Student Research
There are a variety of ways for students to become involved in economics research while at Swarthmore. Students can work with faculty members during the summer on research projects of mutual interest, or they can initiate their own summer research project. They also have the opportunity to do research during the academic year as part of a class or with a professor. Outside of Swarthmore, students can arrange to work as summer research interns for the Federal Reserve, World Bank, Urban Institute, or other organization.
Students who would like to become involved in economics research while at Swarthmore or after graduation should be aware that many such positions require the student to have a basic or advanced knowledge of econometrics and statistical software. Students can acquire these skills in ECON 031, ECON 035, and ECON 135 and by attending workshops hosted by our Social Science Quantitative Lab. Students are advised to satisfy the department’s statistics requirement (ECON 031) as early as they can conveniently do so. ECON 035 is not a core requirement but provides valuable preparation for more technically demanding positions.
Research projects play a central role in selected classes and research seminars, including ECON 035 (Econometrics), ECON 091C (Research Seminar: Public Policy) and ECON 135 (Advanced Econometrics). Department faculty also support a limited number of part-time student research assistantships each semester.
Most department faculty work with one or more full-time student researchers during the summer, on projects that advance the faculty member’s research. Students can obtain grant funding for these opportunities from the Social Science Division, which also supports summer research with economists from other institutions. The Department and Division circulate information on summer research opportunities in November or December each year and encourage students to prepare their applications well in advance of the Social Science Division’s summer grant application process in early February.
The Social Science Division also provides summer grants to students who have initiated their own research project or who will be undertaking an unpaid research internship at an outside organization. These grants require a letter of support from a member of the relevant department at Swarthmore. Students interested in these options should seek the support of a faculty member well in advance of the early–February application process.
Advanced research skills are highly valued by outside economists and institutions seeking post-graduate research assistants, and such "pre-doc" experiences are valuable in gaining future graduate school admission. (See our Jobs and Opportunities page for more information.) Students interested in applying for post-graduation research assistantships or who are considering Economics PhD programs should give serious consideration to gaining summer research experience while at Swarthmore and to building their skills in economic theory and empirical methods in ECON 101 and ECON 035/ECON 135.
