A person reviewing financial information on paper and a computer

Department of Economics and Finance

Many of today’s highest-paying careers involve finance or economics. It’s not just stockbrokers or those in management careers. These fields can take you in many directions — law, financial advising, bank management, research, analysis and insurance underwriting, to name just a few. In the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of Central Missouri, we prepare you with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed in your chosen business area.

Our students gain a thorough understanding of markets, giving them the framework to analyze various business problems and offer solutions. You’ll also learn how government policies affect individuals and companies — knowledge that will make you an informed citizen and a savvy business professional.

Choose your path to success

Economics: How do people make choices? This is a central question you will study in Economics, the fascinating social science of human behavior and how it relates to business and wealth.
Finance: Learn about corporate and personal finance, security analysis, investments and financial institutions. Studying finance gives you an understanding of how money moves, which is a terrific foundation for a wide variety of future careers.
Risk Management and Insurance: Protecting people and companies from risk is big business. Learn about the complex and essential products that provide insurance against an uncertain world.
International Business: In our global economy, many industries have international outlooks. You can take your interest in any business area into an international context with our courses and opportunities in International Business.

Contact

Dr. Catherine Chambers
Professor and Department Chair
Dockery 310C
Tel: 660-543-8605 | chambers@ucmo.edu

Dr. Chris Azevedo
Professor and Economics Program Coordinator
Dockery 300G
Tel: 660-543-4219 | cazevedo@ucmo.edu

Dr. James Cicon
Assoc. Professor and Finance Program Coordinator
cicon@ucmo.edu

Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies

AACSB-accredited programs

Multiple scholarships available

Student access to Bloomberg terminals

Top 100 - Affordable Econ Degrees (University HQ)

Best Value Finance Bachelor’s (College Factual)

16:1 departmental student-to-faculty ratio

Find your Economics and Finance future at UCM

Find your passion and unlock your potential with the career-focused benefits of our Department of Economics and Finance:

Hands-on experiences: Our Student Managed Investment Fund lets you practice real-world investing. Internships with the Kansas City Federal Reserve and other employers give students a valuable edge in the job market.
Small classes and direct mentoring: Personal attention from faculty helps you choose a path to best achieve your goals.
Excellent facilities: UCM’s Forbes Financial Center offers a laboratory-like setting for security analysis and real-life investing experience through our Student Managed Investment Fund. You will have access to Bloomberg terminals to gather detailed, real-time financial and economic data.
Meaningful research opportunities: Faculty members publish in renowned academic journals, often involving students in their research projects in the Experimental Economics Lab. Students also present at national conferences such as the Eastern Economic Association, giving them valuable preparation for graduate school.
Quality education at a lower cost: Count on an excellent education at a lower price than similar programs at other schools.
Flexible curriculum: Faculty help you customize your elective choices to match your career objectives, whether you’re preparing for graduate school or heading straight into your career.
Student organizations: Participate with your peers and build relationships to support you in school and throughout your career. Join the Student Finance Association or the Economics Club, or one of UCM’s many social and extracurricular clubs.

What can you do with a degree in one of UCM’s Economics and Finance programs?

Every industry needs the analytical capabilities and problem-solving skills that you’ll learn in our programs. You can work in banking, insurance, manufacturing, multinational businesses, entertainment, high tech or any other industry that needs financial management.

With personal attention from faculty, opportunities for hands-on practice and collaboration with peers, you’ll gain the skills to succeed in your career. At UCM, we’re dedicated to helping every student develop their goals and the skills to achieve them.

We’re proud of the training and internship experiences in the Department of Economics and Finance that propel our graduates into successful careers. As a student, you can choose from a wide variety of opportunities to “learn by doing” at prestigious businesses nearby or internationally, giving you an advantage when you seek exciting positions after graduation. Our faculty invests time and attention to help you find your professional path and follow it into a fulfilling career.

A degree in Economics and Finance can be your route to becoming a valued decision-maker: