Economics
Website
Contact:
Office
Haag Hall, Room 211
5120 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
Email: economics@umkc.edu
Phone: (816) 235-1314
Department Chair:
Sirisha C. Naidu (she/her), snaidu@umkc.edu
Department Description:
The Economics Department at UMKC is committed to excellence in research, teaching, and civic engagement in support of the University’s urban mission. The department offers rigorous academic programs that provide students with a strong foundation in economic theories, quantitative methods, and analytical reasoning.
The department also houses the Center for Economic Information (CEI). CEI conducts applied research using economic theory, geographic information systems, and statistical analysis to inform decision-making in both the public and private sectors, as well as support academic research.
Our Programs & Students:
The Department of Economics offers degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics. The department also offers a BA/MA dual degree program, allowing qualified students to earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe.
Students explore a broad range of economic perspectives and intellectual traditions, with applications to local, regional, national, and global economies, as well as broader social systems. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills—preparing graduates for careers in business, finance, public policy, law, and academia.
Economics majors at UMKC engage in a variety of academic and professional development activities beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to participate in faculty-led research projects, including work with CEI, which conducts applied economic and spatial data analysis. The Department also provides mentorship for internships with local government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses, providing valuable real-world experience in economic research, policy analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
Students enrich their educational experience by participating in department events such as visiting lecture series and faculty colloquia organized by the Economics Club. Many students are recognized for academic excellence through induction into Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE), the international honor society in economics. They have also won prestigious academic awards and presented their work at the Missouri State Capitol.
Faculty:
Faculty members in the Department of Economics engage in extensive research activities while demonstrating a strong dedication to teaching, as evidenced by numerous distinguished teaching awards. The Department’s faculty are leading scholars in Post-Keynesian Economics, Institutionalist Economics, and Political Economy. They have held leadership roles as presidents of national and regional economic associations and have contributed to research and lecturing through prestigious programs such as the Fulbright Program and partnerships with the Ford Foundation, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Faculty also engage in public outreach by hosting economics-related podcasts and radio shows and are regularly sought by the media for commentary on current economic events. They have earned national and international recognition across a variety of research fields. Despite its relatively small size, the department consistently ranks highly among economics programs at comparable institutions nationwide.