courses & curriculum

Economics (BA)

Economics (BS)


Economics (BA) Curriculum:


1. ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 101, RST 101 (4 courses) (12 credits)
2. Area Studies: Two courses from each of these areas: I, III, IV, V, VI, VIII (12 courses)1 (36 credits)
3. Major course requirements (12 courses)  
Mathematics elective: one Area VII mathematics course (MAT 111 or MAT 115) plus MAT 112 as an elective, is recommended for anyone considering graduate school (3-4 credits)
ECO 1012 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 1022 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 205 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
ECO 206 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
ECO 255 Business Statistics I (3 credits)
ECO 256 Business Statistics II (3 credits)
Economics electives: five courses at the 300 or 400 level (5 courses) (15 credits)
4. Electives: Accounting and additional mathematics are strongly recommended for graduate school and the business world. (12 courses) (36 credits)
TOTAL (40 courses) (120-121 credits)

Recommended Schedule:

Fall          Spring        
Freshman Year      
ENG 101 3 credits ENG 102 3 credits
ECO 101 3 credits ECO 102 3 credits
AS 3 credits Mathematics elective 3 or 4 credits
Elective 3 credits AS 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 or 16 credits
 
Sophomore Year      
RST 101 3 credits PHI 101 3 credits
ECO 205 3 credits ECO 206 3 credits
ECO 255 3 credits ECO 256 3 credits
AS 3 credits AS 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
 
Junior Year      
ECO elective 3 credits ECO elective 3 credits
AS 3 credits AS (PHI 300 recommended) 3  credits
AS 3 credits AS 3 credits
Elective 3 credits AS 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
   
Senior Year      
ECO elective 3 credits ECO elective 3 credits
ECO elective 3 credits AS 3 credits
AS 3 credits AS 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
TOTAL      120-121  credits

Other Programs
Economics majors may also obtain a concentration in Finance by using economics electives to take three to five of the following courses: FIN 201, FIN 311, FIN 312, FIN 314, FIN 330, FIN 410, FIN 411, FIN 455, FIN 460. This specialization is appropriate for students who wish to make a career in banking or finance. These students should also use free electives to acquire some training in accounting.

The Economics-Mathematics dual major is strongly recommended for the student who plans a career in the academic world in either finance or economics. Up to three mathematics courses beyond MAT 111 can be used as economics electives analysis should consider the courses identified in the special programs section of the catalog. Dual majors are also available with history, urban studies, international relations and other areas. Students interested in dual majors should consult with the chairs of both departments or programs.

Economics Minor
ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 102 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 255 Business Statistics I (3 credits)
Economics elective: four courses at the 200, 300, or 400 level (12 credits)
TOTAL (21 credits)



Economics (BS) Curriculum:

1. ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 101, RST 101 (4 courses) (12 credits)
2. Area Studies: Two courses from each of these areas:
I, III, IV, V, VI, VIII1 (12 courses)
(36 credits)
3. Major course requirements: (26 courses)
  a. Common body of business knowledge:
QNT 101 Quantitative Methods for Business and (3 credits)
MAT 106 Calculus for the Non-Sciences (6 or 4 credits)2
MAT 1152 Calculus for Business I (4 credits)
ACC 201 Financial Accounting (3 credits)
ACC 202 Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
ECO 1013 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 1023 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECO 255 Business Statistics I (3 credits)
ECO 256 Business Statistics II (3 credits)
FIN 201 Introduction to Finance (3 credits)
ISB 101 Management Technology (3 credits)
MGT 101 Introduction to Management (3 credits)
MGT 325 Operations Analysis for Business (3 credits)
MGT 370 Introduction to Management (3 credits)
MGT 446 Managerial Policy/ Strategy (3 credits)
MKT 201 Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
  b. Economics major: (3 credits)
ECO 205 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
ECO 206 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
Economics electives [at the 300 or 400 level] (4 courses) (12 credits)
4. Electives (3 or 4 courses) (9 or 12 credits)
TOTAL (40 courses) (120-121 credits)

Recommended Schedule:

Fall          Spring        
Freshman Year      
ENG 101 3 credits ENG 102 3 credits
QNT 101 or
MAT 111 or
MAT 115
3 or 4
credits
MAT 106 or
elective
3 credits
ECO 101 3 credits ECO 102 3 or 4 credits
ISB 101 3 credits AS VIII 3 credits
AS VIII 3 credits MGT 101 3 credits
Total 15 or 16
credits
Total 15 credits
 
Sophomore Year      
RST 101 3 credits PHI 101 3 credits
ECO 205 3 credits ECO 206 3 credits
MKT 201 3 credits FIN 201 3 credits
ACC 201 3 credits AS 3 credits
ECO 255 3 credits ECO 256 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
 
Junior Year      
AS IV 3 credits AS IV 3 credits
MGT 325 3 credits MGT 370 3  credits
ECO elective 3 credits ECO elective 3 credits
AS III 3 credits AS I 3 credits
AS I 3 credits AS V 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
   
Senior Year      
AS III 3 credits ECO elective 3 credits
ECO elective 3 credits MGT 446 3 credits
AS V 3 credits AS VI 3 credits
AS VI 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Elective 3 credits Elective 3 credits
Total 15 credits Total 15 credits
TOTAL      120-121  credits
COURSES: 2007 – 2009

QNT 101 Quantitative Methods for Business 3 credits
Introduction to and business applications of mathematical tools including functions, equations, inequalities, graphs and optimization. Financial relationships. Introduction to spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel.

ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
Explanation of market system through supply and demand analysis. Measurement of important macroeconomic variables and development of economic models to analyze problems of unemployment, inflation and economic growth. Efficacy of various fiscal and monetary policies. (AS II)

ECO 102 Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
Explanation of how the market system operates in the context of limited resources. Emphasis on the manner in which consumers and firms determine what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce. (AS II)

ECO 205 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis 3 credits
Analysis of demand and supply under different market situations. Cost and production theory. Factor pricing. Welfare economics. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102. Fall

ECO 206 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis 3 credits
Modern macroeconomic theory developed, utilizing static and comparative static models. Examination of dynamic models and basic theories of economic growth. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102. Spring

ECO 255 Business Statistics I 3 credits
Fundamental concepts of probability and statistics with emphasis on business and economic applications. Organizing and describing data. Probability theory, sampling, inference, hypothesis testing. (AS VII)

ECO 256 Business Statistics II 3 credits
Regression analysis, goodness of fit, contingency tables, analysis of variance, Bayesian decision theory, time series and forecasting. Prerequisite: ECO 255.

ECO 300 Economics of Work 3 credits
Examination of data on work-related outcomes and their economic explanation. The implications for employer policies. The course is interdisciplinary in scope, emphasizing gender differences, non-market work and institutional factors. Prerequisite: ECO 102.

ECO 306 Labor Economics 3 credits
Composition of the labor force; factors affecting wages, hours of work, and unemployment; unemployment insurance; labor unions; employment discrimination; occupational safety; labor law. Prerequisite: Eco 101 or 102.

ECO 311 Regional Economics and GIS 3 credits
An analysis of the spatial regional economic patterns in America with an emphasis on market forces that helped determine the growth and decline of population, employment and income of small regional economics through the use of Geographics Information System tools.

ECO 312 Spatial Economics and GIS 3 credits
An analysis of the spatial patterns in urban America with an emphasis on market forces and Geographics Information System tools. Focuses on the forces that have led to urban concentrations and the process of suburbanization.

FIN 330 Money, Banking and the Economy 3 credits
The connection between financial markets, the economy and the Federal Reserve will be explored. This course will examine the nature of financial markets, the determination of interest rates, banking, money and monetary policy. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of monetary policy on the macro economy. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102.

ECO 333 Economics of Public Issues 3 credits
This course uses economic principles to analyze an array of public policy issues, providing insights into public policy, the effects of policy on the behavior of consumers and producers, the costs and benefits of specific policies and the distribution of these costs and benefits. Current policy debates, such as income inequality and poverty, pollution and environment issues, health care, international trade and education are analyzed. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102.

ECO 360 International Trade 3 credits
Theory and practice of international trade, finance and development. Determinants of economic relations among nations. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102.

ECO 361 International Economics and Organizations 3 credits
This course is intended to be a survey of international economics covering three primary themes: international trade theory, international business and international institutions. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102.

ECO 401 Public Finance 3 credits
A microeconomic analysis of the role of the public sector in resource allocation. Topics include: the theory of market failures, alternative corrective measures for market failures, efficiency/equity analysis of taxes and public expenditure programs. Prerequisite: ECO 102. Fall

FIN 411 State and Local Finance 3 credits
Municipal credit risk and municipal bonds analysis of revenue sources for state and local governments. Public/private sector interaction in urban areas; city-suburban fiscal disparity and competition; state/local government structure; inter-governmental relations. Prerequisites: ECO 101-102, ECO 255-256 or equivalent. Spring

ECO 455 Econometrics 3 credits
Estimation and analysis of linear and non-linear regression models using statistical inferences. Topics include: multicolinearity, heteroskedasticity, serial correlation, forecasting, dummy variables and simultaneous equations. Analysis of actual data sets and use of statistical software. Prerequisites: ECO 205, 206, 255-256.

ECO 497 Internship 3 credits
May be used for free elective credit only. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

ECO 499 Independent Research 3 credits
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

Economics majors may also obtain a concentration in Finance by using economics electives to take three to five of the following courses: FIN 301, FIN 311, FIN 312, FIN 314, FIN 330, FIN 410, FIN 411, FIN 455, FIN 460. This specialization is appropriate for students who wish to make a career in banking or finance. These students should also use free electives to acquire some training in accounting. The Economics-Mathematics dual major is strongly recommended for the student who plans a career in the academic world in either finance or economics. Up to three mathematics courses beyond MAT 111 can be used as economics electives.


1 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the social sciences. Area VII is fulfilled by the mathematics courses required in this program.

2 MAT 115 is recommended. Additional mathematics is recommended if the student is preparing for a graduate program in economics. The student should consult a departmental advisor.

3 Honors section recommended.

4 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the social sciences. Area VII is fulfilled by the mathematics courses required in this program.

5 A strong accounting background is desired by many corporations seeking job candidates with degrees in finance. For those who desire a degree in corporate financial planning, ACC 303 is strongly recommended. ACC 415 is recommended. FIN 455 is strongly recommended because many entry-level positions in finance require experience with financial modeling using personal computers.