Academic Culture & Values

Supporting an Academic Culture of Excellence and Success in the Curriculum

The Economics Department offers a well-structured path from introductory theory to applied economic analysis, helping students build strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Introductory courses provide a solid grounding in economic principles. Intermediate courses deepen this foundation through microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, while econometrics builds quantitative reasoning skills and prepares students for data-driven analysis.

In recent years, we have strengthened our focus on quantitative skills by integrating calculus and econometrics into our major requirements, expanding capstone seminars, and adding coursework in programming and computation. In 2023, our degree was reclassified as “Econometrics and Quantitative Economics,” earning a STEM designation that reflects our commitment to modern research tools.

Advanced seminars and capstone courses focus on research, independent thinking and policy analysis. Across the curriculum, students work with theoretical, empirical and experimental approaches that equip them to explore a wide range of economic questions. Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on quantitative analysis. Students build proficiency in statistical programming, econometric methods and applied economic modeling. These skills prepare them to work with real-world data and draw meaningful conclusions. They also benefit from faculty-mentored research, a staffed Stata/R lab, and an introductory data analysis course for first- and second-year students that makes computational skills approachable and practical. Faculty support student success through active learning, accessible office hours and individualized mentoring. They help students connect what they learn in class to real-world problems and current economic research, helping them see the relevance of economics in understanding and addressing contemporary issues.

As educators, we offer a broad range of coursework from core theory courses to specialized courses in many subfields of economics. We place a high value on economists teaching their own subfields, and the breadth of our field courses matches the breadth of our research topics.

Supporting the Success of All Students

Our department fosters student success by combining rigorous academic training with extensive research opportunities, applied learning experiences and strong pathways to careers and graduate study. Research engagement is central to the student experience. Over the past decade, about two-thirds of our faculty have hired undergraduate research assistants, providing valuable training in data analysis, replication and experimental methods. Students have collaborated with AidData at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute and the Schroeder Center for Health Policy. Experimental economics projects have led to publications featuring student co-authors and have generated enthusiasm among participants. We also encourage independent research through honors theses, which pair students with faculty mentors for year-long projects, and through the Garrett Fellowship, which funds several summer research projects each year.

Outside the classroom, the student-led Economics Club promotes peer mentoring, professional development and career exploration by hosting speakers and participating in national competitions like the Fed Challenge. Our Stata-R Lab enhances collaborative learning, with trained students offering coding assistance during regular office hours. Additionally, several faculty members employ undergraduate teaching assistants to assist with office hours and grading, providing essential preparation for graduate studies while strengthening faculty-student relationships.

Our graduates achieve strong outcomes. Outcomes surveys show that approximately 25% pursue advanced degrees in economics, law, public policy and business, while many others launch careers in banking, consulting, accounting and analytics. These pathways reflect the enduring value of our curriculum, mentoring and applied opportunities, which collectively prepare students for success in academia, the professions and beyond.

Supporting the Success of Faculty and Staff

Faculty members in the Economics department are accomplished teachers and scholars. Our faculty are active researchers regularly publishing in selective, peer-reviewed, high-impact journals. Over the past decade, three members of the department have authored a total of seven books. We also regularly present our research to external audiences and publish applied and policy-oriented analyses.

To support the professional development of junior faculty in teaching and tenure-track positions, the department has established a formal mentorship program in which each new faculty member is paired with a senior mentor to provide guidance on teaching, tenure and promotion expectations. At the start of each academic year, the department chair hosts a mentoring luncheon with discussions focused on enhancing the effectiveness of mentorship at W&M.

The department also places strong emphasis on skill development through cross-departmental collaboration, such as a luncheon organized with STLI dedicated to peer observation of teaching. The department piloted its own voluntary peer observation program that allows faculty members to seek constructive feedback from colleagues with the goal of improving teaching effectiveness.

Economists at W&M actively engage with colleagues in the broader discipline through participation in leading academic conferences, presenting research in universities nationwide, and hosting scholars from institutions across the country. The department organizes a seminar series each semester encouraging all faculties to invite scholars in their fields to share ongoing research. In addition, the work of W&M economists has been recognized in policy-oriented media such as trade talks, Federal Reserve newsletter, and the AEA podcast, as well as in public media, such as the NPR.

Together, these activities foster a supportive academic community in which faculty can excel as both teachers and scholars.