Economics

ECN

050(I)

INDEPENDENT STUDY

One to four credit hours

Intended to encourage the development of study in the broadest sense, utilizing every avenue to the development of a creative and critical exchange of ideas. The number of credit hours involved will depend on the nature of the independent study program undertaken by the student. Independent study courses are not designed to serve as substitutes for any course offered in the department. They are intended to give students an opportunity to expand their knowledge and give critical analysis to specific areas of economics. See Guidelines for Independent Study available in the Economics Department office for further information. Also see Independent Study Program, Section II

ECN

070

INTERNSHIP

One to eight credit hours

Economics majors and other students interested in economics are encouraged to participate in the Internship Program. The purpose of the Program is to enable students to broaden their horizons by merging valid work experience with classroom training. All Internship programs in economics must be coordinated through the Office of Career Services and the Department of Economics. See Guidelines for Internships available in the Economics Department office for further information. Also see Internship Program, Section II.

ECN

100

SURVEY OF ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Designed partially to fulfill the general curriculum requirement in social science. (Also see requirements for BUS minors and for EDU Middle Childhood.) A study of economic relationships, problems and institutions. ECN 100 may not be taken for credit if a student has earned previous credit for ECN 101 and/or ECN 102.

ECN

101

PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I

Four credit hours

Principles and problems of microeconomics: price, value and distribution. Economic decision making under different market structures is analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the efficient allocation of resources by firms and owners of the factors of production.

ECN

102

PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS II

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101

Principles and problems of macroeconomics: national income, employment, inflation, economic growth, monetary and fiscal policies, international economics and alternative economic systems.

ECN

150I

HUMANS AND THE EARTH: CAN WE COEXIST?

Three credit hours

This team-taught, interdisciplinary course examines global environmental issues, including biodiversity, climate, energy and population from economic and other disciplinary perspectives. These other perspectives will vary depending upon the academic disciplines of the other two faculty members who teach the course. The student can satisfy three core credits, either in the sciences (BIO 150I) or in the social sciences (ECN 150I).

ECN

279

ELEMENTS OF STATISTICS

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: MTH 136 or higher level math course recommended, or consent of the instructor. This course will not count toward satisfying the social sciences portion of the core curriculum requirement of the College.

Introduction to basic statistical concepts including descriptive statistics, probability, confidence intervals, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression. Emphasis is placed on statistical reasoning and data analysis with applications in economics, business and the social sciences.

ECN

301

INTERMEDIATE ECONOMICS I (MICRO THEORY)

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102 and 279 or 379.

An in-depth intermediate level discussion of price and value theory, as well as distribution theory. The economic decision-making process of consumers, business firms and owners of factors of production operating under different market structures is given rigorous analysis.

ECN

302

INTERMEDIATE ECONOMICS II (MACRO THEORY)

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102 and 279

An in-depth intermediate level discussion of macroeconomics, including an analysis of income determination through the classical and Keynesian models. The analysis includes an examination of the theories of consumption and investment, the nature and causes of business cycles, and the determinants of economic growth.

ECN

339

MONEY & BANKING

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A study of the history, organization and operation of monetary and banking institutions, including the money markets, their role in the functioning of the economy and monetary and fiscal policies.

ECN

340I

HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

This course examines the evolution of ideas from the earliest of progenitors to modern times.  It particularly emphasizes the development of economic theory and methods of the Classicals, Marxists, Neoclassicals and Keynesians.

ECN

341

US ECONOMIC HISTORY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

This course is a survey of the economic development of the United States.  It emphasizes the development of commerce and industry, the structural changes in the economy, and the policy adaptations to these changes.

ECN/BUS

344

GAME THEORY

Three credit hours

This course addresses the nature of competition and cooperation in economics and business, as well as how cooperative behavior evolves. The notion of Prisoner's Dilemmas and the means by which players and societies extract themselves from the dilemma of individual vs. social rationality will be our focus. We will ask whether purely self-interested behavior is always in the "best" interests of the individuals involved or whether there are long-term benefits of cooperation.

ECN

349

LABOR IN THE ECONOMY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

Develops the theoretic foundations for the analysis of labor markets. Other topics include education and the development of human capital; labor-market search models; wage-based incentive programs; the theory of union-management negotiation and a discussion of labor-market discrimination. The course emphasizes analytic techniques that may be applied to issues as diverse as welfare reform, immigration policy and the economic incentives to crime.

ECN

352

PUBLIC FINANCE

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A study of the economic basis for governmental activity. Emphasis is placed on efficiency, market failure, externalities, public goods and collective choice. The theory of taxation and tax incidence is discussed and applied to contemporary tax policy issues. Alternative means of financing government activity and the distribution of powers among governments in a federal system are analyzed.

ECN

354

LAW AND ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisites: ECN 101, 102

This upper-division course presents an economic view of the justice system.  Topics include principles of welfare economics as applied to property, contract, and tort law.  It also examines the economics of deterrence of both financial and capital crime.

ECN

356D

URBAN ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A study of the economic processes through which cities and regions develop, grow and mature.  Economic theories of urban and metropolitan development and studied and applied to contemporary problems such as urban fiscal and economic decline, crime, poverty, housing, transportation and central city-suburban competition. 

ECN

358

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101(H), 102(H)

A study of the economic approaches to environmental and natural resource issues. The study includes the ideas, concepts, and theories that have influenced economists in the formulation of environmental and natural resource policy. The greater emphasis will be on environmental economics. Offered in alternate years.

ECN

360I

COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A comparative study of the operation of different economic systems, in theory and as practiced currently in the major economies of the world. Offered as needed.

ECN

362I

ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A study of issues and problems of the economic development of emerging countries: concepts of development and growth, theories of development, domestic and international significance of development plans. Offered in alternate years.

ECN

363(M)

TOPICS IN ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102 and consent of instructor

Examination of special topics in economics. A mathematical version of this course is required for students majoring in mathematical economics. Offered as needed.

ECN

365I

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102

A study of the economic relations among the nations, the causes and effects of international specialization and exchange, structural changes in the international economy, and international economic policies. The course emphasizes (1) the theory of international trade and (2) the theory of international finance, including a unit on economic integration (common markets).

ECN

379

ADVANCED STATISTICAL METHODS

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: ECN 279

Intensive study of statistical methods and applications widely used in economic and related fields is undertaken. Students normally analyze a chosen research question. Statistical topics include ordinary least squares, generalized least squares, and methods to address other specific data problems. Computer use with statistical software is intensive.

ECN

463

RESEARCH SEMINAR

Three credit hours

(Formerly ECN 250) Prerequisites ECN 101, 102, 279, senior standing or permission of instructor. In addition, ECN 301, 302 and 379 are recommended.

A review and discussion of the main research methods used by economists. Students undertake a capstone research project. They begin by choosing and refining a research question, followed by a thorough literature review. Economic theory, evidence, and the development and testing of a hypothesis are used, as appropriate, to answer the research question. Both the question and the methodology are presented to the seminar at various stages of the research.

ECN

491,492

DEPARTMENTAL THESIS/PROJECT

Credit hours to be arranged

Open only to students receiving permission of the Dean of College and having at least a 3.00 cumulative point average. Departmental Thesis/Projects are intended to afford the student an opportunity to engage in a study of a fairly comprehensive field of knowledge, to carry on original investigation where this is possible, and to develop the ability to express oneself. The student works under the direction of a faculty member for Departmental Thesis/Project work. The Guidelines for Departmental Thesis/Project are available in the Economics Department office. Also see Departmental Thesis/Project, Section II.