Economics

Division: Business and Professional/Public Service

Division Chair: Catherine M. Roche, croche@sunyrockland.edu

Discipline Coordinator: Gray Orphee, gorphee@sunyrockland.edu

Department Support Staff: Diane Mena, dmena@sunyrockland.edu

Department Office: Academic II, Room 2350, Phone: 845-574-4330

Why Study Economics?

Economics provides students with an understanding and analysis of the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services within and between social and national groups.

Students interested in a degree in Economics can begin their educational goals by pursuing the Liberal Arts and Science: Humanities and Social Science degree or a Business degree at Rockland Community College.

Related disciplines include Accounting, Bookkeeping, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, International Business, Office Technologies, and Mathematics.

For more information please contact the Division Chair of Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Occupational Objectives:

Students who wish to pursue a career in economics can continue their education by transferring to a four-year institution. Upon completion of their education students can obtain positions in the field of financial services (investing, banking and insurance), research, consulting, academia, government, international finance and other related areas.

5 Top Reasons

To Study Economics at RCC:

  1. VALUE: Affordable tuition, financial aid, scholarships.
  2. CAREER: A wide range of internships to provide real-world experience.
  3. FLEXIBILITY: Balance part-time study with work, family or other time commitments. On-campus childcare available.
  4. SUPPORT: Small class sizes, more individual attention, free tutoring.
  5. TRANSFER: Agreements with many four-year colleges for seamless transfer to pursue multiple bachelor’s degree options.

Opportunities at Rockland Community College:

There are several opportunities to gain practical business skills through extracurricular activities on campus including: the Entrepreneurial Business Plan Competition, where students compete for a $1,000 cash award; Rotaract, sponsored by the Rotary Club of New City; and Alpha Beta Gamma, the business honor society that recognizes scholarship among two-year college students.

Discipline Goals:

The economics discipline provides students with the ability to understand, define and analyze economic systems locally, regionally and globally. Coursework will focus on the role of supply and demand in a market economy and the benefits and cost of globalization.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of these courses in economics, students will be able to:

  • Differentiate between macro and microeconomics
  • Ability to compare and contrast economic systems
  • Identify the criteria used to assess the status of the economy
  • Discuss the role of the government and the Federal Reserve
  • Identify leading economists and explain the impact of their theories