Economics

Applications of economic concepts to current issues. 

Nature of economic choices as faced by individuals and businesses, basic supply and demand analysis, applications to taxation, trade, and environmental issues. 

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. 

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.

Contributions to economic thought of principal theorists, with reading of selections from their significant writings.

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

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. 

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

Applications of economics to the problems of pollution and exhaustion of resources. 

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. 

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

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. 

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.

Conduct of U.S. industry with emphasis on regulation and antitrust.

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

 Open to junior and senior majors with departmental approval.

Supervised independent study in area of individual interest in economics.

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.

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.

Independent research in a special topic for honors.

Independent research in a special topic for honors.