Economics Courses

Survey of micro- and macroeconomic theories, institutions, and methods, emphasizing the operation of market systems in the allocation of resources and the distribution of income. Fiscal and monetary theories and policies for achieving economic stability and growth in the national economy. Prerequisite: completed the relevant portion of the department's quantitative requirements. Offered fall and spring. 4 credits (IS or QR)

Application of economic concepts to issues raised by the Star Trek television series and motion pictures. Economic problems of population, environmental degradation, discrimination (race, gender, sexual orientation), aging and death, animal rights, genetic engineering, and the impact of technology. NOTE: Not applicable for Economics major or minor. Offered Jan Term. 4 credits (IS or US)

Application of economic analysis to professional and amateur sports. Analysis of industry market structures and labor markets, including the role of discrimination. Public policy issues such as Title IX and stadium financing. $40 course fee. Prerequisite: 210. Offered spring. 4 credits (IS or US)

Application of economics analysis to intercollegiate sports. Analysis of the NCAA as a cartel and the labor market for college coaches. Role of the media in the commercialization of college sports. Issues of discrimination and Title IX. Public policy questions such as paying college athletes and reforms to improve balance between academics and athletics. Prerequisite: 210. Offered spring. 4 credits (IS or US)

Study of international trade theory and policy. Causes and consequences of international trade, commodity composition of trade, tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, regional and multilateral trade agreements. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits

Analysis of the theory and history of growth processes in lower income economies. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits (GP)

Study of international monetary theory and policy, balance of payments and exchange rate determination and adjustment, exchange rate systems, macroeconomic policy in the open economy, and selected international banking issues. Prerequisite: 210. Offered spring. 4 credits

Analysis of the effects of economic activity and policy on the natural environment. Responses to environmental problems such as population, energy, and pollution, and the impact of these responses on economic policy and performance. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits (QR or IS)

Optimal management of natural resources such as land, water, minerals, fisheries, rangeland and forests over time. Balancing the tension between the value of natural resources as productive inputs in the present against their potential value in the future. Prerequisite: 210 or equivalent. 4 credits (IS or QR)

Taxing and spending activities of government and their effects on the allocation of resources. Efficiency of government economic decision making processes. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits

Application of economic analysis to traditional areas of legal study, such as contracts, property, torts, and criminal law. Use of a "rational choice" framework to analyze the purpose, effect, and genesis of laws. The effect of legal structures on economic efficiency. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits

Changes in economic structure and performance over time. Causes of ecomonic change and the impact on society, including marginalized groups. May be repeated for credit under different topics. Prerequisite: 210. 4 credits (VP or US)

Marginal utility, market demand, elasticities, production and cost, product pricing and output, market structure, pricing and employment of resources, income distribution, general equilibrium, and welfare economics. Prerequisites: 210; MATH 140 or 340, and 160 or 170. Offered spring. 4 credits

National income accounting, consumption theories, investment theories, balance of foreign payments, business fluctuations, economic growth, fiscal theory and policies, and monetary theories and policies. $30 fee. Prerequisites: 210; MATH 140 or 340, and 160 or 170. Offered fall. 4 credits (QR)

Application of economic theory, mathematics, and statistical inference in the formulation and testing of economic hypotheses. Development of skills associated with generating, interpreting, and reporting results of empirical research in economics. $10 lab fee. Prerequisites: 411, 412. Offered fall. 4 credits (QR)

Selected topics in economics using small group discussion. Student participation, daily writing assignments, and a semester research project. Open to senior majors or minors in economics. $10 course fee. Prerequisites: 411, 412, 416. Offered spring. 4 credits (MWI)

Advanced study opportunity for outstanding students to assist faculty members in the classroom or laboratory. Focus on course content and pedagogy. Prerequisites: application and consent of instructor. 1-4 credits (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) (EL)

Evolution of ideas about economic matters and methodology from antiquity to the present. Evolution of "Economic Man." Pre- or corequisite: 411 or 412. 4 credits (UQ or VP)

Advanced study in a particular topic in economics chosen by the student in consultation with a supervising departmental faculty member. Prerequisites: GPA of at least 2.75, and approval of advisor and department chair. 1-4 credits

Applied economics learning experience in a public or private sector organization. Prerequisites: GPA of at least 3.00; completion of at least 20 credits in ECON courses including 411 and 412, and approval of both advisor and department chair. (EL) 1-4 credits.

Individual research, reading, and study in economics under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. Prerequisites: approval of both supervising faculty member and departmental chair. 1-4 credits