Economics Courses (ECON)
Following certain course descriptions are the designations: F, Sp, Su. These indicate the semesters fall, spring, summer in which the course is normally offered and are intended as an aid to students planning their programs of study.
ECON 175: Fundamentals of Economics (3) An introduction to basic economic terms and concepts, such as scarcity, opportunity cost, trade, markets, prices, competition, unemployment, inflation, business cycles, and growth. Special emphasis is given to the application of these terms and concepts to choices which individuals face everyday and to current social problems. F, Sp
ECON 208: Principles of Microeconomics (3) An introductory analysis of individual decision-making in a market system. Topics include market price determination, the influence of prices and costs on consumer and producer behavior, and the importance of seller competition. Prereq: MATH 111 or its equivalent. F, Sp, Su
ECON 209: Principles of Macroeconomics (3) An introductory analysis of overall economic activity, including income, production, employment, and prices. Alternative theories of, and policies toward, economic stabilization and growth are examined. Prereq: MATH 111 or its equivalent. F, Sp, Su
ECON 241: Global Economic Issues (3) An introduction to the causes and consequences of the growing economic interdependence of nations. Emphasis is placed on how different people, cultures, institutions, and economies are affected by, and respond to, current global issues. Prereq: ECON 175 or 208 or 209 or consent of instructor. F, Sp, Su
ECON 265: Elementary Statistics (3) Presents mathematical, tabular, and graphical techniques for describing sets of data and for making inferences from the data. Uses business problems as a vehicle of presentation. Prereq: MATH 111 and CIS 151. F, Sp, Su
ECON 308: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (3) Theory of price determination under various categories of competition. The function of prices with respect to resource allocation and income distribution. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. Sp
ECON 309: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (3) Measurement and analysis of national income, theory of income determination; fluctuations and growth of economic activity; problems of fiscal and monetary policy. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 311: Government and Business (3) Socio-economic philosophy of regulation and control. Economic and legal issues and problems arising from non-competitive market conditions. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 331: Public Finance (3) Introduction to government finance. Study of public expenditures; debt management; various types of revenue including public domain, fees, special assessments, and taxes. Theories and principles of taxation. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 341: International Trade (3) The study of international trade theories, commercial policies, the movement of physical capital and labor between nations, and the economic effects of trade blocs. The course develops the theories in each of these areas and applies them to existing international economic relations. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 338: Environmental Economics and Policy (3) Topics include application of economic analysis to environmental issues in the local, national, and global arenas. Economic topics and analytical tools include economic efficiency, market failure, and cost-benefit analysis. Analysis of policy includes various pollution control strategies, a review of present US national and local policy, and a discussion of international issues including international environmental agreements. Prereq: ECON 208
ECON 343: International Finance (3) The study of foreign exchange markets, exchange rate determination, balance of payments, international flow and management of financial assets and various risk exposures, and the operation and effectiveness of economic policy in an open economy. Cross-listed as FIN 343. Prereq: ECON 208, 209, and FIN 305, or consent of instructor. Sp
ECON 346: Development Economics (3) Discussion of factors and theories related to the development of the Third World. Problems involved in the measurement and control of economic development. Case studies of Third World countries in the process of development. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. Sp
ECON 351: Labor Economics (3) An introductory course dealing with the economic problems of the wage earner in modern society; the structure, policies, and problems of labor organization and management; the process of collective bargaining; industrial relations law; wage theory and policy. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 353: Economics of Sports (3) An examination of the industry of sports using the tools and concepts of economic analysis. The topics to be addressed in professional and amateur sports include new stadiums and franchises, salary caps, unions, free agency, the NCAA, the existence of amateur status, and the impacts of monopoly and cartel behavior. Prereq: ECON 208. Sp
ECON 361: Money and Banking(3) The nature and function of credit in the American economy; operation of commercial banks; purposes and functions of the Federal Reserve System, and the introduction to monetary theory. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. Sp
ECON 365: Intermediate Statistics for Business Decisions (3) Continued exploration of statistical techniques and methods at an upper level in areas of business applications. The analysis of large and complex data sets will be emphasized. Topical coverage includes multiple regression, ANOVA, time-series analysis, some multi-variate techniques, and non-parametric methods. Some computer analysis packages will be discussed and used. Prereq: ECON 265 or equivalent. Sp
ECON 453: The Economics of Health Care (3) The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of economics as it applies to consumer, producer, and government behavior in health care markets. Emphasis will be placed on using these tools to analyze issues currently affecting the U.S. health care market and subsequently to make appropriate policy recommendations based on these analyses. Sp
ECON 461: History of Economic Thought (3) The development of economic thought into the present century. Emphasis on Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Mill, Marx, Marshall, and Veblen. The literature is examined in relation to the social, political, and economic events of each period. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. Sp
ECON 472: Econometrics (3) An introduction to econometric methods and their application to economic research; regression analysis, simple and multiple; correlation; least-square estimators, problems of error in variables, autocorrelation, multicolinearity, lagged and dummy variables; simultaneous equation; identification problems. Prereq: ECON 208, 209, and 265. F
ECON 480: The Digital Economy (3) This course will introduce students to economic principles relevant to the new digital economy brought about by the use of information technologies. The course will survey alternate views and new ideas of economists and other new economy experts. Concepts from micro and macroeconomics such as production, supply and demand, opportunity cost, returns to scale, elasticity, pricing, GDP, exports and imports, and comparative advantage will be important to understanding concepts such as the “weightless” economy, zero cost pricing, and differential pricing. The course will also use materials from the literature on entrepreneurship and international economics and development economics. Prereq: ECON 208 and 209. F
ECON 489: Special Topics in Economics (1-3) This course offers students the opportunity to study selected topics of current interest and importance in economics. These topics will vary according to the interests of students and faculty. Students may repeat the course up to three times, as the topic changes. Prereq: ECON 208 and ECON 209 and consent of instructor. Sp
ECON 490: Individual Study in Economics (1-3) Repeatable for up to three hours. Research and reading in the student’s major area of interest. May be taken on an arranged basis upon approval of the College of Business dean and the instructor.
ECON 495: Special Topics in Economics (1-3) (Changed to ECON 489)
ECON 499: Senior Seminar in Economics (3) A seminar and research course in selected topics of current interest. Prereq: Senior standing, ECON 308 and 309.
