<p><span class="p-body">Pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Business helps pave the way for success in business organizations, and instructors like Pierre Lacour offer students valuable insight from their real world experiences. We sat down with Dr. Lacour to learn more about his background and his advice for students in the program.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Lacour's academic career began in France, where he studied Economics at the University of Paris X (Nanterre), earning his master's degree. In 1991, he moved to the United States and pursued a PhD in Economics at the New School for Social Research in New York. Initially focused on development economics, Lacour's interests expanded to include the history of economic thought, theories of value, and experimental economics.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">In 2009, Dr. Lacour joined the Paul McGhee Division, now the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS) at NYU SPS, as the coordinator of Economics. He was drawn to NYU by the opportunity to teach a diverse body of students, including both adults and traditional students. &quot;Teaching at NYU was very attractive to me because I thought students would be motivated and interested in their studies, and this proved to be true,&quot; he reflects.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Lacour's commitment to teaching stems from his passion for economics. He loves the dynamic nature of the discipline, with its competing theoretical approaches and ongoing policy discussions. &quot;What keeps me going is when I feel in my students a nascent interest for a topic, an author, or the field itself,&quot; he says. He values student contribution in class, which has often inspired his own research.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Students in the program find their experience fulfilling, leveraging their education for various career paths or further studies. Lacour proudly notes that former students have pursued advanced degrees in fields like mathematical finance and computer science, demonstrating the broad applicability of DAUS studies across the board.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Lacour finds success in teaching when students become passionate about a topic, engage in class discussions, and pursue their interests in subsequent courses or capstone projects. However, he acknowledges the challenge of balancing course content, sometimes making courses more intense than intended.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Lacour hopes his students take away from his courses the ability to approach problems critically, ask the right questions, and identify methods or tools for solutions. He also emphasizes the importance of considering ethical issues beyond the immediate interests of the parties involved. One of his students once remarked, &quot;You taught me how to think,&quot; which Lacour considers high praise, though he humbly believes the student already had a strong foundation in critical thinking.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Economics, as Lacour sees it, is intrinsically linked to the real world, involving the study of decision-making, behavior, and institutional thought. He encourages students to share their real-world experiences in class, fostering a reflective learning environment where classroom knowledge shapes their practical understanding.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Join other soon-to-be business leaders at the center of it all when you pursue an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/aas-in-business.html" title="AAS in Business">AAS in Business</a> at NYU SPS. <br> </span></p>