<p>i'm really interested in applying to oberlin. but what my friend told me today troubles me very much. she told me that oberlin is most well known for its music program. if i'm an econ major, when i look for jobs after i graduate i would be disadvantaged because it's likely that my potential employer will know Oberlin only as a good music school. i don't know whether this is true because i think many people take other courses in Oberlin as well. </p>
<p>Also, can anyone tell me how's the econ and social science department in Oberlin? it would be great if you can tell me more specifically like the teaching staff, resources devoted to econ department that sort of infomation.</p>
<p>If you google around and read up on Oberlin, you will discover that it is a highly respected first-rate LAC with a long and interesting history -- one that is well-known at least in the academic world, which helps account for the impressive number of Oberlin College graduates who have gone on to PhD and professional programs and have become writers, actors, and artists.
Of course, the Conservatory is also excellent and its presence on the same campus enriches the experience of all Oberlin students.
As to the economics department, there is information on the website at Oberlin</a> College :: Department of Economics and you should contact the department directly for more.</p>
<p>I think there's an earlier thread about econ, but here's my bit:
It's practical. The Econ classes wax more towards the intricacies of how markets work and practical issues more than economic theory. There's a new entrepreneurship focus at Oberlin which brings in a huge number of speakers from the business sector who give amazing presentations on how to apply the liberal arts degree to the financial and larger world. The school gives a way a bunch of money to new entrepreneurs to start their own venture.
And of course, there are the classes on micro, macro, econometrics, accounting, public policy and happiness... the course offerings are pretty cool, the profs are engaged and classes are awesome.
There are also a lot of crossover courses within Politics. In general, most social science classes (History, Contemporary American Studies, Gender and Women's Studies etc) cover aspects of economics- from class to econ theory. I took a class on East Asian Political Economies , and one on Revolutions- both talked about economic trends as much as public policy.</p>
<p>I hope that made sense. Do you have any specific questions?</p>
<p>I had a chance to meet with a handful of my high school's graduates who went to top LAC's and generally, they seemed to agree on one thing: Economics department is good pretty much in any top school.</p>