Scholarships and Awards

The Department annually awards a number of scholarships and awards to academically outstanding students.

Edward Rondthaler Scholarship

The Edward Rondthaler Scholarship is made possible by an endowment established in 1976 by Edward Rondthaler of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Rondthaler received a Master's Degree in Economics from ASU in 1966. He intended that this scholarship be awarded to the outstanding student majoring in Economics at the beginning of his/her senior year. The prize carries a stipend of approximately $1,900 and the recipient's name is engraved on the Rondthaler plaque that hangs in the Department of Economics Lobby (BAC 659). Among the criteria to be considered in determining the winner are the following:

Economics major
Highest cumulative grade point average in economics
Completed at least 12 hours of upper-division economics courses at ASU Main
Most course work at ASU with a minimum of 30 hours at ASU Main
Strength of course work

Omicron Delta Epsilon -- Outstanding Student Award

This award is a $500.00 prize awarded by the Department of Economics in the Spring to the outstanding graduating senior majoring in Economics. If the winner is not a member of ODE, the department will pay the student's initial membership dues. The winner's name is engraved on a permanent plaque located in the Department of Economics Lobby (BAC 659). The winner of the ODE Scholarship automatically becomes the department's nominee for the Outstanding W. P. Carey School of Business or College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduating Senior award. Rondthaler, Bank One, or SEA winners are not excluded from receiving the ODE Scholarship. The following criteria shall be used to determine the recipient:

At least 102 credit hours completed
Cumulative GPA of at least 3.75
Economics GPA of at least 3.75
Extra-curricular activities in his/her specific discipline and service to the department, college or university will be given particular consideration.
Recommendations from faculty
Personal statement and resume from nominee concerning their leadership and involvement which had a positive impact on their college life.

Student Economics Association Charles Hopkins Award

This award is given in the Spring semester to an economics major and member of the Student Economics Association (SEA) who best exhibits characteristics of citizenship and scholarship exemplified by Charles Stanford Hopkins, in whose memory this award is given. Charles, a senior economics major, died in November 1988 and was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in December 1988. The recipient receives $500.00 and his/her name is engraved on a plaque located in the Department of Economics Lobby (BAC 659).

SEA Membership
Economics as a declared major
Completed both ECN 313 and ECN 314
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00
Minimum Economics GPA of 3.00

Bank One Scholarships

The Bank One of Arizona Scholarships are awarded every December at the Annual ASU/Bank One Economic Forecast Luncheon. Seven undergraduate student recipients are awarded a stipent of $500.00 per semester, not to exceed $1,000.00. Rondthaler, SEA, or ODE winners are not excluded from this scholarship. The following eligibility requirements and criteria shall be used to determine the recipients.

Economics major
Completion of both ECN 313 and ECN 314
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
Minimum Economics GPA of 3.5
At least 87 credit hours completed (junior standing)
Recommendations from faculty

Internships

The Economics Undergraduate Internship Program provides students the opportunity to develop and apply their economics training to "real world" problems in a closely monitored work setting. Internships offer students an experiential learning opportunity that cannot be taught in the classroom. To qualify, an employment opportunity must entail controlled and closely monitored work assignments that directly contribute to the overall academic development of students.

Student Skills & Training

Economics students are trained to think analytically and quantitatively about a variety of economic and financial issues such as:

Business valuation
Pricing strategy
Rate of return analysis
Asset pricing
Acquisition strategy
Demand analysis
Cost-benefit analysis

Environmental policy impact
Tax policy
International trade policy
International exchange rates
Health care policy analysis
Market research
Optimization

Internship Benefits to Students

Insight and deeper understanding of concepts and principles learned in the classroom through practical application.
Professional work experience and industry contacts provide an advantage when seeking permanent employment after graduation.
Opportunity to confirm career interests.
Potential for permanent employment.
Academic credit that applies toward meeting graduation requirements.
Possible monetary compensation.

Student Eligibility

Undergraduate students must:

Be majoring in Economics
Have a GPA of 3.0 or better
Recommendation of a faculty member in the ASU Department of Economics
Completed at least 80 semester hours of course work
Completed 12 semester hours in economics, including Intermediate Microeconomics (ECN 313) and Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECN 314)

Student's Academic Record

The quality of a student's academic record will be judged on the basis of his or her:

Grade point average in all courses completed at ASU;
Grade point average in economics courses completed at ASU;
Type and difficulty of courses taken at ASU; and
Recommendation of a faculty member in the Department of Economics at ASU.

Finally, the relationship between the student's qualifications and the specific internships available each semester will be considered in selecting students for participation. Normally, a student must be enrolled in the University as a full-time student for the semester of participation in the Undergraduate Internship Program to receive academic credit for the Internship. The student must enroll in ECN 484 during the semester in which he or she is engaged in the Internship.

If you are interested in applying for an internship, see Professor John McDowell (BAC 688, phone 965-7109) .

NOTE: College of Liberal Arts and Science Economics Majors
Credit earned by an Economics major in ECN 484 Economics Internship, whether as a legislative intern or through the Department of Economics Internship Program (and ECN 493 Honors Thesis), may not be used to satisfy the minimum 24 hours of economics course work requirement. However, up to six hours of ECN 484 and 493 may be used to meet the related fields requirement. See the 1996 ASU General Catalog, "Degree Requirements," page 107.