Economics

Professors

Deborah Spencer, Chair

Degrees and Certificates

Classes

ECON 101 : Contemporary Economic Issues

Applications of economic concepts to current issues. This course satisfies the Modes of Inquiry requirement for Understanding the Individual and Society.

Semester Hours

3

ECON 151 : Principles of Microeconomics

Nature of economic choices as faced by individuals and businesses, basic supply and demand analysis, applications to taxation, trade, and environmental issues. This course satisfies the Modes of Inquiry requirement for Understanding the Individual and Society.

Semester Hours

3

ECON 152 : Principles of Macroeconomics

Historical answers to questions of society-wide problems including business cycle fluctuations, data collection, functions of money and related economic institutions. Emphasis on ability to understand media descriptions of economic phenomena. This course satisfies the Modes of Inquiry requirement for Understanding the Individual and Society. This course satisfies the proficiency requirement for Quantitative Literacy in the disciplines.

Semester Hours

3

ECON 220X : Economic History (US)

Study of American political economy, emphasizing forces that have determined economic growth and development since 1607; social, political, and economic transformations in American life from 1607 to the present; structure and function of the U.S. market economy as compared with other economies.

Semester Hours

3

ECON 231 : Public Finance

Structure of taxation and expenditures at different levels of government; impact upon and relationship of these to economic development.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151.

ECON 252 : Applied Intermediate Theory

A more detailed mathematical look at long-run economic growth and short-run business cycle fluctuations.  Emphasis on varying theories and policies regarding government intervention in the economy. Prerequisites: ECON 151 and ECON 152. Four semester hours. 

Semester Hours

4

ECON 253 : Applied Intermediate Theory

A synthesis of micro and macro priciples as they apply to our understanding of short-run business cycle fluctuations, medium run price and wage adjustments over time, and long run growth. Emphasis on the Open Market Committee and their role in stabilizing the macroeconomy. Prerequisites: ECON 151 and ECON 152. Four semester horus

Semester Hours

4

ECON 260 : Law & Economics

Applications of economics to property, contracts, torts, and criminal law, emphasizing property rights, breach of contract, product liability and punishment.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

101 or 151.

ECON 262 : Environmental & Natural Resource Econ

Applications of economics to the problems of pollution and exhaustion of resources. This course satisfies the proficiency requirement for Written Communication in the disciplines.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151.

ECON 313 : Economics of Growth & Development

Theories of economic growth and economic development. Application of these theories as well as considerations of evolving economic ideas to the study of local, national, regional, and global institutions in the formation of perspectives and policies relating to trade, poverty, education, and the environment. This course satisfies the proficiency requirement for Oral Communication in the disciplines.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151 and 152.

ECON 321 : Money and Banking

Nature and functions of financial intermediation, asset demand theory, money, Federal Reserve System operations, and monetary policy.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151 and 152.

ECON 322 : International Trade

Trade theory and policy; role of tariffs and other barriers; international monetary theory and practice, including role of fiscal and monetary policy under floating and fixed exchange rate regimes. Overview of international economic institutions, including the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund. This course satisfies the International Exploration requirement and the proficiency requirement for Critical Thinking in the disciplines.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151; prerequisite or corequisite: 152.

ECON 330 : Labor Economics

Theory of supply and demand for labor. Applied topics including compensating wage differentials, union activity, gender and racial discrimination, income distribution, immigration, and the role of education.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151 and 152.

ECON 350 : Special Topics

Selected topics in economics chosen by the instructor in response to student needs and interests.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

151 and 152.

ECON 450 : Seminar

This course satisfies the proficiency requirements for Ethical Reasoning and Oral Communication in the disciplines. Open to junior and senior majors with permission of department.

Semester Hours

3

ECON 460 : Independent Study

Supervised independent study in area of individual interest in economics.

Semester Hours

4

Prerequisites

junior or senior status and approval of department.

ECON 470 : Internship I

Work experience related to the student's major, jointly supervised by the department and a professional in the field. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site.

Semester Hours

6

Prerequisites

junior or senior status, approval of the department, and completion of Economics 152.

ECON 471 : Internship II

Work experience related to the student's major, jointly supervised by the department and a professional in the field. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site.

Semester Hours

6

Prerequisites

junior or senior status, approval of the department, and completion of Economics 152.

ECON 490 : Honors Thesis I

Independent research in a special topic for honors.

Semester Hours

3

Prerequisites

senior status, GPA of 3.