You can still participate! Click here to make a last-chance gift! Stay tuned for more info about WWU Give Day 2025 on April 24, 2025!
Economics
Support WWU Economics Students with a Gift Today!

The Economics Department currently offers 8 different options under the Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition to the BA in Economics, we offer combined degrees with a number of other disciplines including accounting, environmental studies, finance, mathematics, political science, philosophy, and social studies. For the 2024/25 we are launching a new Bachelor of Science in economics and we are reclassifying the combined economics/mathematics major as a B.S. as well. This year we are offering just under 100 sections of economics courses ranging from ECON 101 to a wide variety of 400-level electives. These courses serve undergraduate general education requirements, foundation requirements for students in the College of Business and Economics, and our own majors. We currently have 18 active faculty in the department.

Professor Yvonne Durham


A degree in economics can lead to a variety of career paths. Western graduates in economics have found success in business, as advisors and researchers, as well as in education. Other graduates have gone on to professional schools such as MBA programs or law school. Employment as a professional economist often requires further study and a number of Western economics graduates have gone on to pursue a Ph.D. in economics or a related field.

An undergraduate degree in economics is a fantastic way to develop a solid foundation of critical thinking and analytical problem solving regardless of what field a graduate may choose later in life. Economics undergraduates often rank near the top in lists of best starting salaries and strongest return on investment for their degree.

Impact:

We are identifying three specific areas of support for Give Day 2024

Prof. Dave Nelson 2022

 After the retirement of long-time faculty member, Dr. David Nelson, he and his wife Lynne created the David and Lynne Nelson Scholarship endowment that supports economics students with scholarships. Additional donations towards this endowment will increase the amount of scholarship funds we can distribute to our majors for many years to come.

 Our second area of focus is the Paul Storer Memorial Fund. This fund honors the memory of our friend and colleague, Paul Storer, and supports annual talks by a scholar in US-Canada Economic Relations, as well as sending students to economics conferences (conference fees, lodging, transportation). While these activities were largely suspended during the pandemic, 2023 saw the return of the Paul Storer Memorial Lecture as we welcomed Dr. Irene Bloemraad from the University of California - Berkeley (click here to view a recording of the lecture) and renewed support for student travel to the Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference. The annual lecture for this year will be happening in May when we welcome Dr. Rashid Sumaila from the University of British Columbia.

Finally, our third designated fund is the Economics Department Fund. Contributions to this fund provide support to faculty and students in the department by funding student events and research, hosting student club events and guest speakers, and providing our year-end awards for academic excellence.

2
Match
Recent Grad Match Opportunity!
Thank you new Vikings! You've raised an additional $3,000 in support for current WWU students and programs!
$3,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
The Number One Vikings Match!
Thank you, Vikings! You who made the first $1,000 in gifts earned an ADDITIONAL $1,000 through a generous match!
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
$750
2,000th Donor Challenge!
Thank you! The 2,000th donor has unlocked an additional $750 for the designation of choice.
2,000 / 2,000 Donors
Completed
$5,000
Last Call!
Thank you! You've unlocked an additional $5,000 as a matching gift!
Completed
Leaderboard
Lunchtime Crunchtime
Thanks, Vikings! You've unlocked an additional $5,000 in support for students on your lunch break.
Rank Prize Lunchtime Crunchtime Challenge Donors
1 $2,500 Cross Country & Track and Field 90
2 $2,500 Western Symphony Orchestra 57
3 Varsity Volleyball 49
4 Men's Rowing 28
5 Ice Hockey 15
Ended
2
Match
Early Bird Challenge!
Thank you! Your generosity has unlocked an additional $5,000 match before most people even got up for the day!
Completed
$750
3,000th Donor Challenge!
Thank you, Viking supporters! We haven't hit 3,000 yet, but we're still tallying all the offline gifts we've received and will update the numbers ASAP!
Completed
$2,000
Night Owl Challenge
Thank you! Your gifts helped raise an additional $2,000 for the Western Welcome Scholarship!
2,615 / 2,615 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
The Battle for Business!
The department in CBE with the most unique donors at the end of Give Day will receive an additional $1,000! Final results available after we finish processing all the gifts. Fake donor names may disqualify the department.
Rank Prize The Battle for Business! Donors
1 $1,000 Marketing Program 94
2 MSCM & Operations 55
3 Accounting Department 37
4 International Business Program 30
5 Make Waves with the Moss Adams Student Success Ctr 22
Ended
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