Welcome to the Department of Economics! You have made the right choice. The Department of Economics was established in 1955. Back then it was actually in the Faculty of Arts. Several well-known national, and international, leaders have walked along the paths that you will be travelling on for the next three years and sat in the same classrooms gazing at the same black/white boards. These include our very own Dr. Andre Haughton who was recently appointed to the opposition shadow cabinet, as well as Dr. Carla Bennett, the first female Secretary General of the Caribbean Community.
A degree in Economics will offer you a copious amount of vocational flexibility and will lay a solid foundation for a wide range of career opportunities. We therefore encourage you to use the next few years to learn as much as you can, not just academically, but also about who you are and who you want to be. While many of our alumni are in the traditional roles that degrees in Economics, Statistics or Banking & Finance may take you, the knowledge, skills, and tools that you will receive over the next 3 years are highly and easily transferable to other disciplines. The possibilities are endless!
Our dedicated, knowledgeable, approachable, friendly, and professional administrators are always willing to assist you in navigating this new learning experience. They have prepared this handbook which provides indispensable details about the different majors and minors offered by the department. The interdisciplinary nature of your degree allows you to also explore other areas of interest. While doing your undergraduate degree, I also implore you to consider pursuing either a M.Sc. in Economics and/or a Ph.D. in Economics, as an advanced degree, especially in this discipline, will significantly increase your future earning potential. If this path interests you, I highly recommend double majoring in Economics and Mathematics so that you gain the necessary skills to prepare you for graduate work.
I cannot end this message without encouraging you to participate in the social life of the faculty and the wider university. There are various clubs/societies/organizations that you can join in order to enrich your experience and develop your soft skills. By doing this you will hone your time management skills, maintain your mental health, and gain leadership experience. Of particular interest is the Young Economist Association or the Young Investor's Club who over the years have added value to our students through networking events and relevant presentations.
Whether you are a new or returning student, you are now part of a department that is a beacon of excellence and innovation on this campus, so I charge you to REACH FOR THE STARS!
Dr Patrice Whitely
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Our 7 faculties and 12 professional schools offer more than 200 programmes to some 18,000 graduate, undergraduate and continuing studies students.
The UWI, Mona ranks first in Jamaica among accredited tertiary-level programmes. In 2012, the University was again one of Jamaica’s Top 100 Employers.
