Special Opportunities
Tutoring
The department encourages students to make use of its tutoring program. The program provides free individual or group tutoring throughout the semester for students who are enrolled in Econ 101, Econ 102, Econ 201, Econ 202, or Econ 205. The tutors are undergraduate majors who have generally excelled in the specific course in which they are tutoring.
If you are interested in receiving help from a tutor, arrange an appointment with an appropriate tutor (for your course) by following the instructions posted on the bulletin board outside of the department office. If you encounter any difficulties in arranging for tutoring, please don't give up; instead, contact either your instructor or the coordinator of the department's tutoring program.
If you are interested in becoming a tutor, you should contact the department office. Prospective tutors should have a strong background in economics and have successfully completed the course in which they wish to tutor. Tutors receive an hourly wage and generally find tutoring to be an excellent learning experience.
Computer Lab
The economics department has a small computer lab available (with access to the internet) for economics majors. The lab is not staffed, but is open whenever the economics office is staffed
The Economics Society
The Economics Society is a club made up of economics majors and other students interested in economics. The Society carries out a variety of activities -- intellectual, career-oriented, and social. The Society's activities provide students with an opportunity to meet one another, as well as to interact with faculty members outside of the classroom. The department also turns to the Economics Society to obtain student input in formulating and carrying out departmental policies and activities. If you are interested in joining, you should watch for announcements of meetings and/or contact the society's officers by using their mailbox in the department office. If there aren't any announcements, consider the possibility of playing a leadership role in getting things started. You may also contact the faculty advisor for the Economics Society.
Student Course Evaluations
Student evaluations of all economics courses are carried out during the last two weeks of each term. Student opinions are helpful to the individual faculty member and the department as a whole. The results of the evaluations serve two purposes: first, they provide valuable feedback to instructors who wish to improve their teaching performance; and second, they provide an important input into the department's process of personnel reviews -- that is, decisions concerning reappointments, merit awards, tenure, and promotion.
Honors Dinner
Each spring the department invites all junior and senior majors with strong academic records to a dinner to celebrate their achievements. This is a popular event for both students and faculty.
The National Economics Honors Society
The UMass Boston chapter of the national Economics Honors Society (Omicron Delta Epsilon) is open to students who have completed 18 or more credits in economics and have earned a 3.0 grade point average both overall and in their economics courses. The fee required for joining the Honors Society, all of which is submitted to its national headquarters, covers the cost of a certificate and a subscription to its journal. Many students find that membership in the Economics Honors Society provides an impressive addition to their resumes when it comes time to look for employment. If you are interested in signing up, you should contact the faculty advisor.
Honors for Graduating Seniors
There are five categories of student awards that UMass Boston presents to economics majors who graduate with outstanding records. These are the Leonard J. Kirsch Memorial Prize, the Joann P. Stewart Prize, the Alice E. Trost Memorial Prize, Senior Honors, and Distinction in Economics.
The Leonard J. Kirsch Memorial Prize
Each year the department chooses an outstanding economics graduate to receive the Kirsch Memorial prize, established in memory of a former faculty member. A significant factor in awarding the prize is a graduate's grade point average in economics courses.
The Joann P. Stewart Prize
Most years the department will choose an outstanding female economics graduate to receive this prize, established in honor of the first woman to retire from the department (and one who was always particularly interested in the progress of women in the field of economics).
The Alice E. Trost Memorial Prize
Each year the department chooses an outstanding economics graduate to receive the Trost Memorial prize, established in memory of a former faculty member. A significant factor in awarding the prize is a graduate's grade point average in economics courses.
Senior Honors
In order to graduate with Senior Honors, a student must successfully complete the Senior Honors Thesis Program (see page 7 of this Handbook).
Distinction in Economics
Economics majors may graduate with Distinction in Economics if they have outstanding cumulative grade point averages both overall and in their economics courses. The precise criteria may change from year to year; in recent years, the requirement has typically been to have earned a grade point average of at least 3.60 in economics courses and an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50.
Joann P. Stewart Scholarship Award
Each spring the Economics Department awards one scholarship (of about $500) to an outstanding economics major completing his or her junior year. The scholarship is named after Joann P. Stewart, former Professor of Economics at UMass Boston, as a tribute to her commitment to the University and her interest in labor relations. For more information, see our website or the Stewart Award application.
