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

Omicron Delta Epsilon Faculty Advisor
Christian Parenti. 646-557-4441. cparenti@jjay.cuny.edu. 524 West 59th Street, Haaren Hall, 336-18

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 the Graduate Studies 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

Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society

Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the worlds largest academic honor societies, was created in 1963 through the merger of two honor societies, Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon. At the time of their merger both societies had 28 chapters. Omicron Delta Gamma's chapters were primarily in the Midwestern and Pacific states while the chapters of Omicron Chi Epsilon were concentrated at Colleges and Universities along the Eastern Seaboard and in Texas.

Benefits of Omicron Delta Epsilon Membership

• International recognition of scholastic achievement in economics.

• A publication outlet for promising undergraduate and graduate student papers in The American Economist, the journal of Omicron Delta Epsilon.

• Closer academic and professional relationships with the faculty at your university.

• Closer professional and social relationships with fellow ODE members at your university.

• Closer professional and social relationships with ODE members at other universities with Omicron Delta Epsilon chapters.

• ODE sponsored meetings at the annual conventions of regional, national and international associations.

• Eligibility to compete for the Frank Taussig and Irving Fisher Awards (both cash prizes and publication of essays).

• Eligibility to compete for the Outstanding Student Leader Award.
   
• Free on-line access to The American Economist.

Applying for Omicron Delta Epsilon Membership

To become a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, you must be currently enrolled and apply for membership through the chapter at your school, and you must fulfill the eligibility requirements set out below.

The minimum requirements for admission for undergraduates are:

• completion of 12 credit hours of economics courses; and
• attainment of a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better in economics courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.0
• in the case of colleges or universities with an Honors Program in Economics, attainment of B-grade work or better.
• for institutions that do not have a credit-hour system, a candidate must stand in the upper one-third of the students studying economics and must have completed principles and have studied intermediate economic theory.
• for universities organized on the British System, prospective members must have Junior standing or higher and must be in residence at least one semester.
• Students should be making the study of economics one of their major interests.
• The minimum requirements may be raised by local chapters.

Graduate students in economics are judged solely on their graduate work. They must have:

• completed one semester of full-time work, with a major or minor in economics; and
• attainment of a GPA of 3.0 or better.
• There are no admission requirements for faculty members. All are eligible and welcome to join a chapter. Chapters may also elect honorary members. These candidates must be persons of high ethical and professional standards.

A life-membership fee is paid by each prospective member of Omicron Delta Epsilon upon election to the Society. In return, the member receives a membership card, scroll and free on-line access to The American Economist. The purchase of the official key or pin by the initiates is optional but highly encouraged (see the merchandise page).

To apply for membership, print and complete form (PDF format) and give it to your ODE faculty advisor, Professor Michelle Holder. We cannot accept applications sent by individuals. https://www.omicrondeltaepsilon.org/documents/MembershipApplication-2017.pdf

ODE Student Awards

The Irving Fisher Award is bestowed upon the author of the best article presented by a graduate student at the ODE Graduate Student Session during the annual ASSA meetings in January.

Who is Eligible - Members of Omicron Delta Epsilon who present papers at the ODE Graduate Student Session.

Eligible Entries - Articles may be on any topic in economics. They must be based on work initiated prior to receipt of Ph.D. or terminal M.A. Entries of up to 5,000 words are preferred, but up to 10,000 words are acceptable.

Nature of Award - The Irving Fisher Award consists of a cash prize of $1000, and submission of the paper to The American Economist (at the option of the author).

Procedure for Participation - Submit your proposal and abstract through the form under Student Paper Sessions. If you are accepted to present at the Graduate Student session, you may enter the Fisher competition by submitting your complete paper to the VP for competitions by Nov. 1.

Deadline - May 15 of each year for initial proposal; November 1 of each year to submit complete article for consideration for the Fisher award.

The Frank W. Taussig Article Award is a competitive award bestowed upon the undergraduate or recent graduate in economics submitting the best article in any year. (Economics refers to both theoretical and applied economics, and students writing papers in agricultural economics or other areas of applied economics are eligible for award as long as there is an Omicron Delta Epsilon chapter on their campus and they are members thereof.)

Who is Eligible - Members of Omicron Delta Epsilon who are undergraduate students or have received their bachelor's degrees within the last year.

Eligible Entries - Articles may be on any topic in economics and must be based on work done as an undergraduate. Entries of up to 5,000 words are preferred, but up to 10,000 words are acceptable.

Nature of Award - The Frank W. Taussig Award consists of a cash prize of $1000 to the winner, $200 to the winner's chapter, and submission of the paper to The American Economist.

Procedure for Participation - Submit one copy of your entry with a supporting letter from a faculty member to the Vice-President for Competitions. Electronic submissions are preferred. Deadline - June 15 of each year.