WASHINGTON, PA (Jan. 17, 2017) - Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) has been named a Best Value Small College for an Economics Degree by Best Value Schools.
W&J’s economics program earned a spot on the list, and stood out among the other institutions, for the depth and focus added to the degree through its interdisciplinary approach and areas of emphasis, according to Amanda Ginder, a representative of Best Value Schools.
W&J offers an economics major with optional emphases in financial economics and economic development, as well as a financial economics major that is more narrowly focused on the economic theory and mathematics of the field. Students also make connections in their courses to a number of other W&J programs, including gender and women’s studies, public policy, and environmental studies.
Through the program, students develop a blend of technical and nontechnical skills that allow them to foster intellectual curiosity, use analytical techniques in solving problems, and conduct and present high-quality academic research, which strongly prepares them for the paths they take after leaving W&J.
“One of our biggest strengths (if not the biggest) is the variety of outcomes for our graduates,” said Tiffani Gottschall, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and business and coordinator of the economics program. “When students graduate from our program, they are all equally prepared for whatever path they choose, whether it is postgraduate study in law, medical, or graduate school or work in the public or private sector. We aren’t a department that is focused on preparing our students for a single path post-graduation.”
W&J economics students have gone on to law school and medical school; pursued M.A., M.B.A., and Ph.D. programs at George Mason University, Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, and the University of California Riverside, among others; and accepted employment placements with PNC Bank, Morgan Stanley, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, to name a few.
Of the distinction, Dr. Gottschall believes it emphasizes the value of a W&J education.
“It is nice because it highlights the great work that our students have been doing over the past several years – we see this every semester but it is encouraging to see it recognized by an outside group. Based on our placement of graduates, we know that employers and graduate schools have taken notice as well. From the College perspective, I think it reinforces what we already know, that there are several programs and majors that can compete on a national level in terms of quality,” she said.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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