Economics Course Descriptions
ECON 1120: ECONOMICS OF SOCIAL ISSUES (4 credits)
The course involves the study of important relationships between economic growth, equity and public policies and an economic perspective on current domestic and global social problems. Topics may include gender wage inequalities, welfare system, social security, poverty, unemployment, medical benefits, international trade and globalization.
ECON 2010: THE AMERICAN ECONOMY (4 credits)
The course covers the organization and functioning of the American economy, producer and consumer behavior, and decision making; national income and employment analysis; the role of the government in economic affairs; current national and international problems and policies.
ECON 2200: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (4 credits)
Introduction to quantitative decision making and descriptive statistical techniques. Modern society, sometimes called the information age, is built around identification of issues and interpretation of data. Even non-quantitative disciplines (e.g., social work) see value in their students having quantitative decision-making skills. Keeping in mind these trends, this course focuses on collection, presentation, analyses and interpretation of data. This course fulfills the liberal arts core mathematics/statistics requirement. Offered in summer only. Prerequisites: Appropriate level on mathematics/statistics placement assessment or ACT math score. Credit is given for only one of the following courses: ECON 2200, ECON 2250, MATH 1080 or PSYC 2050.
ECON 2250: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS FOR ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS (4 credits)
The course gives an introduction to quantitative decision making, descriptive statistics, data analysis, probability, sampling, estimation, regression, index numbers and forecasting. This course fulfills the liberal arts core mathematics/statistics requirement. Also offered in Weekend College. Prerequisites: Appropriate level on mathematics/statistics placement assessment or ACT math score. Credit is given for only one of the following courses: ECON 2200, ECON 2250, MATH 1080 or PSYC 2050.
ECON 2610: PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (4 credits)
The course gives an introduction to microeconomics: theory of the firm and the household, price determination, theory of production, income distribution, application of economic theory to current economic problems. Also offered in Weekend College. Prerequisites: High school algebra.
ECON 2620: PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (4 credits)
The course gives an introduction to macroeconomics: national income analysis, the problem of full employment and price stability, monetary and fiscal policies, international trade and finance, application of economic theory to current economic problems. Also offered in Weekend College. Prerequisites: High school algebra. Recommended: ECON 2610.
ECON 2650: ECONOMICS OF RACE AND GENDER (4 credits)
This course looks at the problem of economic discrimination in the United States and around the globe based on gender and race. The course examines the body of theories that economists have developed for understanding discrimination, as well as qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding discrimination.
ECON 2900: TOPICS IN HEALTHCARE ECONOMICS (4 credits)
This course provides a broad overview of the institutions that provide healthcare and examines some of the economic factors that affect the provision of healthcare in the United States. Government policies toward the healthcare sector and government interventions in the sector are examined. Designed for non-economists who plan to work in the healthcare field or who wish to study the economics of healthcare. A good elective course for economics and/or nursing majors.
ECON 3350: MONEY AND BANKING (4 credits)
The course covers the nature, evolution and functions of money; the role of depository institutions; the structure of financial markets; the principles of central banking; monetary theory; and the instruments of monetary policy. Also offered in Weekend College. Prerequisites: ECON 2620.
ECON 3450: ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH (4 credits)
This course covers the nature and measurements of economic development and growth; economic, social and political factors in the development process; theories of economic growth; the role of government and economic planning in the developed and less-developed countries; internal and external sources for financing economic development; environment, resources and limits to growth. Prerequisites: ECON 2610 or 2620.
ECON 3460: GLOBAL FINANCIAL ISSUES (4 credits)
This course covers institutional and theoretical issues in international finance; foreign exchange markets, currency futures and options markets, balance of payments and international economic linkages. It also examines foreign exchange risk management, multinational finances and foreign investment analyses. Prerequisites: ECON 2250, 2610, 2620.
ECON 3480: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS (4 credits)
This course covers theory of international trade: why nations trade, gains from trade, comparative advantage, transfer costs, international factor movements, intra-industry trade, world trade and the American economy. Also examines practice of international trade, international trade relations, tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, U.S. trade policy, international trade problems of developing nations and international payment mechanisms. Also offered in Weekend College every other year. Prerequisites: ECON 2610, 2620.
ECON 3500: MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS (4 credits)
The course covers the intermediate theory of the firm from the perspective of the manager; managerial decision problems; production technology; cost concepts; demand theory; pricing and output decisions; applications to selected problems. Prerequisites: ECON 2250, 2610, 2620; MATH 1070 or higher; or permission of instructor.
ECON 3610: MICROECONOMIC THEORY (4 credits)
This course covers consumer behavior and demand theory; the theory of production; the pricing of factors of production; the allocation of resources; introduction to welfare economics. Prerequisites: ECON 2610, 2620; MATH 1070 or permission of instructor.
ECON 3620: MACROECONOMIC POLICY (4 credits)
The course is a treatment of macroeconomic issues, problems and theories. Topics include money, interest, income, aggregate expenditures, inflation, employment, open economies and growth. Special attention to fiscal and monetary policy. Offered during odd-numbered years in the fall semester. Prerequisites: ECON 2610, 2620; ACCT 3210, MATH 1070; or permission of instructor.
ECON 3650: INVESTMENT THEORY (4 credits)
The course is an introduction to the world of investment decision making and portfolio management. It also covers the general environment for the investment process; different portfolio and asset allocation approaches; and security valuation. Prerequisites: ECON 2620, MATH 1070 or higher. Prerequisites with concurrency: .
ECON 4150: ECONOMETRICS (4 credits)
This course covers basic econometric methods, sampling distribution, test of hypotheses, estimation, simple and multiple regression, restricted estimation, generalized linear regression, simultaneous equations systems, and application of economic theory in research using computers. Prerequisites: ECON 2250, 2610 and 2620.
ECON 4602 or 4604: INTERNSHIP (2 or 4 credits)
Structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves you in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. To initiate an internship experience, you must meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office. Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.
ECON 4684: DIRECTED STUDY (4 credits)
Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty-directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses. Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.
ECON 4850: SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS (4 credits)
The seminar involves directed readings and discussions on business and economic aspects of the international system and the completion of a senior research paper on a specific topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor. The seminar is led by the coordinator of the international business and economics major and includes participation by guest lecturers in business and economics. Prerequisites: ECON 3450, 3460, 3480.
ECON 4914: RESEARCH (4 credits)
A senior thesis written under the direction of a member of the faculty: literature search, data collection, statistical analysis, writing of text. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
ECON 4952 or 4954: INDEPENDENT STUDY (2 or 4 credits)
Prerequisites: Faculty and department chair permission.
ECON 4994: TOPICS (4 credits)
The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses.
