Economics

Prerequisite: Not open to Business and Economics majors or to students who have credit for ECON 160 or ECON 161. Introduction to economic principles. Explains the role of prices and profits/losses in guiding production to meet the demands of consumers in a market economy. Uses economic analysis to explain the determination of wages and employment, the consequences of international …

Prerequisites: Multiple Measures Placement in (1) GE-level Mathematics or completion of MATH 093 or MATH 196QR or MATH 196S and (2) GE-level Written Communication or completion of 113A or 114A. Introduction to economics as it applies to the functioning of markets, businesses and households. Examines how individuals make decisions about how to use scarce resources efficiently …

Prerequisites: Multiple Measures Placement in (1) GE-level Mathematics or completion of  MATH 093 or MATH 196QR or MATH 196S and (2) GE-level Written Communication or completion of 113A or 114A; ECON 160. Introduction to economics as it applies to the national and international economy. Topics include differences in standards of living across countries, the monetary system …

This course covers events in the U.S. from the middle of the 17th century to the present. The class uses economic analysis to examine social, political and economic events from the Colonial Period to the present. Students who earn credit for this course may not earn credit for ECON 375. (Available for General Education, C3 …

Prerequisites: ECON 160; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Economic theory and applications relevant to marketing professionals. Topics include analysis of business location decisions, identifying relevant markets, product pricing strategies and the role of advertising in product differentiation.

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Connects economic theory to practical issues faced by firm managers. Focuses on the way economic theory affects the firm’s behavior both internally and externally. Internal issues include organizational structure and contract design, especially as …

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; SOM 120 or MATH 140; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Understanding the use and interpretation of economic statistics in the mainstream media and economic literature. Topics covered include identifying and understanding the misuse of economic statistics, as well as performing some statistical …

Prerequisites: ECON 160; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A; Completion of the lower division writing requirement. The operation of the price system in market-oriented economies. Special emphasis is placed on consumer behavior, business behavior, market organization, the theory of production and cost, economic welfare and applications …

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A; Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Examination of money markets, the Federal Reserve system, foreign exchange markets, the international financial system and their relationship to macroeconomic policy. Topics of special interest include the determination …

Prerequisites: ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A; completion of the lower division writing requirement. Neoclassical, Keynesian and modern theories of the determination of aggregate output, employment and the general price level. Monetary and fiscal policy.

Prerequisite: ECON 160; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Analysis of the formation and location of cities, the distribution of activities and the variation of land prices within urban areas. Economic analysis of urban housing and blight, poverty, pollution, congestion, law enforcement, optimal city size, urban finances and …

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. This class uses economic theory to analyze problems created by the complexities of healthcare markets. These problems include the widespread use of insurance, the important role of asymmetric information, the extent of government involvement, the role …

Prerequisites: ECON 160; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A; Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Focuses on environmental issues and policies. Areas include air, water, noise and toxic waste pollution, quality of life concerns, and open space and recreational area availability. Benefits and costs of current …

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Examination of the effects of the legal system on the allocation of resources. Selected topics include the economic implications of property rights, contract law, product liability and the criminal justice system.

Prerequisites: ECON 160 and ECON 161; Grade of a “C” or better in MATH 103 or MATH 150A or MATH 255A. Class examines why standards of living differ across countries. Economic growth models are used to explain cross-country differences in economic performance. Emphasis is placed on the role of institutions, such as private property rights, in the …

Prerequisites: ECON 310 with a “C” or better; either ECON 311 or ECON 312. Examines the determination of currency values in foreign exchange markets, a country’s domestic balance of payments, interest rates and purchasing power parity and macroeconomic policies in an open economy. Other topics include the effects of financial innovation, economic integration, financial crises, …

Prerequisite: ECON 310 with a “C” or better. Examines world trade in goods and services. Explains why nations trade, the distributional effects of trade, and the consequences of domestic trade policy as well as multilateral trade organizations and institutions.

Prerequisites: ECON 309 and ECON 310 with a “C” or better. How to estimate relationships between economic variables using actual data. Techniques taught are used to test economic theory and hypotheses from business. Each class member completes a term project involving the construction and estimation of an econometric model.

Prerequisite: ECON 310 with a “C” or better. Examination of the structure, conduct and performance of American industries in both a theoretical and empirical framework. Selected topics include effects of concentration, barriers to entry, empirical cost curves, economics of scale, oligopoly behavior models, product differentiation and alternative performance measures.

Prerequisite: ECON 310 with a “C” or better. Analyses of the determinants of hours worked, labor productivity, labor demand, variation in wages, human capital investment and labor mobility. Examines the effect of alternative pay schemes, the impact of discrimination on wages and employment, and the impact of labor unions on employment, wages and working conditions.

Prerequisites: ECON 309 and ECON 310 with a “C” or better. The class examines interaction that takes place between the government and private sectors of the economy. Effects of taxation and public expenditure decisions on the allocation of resources. Specific topics include public goods, public choice, externalities, property rights and taxation.

Course content to be determined. (See subtitles in appropriate schedule of classes.)

Individual study pertaining to present or future career. Student must have active, approved employment. Consultation with employer and instructor determines program. Academic Internship course. (Credit/No Credit only)

Prerequisites: Consent of department chair; Consent of an instructor to act as sponsor. In order to complete an Independent Study assignment in the College of Business and Economics, students must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, a 2.0 GPA in all major courses and a 2.0 GPA in their option courses. Students who do …

Survey of the tools, concepts, and techniques that economists use to analyze the behavior of firms, consumers, markets, and entire economies. Microeconomic topics include game theory and market structure. Macroeconomic topics include determinants of GDP, economic growth, and the role of the Federal Reserve.

Prerequisite: ECON 500. An economic analysis of the firm, including its horizontal and vertical boundaries, industry-level competition, competitive positioning, and basis of its competitive advantage and threats to sustaining competitive advantage. Economic modeling and insights are applied to complex situations, drawn from business cases and students’ own business experiences.

Prerequisite: Permission of graduate advisor. Only those graduate students who have a current 3.0 GPA may register in a 600-level Independent Study course.