American University adds Taylor Swift economics course amid album frenzy

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — As Swifties swarmed the streaming sites to listen to Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, students at American University are preparing to study all-things-Taylor in “Swiftonomics” this coming fall.

“It was developed by two of our students who came to us with this idea to really engage other students, non-economics majors, people that might normally shy away from economics,” course professor, Dr. Kara Reynonlds, told DC News Now.

‘The Tortured Poets Department’: Where to celebrate Taylor Swift’s album drop in the DMV

Reynolds, Chair of the Department of Economics, is a Swiftie herself, listening along with her teenage daughters. The one-credit course will focus on an array of areas, including the economic impact of Swift’s tours, contract disputes and how her fandom has made way for entrepreneurial success.

“We also have, as an industry, been struggling to attract women into the field. It’s male-dominated and so the support that this course has gotten, particularly amongst our female students, has really been overwhelming,” Reynolds said.

On campus, undergrad Swifties are relishing the star’s early-Friday morning album drop.

“I stayed up till 3 a.m. because I had to listen to the second part that dropped that too, so I could hear all 30 songs,” one American University sophomore said.

Her friends concurred, saying they forewent sleep to listen to the new songs as soon as possible.

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