Prerequisites: Students must have attained the math placement level 22 to enroll.
An introduction to basic principles of economics. Topics covered include supply and demand, marginal analysis, competition, profit maximization, aggregate demand, and supply, the level of employment, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international trade. Lecture/discussion format.
ECON 205 - Macroeconomic Stabilization Policy
2 semester hours
Gwinn, Lawrence
Prerequisite: Economics 190S
Macroeconomic Stabilization Policy is a two-semester hour course building on the fundamentals learned in Economics 190. The course is intended to elevate the understanding of economics, financial economics, and management majors to a level that allows them to understand the macroeconomic environment in which institutions operate and to easily transition to upper level economics courses that employ macroeconomic analysis. Economics 205 also covers the relationship between foreign exchange rate systems and the domestic economy. The course will be of interest to any student desiring further study of how central banks and governments use monetary and fiscal policy in response to the problems of inflation and unemployment.
ECON 231 -European Economic History
4 semester hours
Wishart, David
This course examines the evolution of capitalism in Europe from the Paleolithic period to the present, the impact of European capitalism on economies and societies in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, the rise and demise of centrally planned state socialist economies in Russia and the Eastern European countries, and European economic integration. The topics presented in this course will emphasize the use of principles of economics to understand historical change and methods of empirical analysis that are commonly used by economic historians. Grades will be determined by two exams, a final, and a 10-15 page term paper. Lecture/discussion format. Writing Intensive.
ECON 290 - Health Economics
4 semester hours
Ankrom, Jeff
Prerequisites: ECON 190
The health care sector represents 14% of the U.S. economy, and is therefore an object worthy of serious inquiry. The study of health economics involves the application of microeconomic tools to health issues and problems, with the goal of promoting better policies. Issues addressed in this course include cost/benefit analysis, the demand for medical services and insurance, medical care production and costs, the role of government in providing services and insurance, the performance, structure and conduct of the physician, pharmaceutical and hospital services industries, and the prospect for reform in the industry.
ECON 300 - Econometrics
4 semester hours
Gwinn, Lawrence
Prerequisites: ECON 190 and MATH 131Q or its equivalent and BUSN 210 or its equivalent.
Econometrics revolves around constructing and statistically testing economic models. The lectures will focus on discussing methodology in economics and learning the fundamentals of regression analysis. In addition, a large portion of the course will be devoted to research projects in which students use a computer regression package to test economic theory against empirical evidence, analyze economic policies, and forecast economic variables. Writing Intensive.
ECON 310: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
4 semester hours
Tiffany, Frederick
Prerequisites: MATH 120 or Math Placement level 25 and ECON 190.
Economics 310 is a rigorous examination and extension of the microeconomic principles learned in ECON 190. Formal models of consumer and producer behavior are presented, along with theories of market behavior under assumptions of both perfect and imperfect competition. It is essential that students taking this course have a thorough understanding of ECON 190 and MATH 120. Lecture/discussion format. Grade is based on two midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.
ECON 340 - Public Finance
4 semester hours
Tiffany, Frederick
Prerequisites: ECON 190
Despite claims to the contrary, not every good or service can be provided by a perfectly competitive market: Sometimes there is a role for government. Public Finance explores the rationale for government intervention in economic activity and its effects on the economy. This course will examine “market failures” caused by external costs and benefits, as well as the existence of public goods, as justifications for government intervention. We will also look at examples of government intervention in such area as retirement insurance (Social Security) and health care, both issues of current concern. Taxation and its impact on income distribution, as well as the equity and efficiency of the tax system, will also be considered. The course will have a lecture/discussion format. Grades will be based on three midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.
