Professors Jeff A. Ankrom and David M. Wishart
Associate Professors Lawrence D. Gwinn and Frederick G. Tiffany,
Chair
Assistant Professor Marcia J. Frost
Requirements for Major
Required in Economics
Economics 190, 300, 310, 311, 391, and four additional courses, at
least two of which must be above the 200-level.
Required in Related Department
Management 210 or its equivalent and Mathematics 131 or
Mathematics 201 or their equivalent.
Recommended in Related Departments
The student planning graduate study in economics is strongly advised to take
Mathematics 201, 202, 205, 210, and 212.
Courses
Economics 190 is the introductory course in the discipline and is
required. An appropriate score on the Math Placement Exam must be
earned to enroll in Economics 190.
Courses at the 200-level apply basic analytical tools to economic problems and policy issues.
Courses in the 300 series develop theoretical and analytical tools in some depth so that more complex problems and policy issues can be considered. Prerequisites vary.
Requirements for Minor
Economics 190 and four upper-level courses, at least two of which
must be above the 200-level.
190S. Principles of Economics. 4 semester hours.
Introduction to basic principles of economics. Topics covered include supply and demand, marginal analysis, perfect competition, profit maximization, aggregate demand and supply, the level of employment, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international trade. Prerequisite: Appropriate score on the Math Placement Exam. Every year.
220C. Economics of Developing Areas. 4 semester hours.
Introduction to the concepts, measures, theories, and strategies of modern economic growth and development relevant to the low-income nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The course builds on the theories and models introduced in Economics 190, explores the inter-relationships between human development and economic growth, and allows each student to investigate the development experience of a particular nation. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Alternate years.
231. European Economic History. 4 semester hours.
Examination of the evolution of capitalism in Europe from the 15th century 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 Russian and the Eastern European countries, and the prospects for European economic integration. Topics presented in this course emphasize the use of principles of economics to understand historical change and the methods of empirical analysis that are commonly used by economic historians. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Alternate years.
240. American Economic History. 4 semester hours.
Exploration of the record and cause of long-run economic growth and development of economic institutions as the American economy evolved from a lightly populated, colonial outpost in the 17th century to world dominance by the 20th century. Topics presented in this course emphasize the use of principles of economics to understand historical change and the methods of empirical analysis that are commonly used by economic historians. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Alternate years.
250. Urban and Regional Economics. 4 semester hours.
Study of why cities exist, how they evolve and go through various stages of growth and sometimes decay, and how different economic activities are arranged within cities and regions. This course helps the student to examine critically urban economic problems such as poverty, housing, transportation, congestion, pollution and crime. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Some sections writing intensive. Every third year.
260C. East Asian Economies. 4 semester hours.
Study of specific problems and institutions of the East Asian economies. Topics include development, trade, and commercial policies as well as fiscal and monetary policies in the region. Prerequisites: Economics 190. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
270. Economics of the Family. 4 semester hours.
Study of the family using the economic models of household and family behavior. Incentive structures for individual and group decision-making as well as gender and racial issues that revolve around the family are addressed. Family economic concepts such as household production, time allocation, human capital, poverty and occupational segregation are developed to understand the major determinants of the changes in the economic position of families. Some sections writing intensive. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Alternate years.
280. Managerial Economics. 4 semester hours.
Focus on theoretical and empirical models of business firm behavior. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Management 210. Alternate years. The student cannot receive credit for both 280 and 310.
290. Economics in Transition. Variable credit.
Study of some area of current interest in economics. Open to the major and the non-major. Some sections writing intensive. Prerequisite: Economics 190. This course may be repeated for credit.
300. Econometrics. 4 semester hours.
Revolves around constructing and statistically testing economic models. Lectures focus on discussing methodology in economics and learning the fundamentals of regression analysis. In addition, a large portion of the course is devoted to research projects in which students use a simple computer regression package to test economic theory against empirical evidence, analyze economic policies and forecast economic variables. Writing intensive. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Management 210 or its equivalent. Every year.
301. Money and Banking. 4 semester hours.
Provides a basic understanding of money and financial institutions and their impact on the economy. The following are examined: the role of financial intermediaries, the role of government in financial markets, central banking, money creation, monetary policy, pricing of financial assets, interest rate determination, mortgage markets, option markets and futures markets. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Mathematics 120. Every year.
310. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. 4 semester hours.
Detailed study of the theories of consumer behavior, production, the distribution of income and social welfare. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Mathematics 120 or its equivalent. Every year. The student cannot receive credit for both 280 and 310.
311. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory. 4 semester hours.
Detailed study of the determination of output and income, employment, and the price level. Issues examined include the causes of inflation and recession and the fundamentals of economic growth. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Mathematics 120 or its equivalent. Every year.
315. Labor Economics. 4 semester hours.
Explores the determinants of the supply of and demand for labor, wages and working conditions, and the productivity of labor. It is concerned with both the microeconomic decision making of individuals, households, and firms, and the macroeconomic outcomes of their decisions. This course will explore contemporary issues relating to labor markets, including public policy debates over discrimination, affirmative action, and government regulation. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Alternate years.
320. History of Economic Thought. 4 semester hours.
Study of the ideas of great economists and the evolution of economic analysis. Prerequisites: Economics 190. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
330. International Trade and Finance. 4 semester hours.
Study of the principles governing the gains from international trade, the effects of international trade restrictions, and fluctuations in exchange rates and the impact of international trade on domestic employment and inflation. Attention will also be given to international economic institutions and their policies. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Mathematics 120 or its equivalent. Alternate years.
340. Public Finance. 4 semester hours.
Examination of government revenue and expenditure policies and their consequences for the allocation of public goods, income distribution, employment and the price level. Prerequisite: Economics 190. Writing intensive. Every year.
350. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. 4 semester hours.
Examines economic approaches to coping with environmental problems and natural resource scarcity. Emphasis is given to the clear definition and enforcement of property rights as a means to avoid environmental problems. Models for pricing various renewable and nonrenewable natural resources are explored. The role of population change in environmental and natural resource issues is considered. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and Mathematics 120 or its equivalent. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
360. Industrial Organization. 4 semester hours.
Study of theories of industry structure and performance in markets that do not meet the assumptions of perfect competition. Monopoly, monopolistic competition, and various models of oligopoly are covered. Prerequisites: Economics 280 or 310 or permission of the instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
370. Mathematics for Economists. 4 semester hours.
Study of certain methods from calculus and linear algebra and their use in economic analysis. A major goal of the course is to integrate the student’s understanding of mathematics and economics. Strongly recommended for the student considering graduate study in economics or finance. Prerequisites: Economics 310 and Mathematics 131 or 201. Economics 311 recommended. Alternate years.
390. Advanced Topics. Variable credit.
Study at an advanced level of some topic of current interest in economics. Prerequisites: Economics 190 and permission of instructor. Some sections writing intensive. This course may be repeated for credit.
391. Advanced Economic Theory. 4 semester hours.
Study that broadens and deepens understanding of intermediate economic theory through the coverage of a series of advanced topics in both microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Presentation assumes basic knowledge of both calculus and probability, thereby allowing the student to integrate mathematics with economic theory. Prerequisites: Economics 310 and 311, Management 210, Mathematics 131 or 201. Every year.
410. Independent Study. Variable credit.
Some sections writing intensive. Prerequisites vary among study programs. This course may be repeated for credit.
491. Internship. Variable credit.
Requires at least one semester of work in some capacity related to the economics profession in either the private sector or government. Over the following semester the student writes a research paper related to the work experience. Prerequisites: Economics 190, 310 and 311. Writing intensive. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
499. Honors Thesis/Project. Variable credit.
Prerequisite: 3.50 GPA, permission of the Department Chair.
