs with guest speakers, and more formal group and individual presentations. In senior capstone courses, students integrate the skills they have developed throughout their course work in the completion of projects that require research, data analysis, critical thinking, and oral and written presentations of information and ideas.
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Patricia Parker Francis Professor of Economics, Chair of Economics and Business Management Department
Assistant Professor of Economics and Business Management
Assistant Professor of Business Management
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers. Our collaboration with Student Support Services provides tutoring and additional academic and skill development, as well as tools to help with note-taking, exam preparation, goal-setting and time management. Likewise, Mentors in the Franzen Center provide in-depth, one-on-one or group mentoring for students about class projects and college-level writing, and can share problem-solving strategies to overcome academic obstacles.
Advising at RiponRequirements for a major in economics: MTH 120, ECO 211, 212, 241 (or courses in calculus and probability approved by the major advisor), 350, 311 or 352, and 380; six more credits of economics courses numbered above 400; and seven more credits of economics courses numbered 300 or above. Students may include either ECO 361 or 461, but not both. Students majoring in both economics and business management must choose elective courses for the economics major that are not required or chosen as elective courses in the business management major.
Students anticipating graduate study for master’s or doctorate degrees in economics, business, public policy, health administration, and many other professional fields should take additional courses in statistics, calculus and linear algebra.
Requirements for a teaching major in economics: BSA 231; ECO 211, 212, 241, 311, 350, 352, 380 and 452; one of the following: ECO 313, 332, 361, 412, 446, 461, 472 or 500; and HIS 401.
Requirements for an economics minor: At least 19 credits. ECO 211 and 212; 350 or 352; seven additional credits of economic courses numbered 300 or above.
Requirements for a teaching minor in economics: ECO 211 and 212, and 14 additional credit hours chosen from 311, 313, 332, 350, 352, 361, 380, 412, 446, 452, 461, 472 or 500; and HIS 401.
Economic majors often attend graduate schools in economics, business and closely related fields, and law schools. Many find employment in financial institutions, manufacturing corporations, and information technology-based services, as well as consulting firms, other service industries and government agencies. They are active in a wide range of positions from financial analysts to managers to consultants.