Economics
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Economic Development Major in Pennsylvania
Are you interested in economics and learning about other cultures? Do you want to help developing communities thrive? Messiah University's bachelor's degree in economic development may be the right fit for you! Prepare to serve populations at home or abroad at a Christian university.
Study Economic Development at a Christian University
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in economic development prepares you to serve populations at home or abroad. You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills used to serve the least advantaged in rural and urban communities locally and internationally. Engaging coursework, hands-on experience and international travel make this major an excellent choice for students seeking to impact the developing world. Core classes in economics, finance, management and international business are complemented with humanities concentrations like politics and anthropology to prepare you to offer strong quantitative skills to development organizations from a Christian perspective.
As an economic development major or minor at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Study in a program that has been named a “Business College of Distinction” by Colleges of Distinction for 2023-2024.
- Participate in development projects on campus, in Africa and in Central America through the Collaboratory
- Study abroad in a developing country
- Visit many economies including India and China through the International Business Institute
- Attend development conferences to connect with practitioners in the field
- Secure international internships with organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, World Relief, Hope International and Delta Development
- Combine studies in economics, international business, finance, politics and anthropology for a well-rounded degree
- Prepare for graduate work in economic development
- Join the Economic Empowerment Group to gain experience in microfinance and use business as a mission to combat poverty.
As a graduate of the economic development program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Development advisor
- Employee of a NGO
- Community planner
- Manager
For more information on career planning for the economic development program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized internship program places students in a variety of economic development internships. A few examples include:
- Hope International
- Samaritan's Purse
- World Vision
- Mennonite Central Committee
- MEDA
- World Relief
- Delta Development
Programs related to Economic Development
In the Economic Development program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Economic Development:
Economic Development (B.A.)
Economic Development careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Economic Development program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Practical experience
You may take advantage of extensive international experiential learning opportunities through cross-cultural courses, campus projects, internships and study abroad programs. You may even attend development conferences with practitioners in the field or choose to participate in the International Business Institute, which gives you the opportunity to visit various economies including India and China. Students also participate in the Praxis, a creative engine advancing redemptive entrepreneurship.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.