Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in our continuing series of highlighting CSU’s new integrated degrees program

Cleveland State University recently became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer 11 new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines. 

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative.

Today, we are highlighting the Mathematics/Statistics + Economics Bachelor of Arts.

The Mathematics/Statistics + Economics B.A. incorporates the core principles of economics, mathematics and statistics while providing students with a comprehensive education in these fields. The program produces career-ready graduates with the ability to excel in a variety of fields involving quantitative analysis, making it ideal for students seeking a variety of industry or government jobs that require more technical training. 

This program will also appeal to prospective students who plan to pursue a graduate degree  in economics, finance, accounting and other related fields or pursue a law degree after completing their B.A. degree.

Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Sara Froehlich, Ph.D., said students will gain a breadth of knowledge which will set them up for success in the workforce. 

“Students in the Mathematics/Statistics + Economics degree will gain a foundational understanding of mathematics, statistics, and economics as they complete introductory and intermediate macroeconomics and microeconomics courses, introductory statistics, econometrics, calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra," she said. 

"In their upper-level course work, students will have the freedom to choose from a variety of interesting courses such as economics of health care, urban economics, managerial economics, international trade, financial mathematics, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, categorical data analysis, data visualization, and time series analysis. Students will also complete a capstone project.”

CAREER OUTLOOK

The possibilities appear to be endless for students graduating with this degree, and there are a multitude of jobs available in this fast-growing field of study. 

They include careers as an actuary, budget analyst, credit analyst, economic analyst, economic consultant, financial adviser, financial analyst, healthcare data analyst, insurance analyst, public policy adviser, international trade specialist, investment manager, market analyst, mortgage loan associate, pricing analyst, quantitative analyst, real estate analyst and statistician.

“Mathematics/Statistics + Economics majors will develop a unique combination of strong analytical skills and a robust understanding of economic concepts and reasoning,” said Dr. Froehlich. “Students who wish to continue their studies of economics or related social sciences at the graduate level will be extremely well-prepared for these pursuits.”  

Senior College Lecturer in the Department of Finance and Economics, Aycan Grossmann, Ph.D., added that due to it being a data-driven world, technical skills are in high demand.

“Mathematics/Statistics + Economics majors will have a competitive edge in the job market as a result of the technical skills and solid understanding of economic theory developed throughout this degree,” she said.

The fact that downtown Cleveland is right in CSU’s backyard also plays a big role in landing a job upon graduating.

“With its location in downtown Cleveland, CSU is in a unique position to respond to employers’ needs and produce graduates who have the interdisciplinary skills which are in high demand in the job market,” said Dr. Grossmann. “Mathematics/Statistics + Economics majors will be able to apply their technical skills towards solving practical economic problems in the Cleveland community, contribute to the workforce development of Northeast Ohio, and make a meaningful overall impact on our region.” 

For more information on CSU’s new integrated degree programs, click here. 

For more information on the Mathematics/Statistics + Economics B.A, click here.