About five years ago, Matthew Kane, Class of ’05, sat immersed in a sea of hundreds of other college freshmen, delving into his first Introduction to Economics class at the University of Maryland, College Park. Originally a biology major, Kane pondered his drastic change of studies, wondering exactly how he had arrived in this class, so radically different from the science courses he had expected to be taking throughout college.

Kane realized that in the next few years, he didn’t want to be dissecting frogs and doing tedious lab work. Rather, he wanted to study change through economic concepts, something that came easily to him. Declaring a major in economics requires a dedication to finding out exactly how things in the world work together, according to College Board.

Social Studies department chair and economics teacher Jake Hollin said, “Somebody who likes to study behaviors and patterns should try a major in economics. Economics is the study of the way people make use of limited resources.”

One way to test out economics as a major would be to take the Economics class senior year and see if the subject seems particularly appealing. “Majoring in something you enjoy is a great way to gain success in college,” said Kane. “Majoring in something that doesn’t interest you will more often than not lead to failure.”

Kane also suggests two other categories of students to consider a major in economics. “The next type would be for people interested efficient solutions to modern problems.,” he said. “[Another] group [is] people who are unsure of what they want to do. I’m not saying blindly sign up for an economics major, but they should take a wide variety of classes including economics classes to see what interests them.”

Economics majors learn to focus on not only the small-scale local picture, but the global economic landscape as well. “I want to study economics because I am interested in the way Wall Street and the economy work to influence our everyday lives,” said senior Joe Henninger.

While most consider economics to be a study of money, studying choices remains key to an economic discussion. “Economics is the study where you have definitive answers, it’s all about data, but using objective data as well helps you to create a subjective plan,” said Hollin.

To prepare for creating subjective plans, Hollin suggests taking rigorous English classes while at JC and possibly pursuing psychology in addition to the Economics class. “Higher level English skills can help students be able to present the data and information [in economic models] well. It also helps them learn how to research,” said Hollin.

Economics majors can pursue a bachelor’s degree in either the arts or science, depending on the specific school. According to College Board, a typical economics major aiming towards a bachelor’s degree in science will focus more on the quantitative and statistical side of economics, whereas a student geared towards a degree in the arts will learn much more about analyzing the data through liberal arts classes and foreign languages.

If either of these major tracks sound like a viable option, check out schools such as the University of Maryland, College Park, where Kane studied. Other local options with economics major options include the University of Delaware, American University, Washington College, or the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

After college, career options for economics majors vary , ranging from budget analysts to news analysts and reporters. “In the end, people are looking for something to give them a job. You want a major that can provide you with career opportunities, and this major gives you an opportunity for employment straight out of undergrad,” said Hollin.

Senior Caitlin Hennegan, who took Hollin’s economics class first semester, also believes that studying economics can apply to an extensive range of subjects. “If you’re going into the business field, economics can make the same concepts applicable. You can use the skills learned from economics in almost any job,” said Hennegan.

Kane currently works for the Logistics and Readiness Center (LRC) Enterprise Soldier Avionics at the Edgewood Arsenal facility of Aberdeen Proving Grounds as a Budget Analyst and Item Manager. Both facets of his job did not necessarily require an economics major, but his economic background has helped him greatly.

“As an Item Manager, I deal with the day to day management of a particular item, in my case [a] light set used by soldier in Iraq,” said Kane. “Economic themes such as supply and demand, marginal cost, marginal utility and opportunity cost are everyday occurrences for me, and having a degree in the field of economics makes my job that much easier.”

The advantages of an economic background continue for Kane in his position. “As a budget analyst, I focus on the efficient management of funds for items in the LRC over all. I look at budget information and demand histories to help decide which items need to be kept, repaired, bought or disposed of,” he said. “I also use the data at hand to find potentially more efficient parts and items to be used. Again, a background in economics makes this much easier, and allows me to give the economic perspective to the team I work with, which does not have anyone else with an economic background.”

“A major in economics not only gives you an opportunity for employment, but is able to enhance your everyday life. This is a major that can lead you to a better understanding of life. Everyone’s life involves economics,” said Hollin.

Katie Clarke can be reached for comment at [email protected]