Beyond the Classroom
Going to class is just the beginning of the Christopher Newport experience. The Department of Economics offers a wide array of co-curricular activities that enhance your studies.
Many students assist faculty through undergraduate research that often results in conference presentations or publications in scholarly journals. In addition, many economics students have participated in research programs through CNU’s Office of Research and Creative Activity and CNU’s Center for Community Engagement. Finally, all students complete a senior seminar course where they engage in individual research projects over the course of the semester. Doing research is one of the best ways you can build on your classroom learning, and will help you develop skills that serve you long after graduation.
As an economics major you can broaden your horizons and experience a foreign culture through study abroad. Semester and summer programs are available in many locations around the world.
Recently, economics students and faculty traveled to Greece where students had the opportunity to explore ancient history, contemporary Greek society, migration, food, culture, film, and sustainability while earning academic credit in an engaging international setting. Some highlights of the program included:
- Exploring Athens and the island of Crete through guided cultural experiences
- Learning about migration, globalization, visual communication, sustainability, and Greek culture in real-world contexts
- Engaging with local organizations, markets, museums, and historical sites
- Developing intercultural communication and leadership skills valued by employers and graduate programs
There are also plenty of opportunities for service learning in our department. We regularly offer Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) courses including a course on urban economics. In this course, students partner with local nonprofits to analyze various urban policy areas including housing, transportation, food access, and the environment. CEL courses integrate hands-on experiential learning with community partnerships to positively impact both the student experience and our local community.
In addition, our department houses Christopher Newport University’s Center for Economic Education (CEE). This center provides resources and training for economics educators throughout the Hampton Roads region.
One of our faculty holds the Jean Monnet Chair for European Integration Studies and hosts experts and events that engage students and the public on some of the major economic issues facing the world today.
We host a chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon economics honor society, which sponsors events and other learning opportunities for students, while the Economics and Finance Club hosts speakers, panel discussions and social gatherings.