For Economics Students

Contacts                                                                                                                                           

Chair
Geert Dhondt. 646-557-4845. gdhondt@jjay.cuny.edu. 524 West 59th Street, Room Haaren Hall, 336.13 

Economics Major/Minor
Jay Hamilton. 212-237-8093. jhamilton@jjay.cuny.edu. 524 West 59th Street, Haaren Hall, Room 336-14

Academic Program Manager
Rita Taveras. 646-557-4835.  rtaveras@jjay.cuny.edu.  524 West 59th Street, Haaren Hall, Room 336-04

Graduate Program Director
Ian Seda-Irizarry. 212-393-6425. iseda@jjay.cuny.edu.  524 West 59th Street, Haaren Hall, Room 336-17

Bachelor of Science

Economics is the study of how people and societies make choices to accomplish individual and social purposes. In this major, students learn about individual, national and global economic behavior, and then apply theoretical insights and methods of analysis to contemporary challenges involving crime, social justice, and the investigation of fraud and corruption.

Faculty Advisor: Jay Hamilton, jhamilton@jjay.cuny.edu, 212-237-8093

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Economics at John Jay is a new 36-credit graduate program that provides students with a comprehensive and rigorous education in applied, pluralist economics. It is one of a handful of graduate programs in the country that focuses primarily on issues of economic justice such as economic democracy, diversity, inequality, sustainability and community development. Students at John Jay will study the history of economics and economic thought, the economics of gender, environmental sustainability, local and international economic development, and global inequalities of income and wealth, while acquiring essential technical skills such as writing and data analysis valued by practitioners in the field. Program graduates will be well prepared to seek employment and promotion in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors or to continue their education in PhD programs, law school, or in other academic and professional credentialing programs. You can find more information about the program from our MA program website. 

Program Director: Ian Seda-Irizarry, iseda@jjay.cuny.edu

The Omar Azfar Contest

Omar Azfar, Ph.D., was an economist, scholar, and governance expert focusing on the economics of crime and corruption. In May 2007 Omar was diagnosed with bone cancer, passing away on January 21, 2009. Omar was a valued and trusted and colleague of so many of us, inside and outside of academia. Though his expertise lay in the economics of crime and corruption, he was a great lover of people and their potential for improving the world. With the support of Omar’s family, the economics department is pleased to continue the Annual Omar Azfar Award for Best Writing on Economics and Justice. The contest is open to all John Jay undergraduate students. The annual award of $1,000 will be earned by the student preparing the best paper on “Economics and Corruption” as determined by a committee designated by the Economics Department in consultation with Omar’s family.

More details on the Omar Azfar Contest