Economics analyzes the manner in which scarce resources are utilized to satisfy the wants and needs of people and society. The Economics Department offers courses that formulate, interpret, and explore ideas concerning such topics as unemployment, inflation, production and distribution, economic growth, and international economic relations. Courses emphasize the need for accurate knowledge of business institutions and economic phenomena, for theories capable of explaining these phenomena, for estimating relationships among economic variables, and for testing explanations. This analysis then forms the foundation for policy applications and recommendations on a wide range of issues.

Students learn to analyze economic data to identify and address problems that arise in a changing national and global economy, while studying the broader historical and social context in which economic relationships occur and economic policies are applied. In addition to economic theory and quantitative methods, courses cover a range of topics such as international trade, urban economics, economic history, the role of the government in the economy, money and banking, economic development, labor markets, poverty, environmental economics, and gender.

The department prepares students for careers in business, financial institutions, government and public service, graduate work in economics, and in other areas such as law and business administration.

DePaul offers Economics as both a major and minor field of study through both the College of Commerce and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.