The Department of Economics is one of the oldest academic departments at Radford University. Economics courses started here in the 1960s when Radford University was a woman's college. The Economics Department and the Economics major was created in 1969 to launch the study of business and advance the study of social sciences.
In 1972, men were admitted and Radford University became co-educational. Shortly after (1974), coursework in other areas of business were added leading to the creation of the School of Business and Professional Studies (1978).
The Economics Department joined the Business College to form the College of Business and Economics. In 2018, the college was renamed the Davis College of Business and Economics in honor of generous donations made by Sandra C. Davis and William C. Davis.
Our faculty excel in all 3 areas of academia: teaching, research and service. Our goal is to share Economics knowledge with our students, colleagues and community to improve the decisions we all make.
When you take an Economics course at Radford University, you are getting a high-quality experience. Our courses are designed to match the needs of our students and the demands of modern society. We emphasize high-order competencies and provide students with the support they need to succeed. Many of our courses are small, allowing students to work closely with peers and instructors for a more engaging learning adventure. We review our curriculum every year so you always get the most up-to-date offerings. Our faculty have diverse backgrounds which allows us to provide students with a variety of courses covering interesting topics. There is something for everyone.
Our faculty care about your wallet. Several of our faculty have adopted open education resources [OERs] for their courses. OERs are free-to-use digital materials (readings, videos) curated by the professor to address the needs of the students. More than 70% of students taking our courses face $0 in textbook/materials costs as a result.
Our faculty engage in valuable economics research. We steadily contribute to the body of economics knowledge by publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting research findings and conferences, and contributing chapters to books and technical publications.
Our faculty have diverse research interests spanning several different areas of Economics. These include Economic Development, Behavioral Economics, Labor Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Policy, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Computational Economics and Business Economics.
Economics department faculty contribute to several committees and work groups across the Radford University campus. In addition to helping the university meet its goals, our faculty also serve the wider community. Our faculty has given guest lectures at regional high schools, presented economic studies for local industry groups and have consulted with local businesses.
Welcome to the Department of Economics at Radford University. The department offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Business Administration (B.B.A) and minors in Economics. I encourage you to explore each of these programs closely.
The Economics Department faculty are a diverse group of highly dedicated teacher-scholars who enjoy teaching and mentoring students. The faculty are active researchers in different fields (areas) of economics and regularly publish in academic journals and other outlets. They are also engaged in service and outreach in the profession and the community. The faculty regularly draw on their research and professional activities in order to provide current knowledge and an engaging and richer experience to all students inside and outside the classroom.
Students in the department have different opportunities to interact with fellow students and others in the profession. The department sponsors the Economics Student Association and hosts a Chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE), the Economics Honor Society. It also runs the Center for Economic Education, which is involved in pedagogy research and outreach to economics educators in schools in the area. Students also have the opportunity to participate in various workshops and forums that the Department organizes by inviting speakers from across campus and outside the university.
The Department of Economics is in the Davis College of Business and Economics which is fully accredited by AACSB International. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. Less than 5 percent of business schools globally are AACSB accredited.
Please get in touch with me or any other faculty member to learn more about the Department and our programs. We, the department faculty and staff, are always ready to answer any questions you may have or assist you with any needs. We would be delighted to help.
Sincerely,
Seife Dendir, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics & Chair