Course Descriptions
Econ-200 Essentials of Economics, 3 Cr.
This course will provide students with an overview of general economic issues, principles and concepts in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Through its integrated design, students will have the opportunity to analyze individual firms and markets as well as aggregate economic indicators. Topics to be covered include: inflation, unemployment and economic growth, with a focus on the government's role in its attempts to regulate the economy. Upon completion of the course, students will have gained a basic understanding of how people make decisions, how people interact, and how the economy as a whole works so that they may be able to conceptualize how the economy works, make better business decisions and establish a framework for viewing and interpreting the economic world around them.
ECON-215 Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 Cr.
Elementary aggregate economics. Among the topics covered are instability, counter-cyclical economic policies, money, the banking system, government economic activity, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and national income theory. Prerequisites: Math-091 with a grade of "C" or Intermediate Algebra placement.
ECON-217 Principles of Microeconomics, 3 CR.
Among the topics covered are supply, demand, prices, the working of markets, the markets for labor and other factors of production and contemporary economic problems. Prerequisites: Math-091 with a grade of "C" or intermediate Algebra placement.
ECON-220 Business and Economic Statistics I, 3 Cr.
Introduction to the principle methods of statistical analysis as applied to business and economic problems. Topics include descriptive statistics, introductory probability and probability distributions, statistical estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression and correlation analysis with computer applications. Prerequisites: MATH-165.
ECON-303 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, 3 Cr.
Topics covered include consumption and investment theory, the definitions and determination of national income, employment, and the price level. Also considered are the economic effects of fiscal and monetary policy. Prerequisites: ECON-215, ECON-217, MATH-165 or MATH-177.
ECON-304 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory, 3 Cr.
A systematic study of the role of the price system in organizing economic activity and an evaluation of its effectiveness. Topics covered within the frameworks of partial and general equilibrium analysis include consumer behavior, price determination, resource allocation, and market structure. Prerequisites: ECON-215, ECON-217, MATH-165 or MATH-177.
ECON-306 Labor Economics, 3 cr.
Analysis of supply and demand for labor, the determination of wage rates, employment, working conditions, and labor force participation rates. Emphasis is placed on the effects of unionism and government activities on the areas. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON 217.
ECON-307 Money and Banking, 3 Cr.
The course considers the nature and functions of money and the role of the monetary sector in the determination of income and employment. Particular attention is given to institutional frameworks, money markets, commercial banking, and deposit expansion, monetary policy, and the role of the Federal Reserve System. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-308 Comparative Economic Systems, 3 Cr.
Analysis of the structure, institutions, and performance of alternative economic systems: capitalism, socialism, communism. Selected countries are studied as examples of each system. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-309 Public Finance, 3 Cr.
An investigation of the theoretical and practical economic effects of governmental activities. The major types of taxes and expenditures are considered. In addition, intergovernmental fiscal relations and fiscal policy are discussed. The course will emphasize, American governmental institutions. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-310 WIP: Business and Economic Statistics II, 3 Cr.
This course is a continuation of ECON-220. Topics to be covered include analysis of variance, multiple regression and correlation, time series analysis, nonparametric tests, and decision theory with computer applications. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON 217 and ECON-220.
ECON-312 Mathematics Economics, 3 Cr.
Conventional macro- and microeconomic theories are set out in mathematical form utilizing algebra and calculus. Topics to be covered include sets, functions, matrices, differential and integral calculus and optimization. Prerequisites: ECON-215, ECON-217, and MATH-165 or MATH-177.
ECON-313 Economic History of Europe, 3 Cr.
Development of the modern economic systems and institutions of Europe from their late medieval and Renaissance beginnings; the revival of trade, the growth of towns, the Commercial Revolution, the development of new systems of economic thought to support capitalism, the Industrial Revolution, the rise of new economic forms such a capitalism, socialism, modified capitalism, and "mixed" economies in the twentieth century. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-314 The Development of Economic Thought, 3 Cr.
Historical survey of the major streams of economic thought including classical, Marxian, institutionalist, neoclassical, radical and monetarist thought. The course covers the origins, methods, and validity of economic theories. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-315 American Capitalism, 3 Cr.
Contemporary and controversial interpretations of American capitalism; the course centers around ideas of laissez-faire, government regulation and government-business relations; analysis of private property, competition, free enterprise; views of conservatives, liberals, and radicals are considered, and a critical examination of recent reformulations of the capitalist system is undertaken. Prerequisites: ECON-215 or ECON-217.
ECON-316 Independent Study in Economics, 3 Cr.
Intensive study of special topics of economics; faculty guidance. Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
ECON-318 Introduction to Econometrics and Forecasting, 3 Cr.
Introduction to the methods by which economic theories are tested with emphasis on applications. Topics include bivariate and multiple regression techniques, hypothesis testing, and violation of common assumptions. Computer usage. Prerequisites: Econ 215, ECON 217 and ECON-220 and MATH-165 or MATH-177.
ECON-319 Current Economic Problems, 3 Cr.
Analysis of a contemporary domestic or international issue. Consult the schedule of classes for specific topics. Prerequisites: Varies with topic.
ECON-320 WIP: Non-Profit Management, Administration and Communications, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to prepare students for careers in the non-profit world and to introduce the principles of effective professional communications. Students will be required to volunteer a minimum of two (2) hours per week with a non-profit organization and to produce weekly correspondence related to the internship. The course will be taught as a hybrid course and utilize online, topic specific discussions.
Econ-321 International Monetary Theory, 3 Cr.
This course will provide an analysis of the international monetary system and the institutions that link national economies through exchange rates, balance of payments, and international asset transactions. Particular attention will be paid to the evolving international monetary system of flexible exchange rates and highly mobile international capital. This course will be valuable to students interested in careers in international economic policy, international banking, and finance, and in international political economy.
ECON-322 International Economics, 3 Cr.
Introduction of the fundamentals of international trade theory; theoretical, institutional, and historical aspects of international economic relations are considered, including foreign exchange and balance of payment problems, tariffs, quotas, and U.S. commercial policies. Prerequisites: ECON-215 or ECON-217.
ECON-323 WIP: Economic Development, 3 Cr.
This course will examine the process of economic development primarily at the nation level throughout the world. Students will study important theories of development and will be expected to apply these to writing and research on a specific country, and to disseminate their work to the class. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217 and ENG-101.
ECON-324 Economics of the European Union, 3 Cr.
This course will provide an overview of the history, objectives and economics policy issues of the European Union. The focus of the course will be on a theoretical analysis of the principal economic problems facing the European Union. These problems include: agricultural policy, trade policy, the creation of a single market and single currency, further expansion, and relations with the United States. The course requires that students have a background and sound understanding of the principles of macro and micro economics.
ECON-331 American Economic History, 3 Cr.
Survey of American economic history from the colonial period to the present; controversial issues and interpretation in American history. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-332 Industrial Organization, 3 Cr.
Analysis of the competitive structure of industries and the major determinants of industrial organization such as economies of scale, mergers, vertical integration, advertising, and their effects on competitive firm behavior. Examination of the economic foundations and effects of government policies to regulate monopoly. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON-217.
ECON-333 Urban Economics, 3 Cr.
Presentations of fundamental economic tools applicable to urban problems; identification of the economic causes of these problems and analysis of policies designed to correct them. Prerequisites: ECON-215 and ECON-217.
ECON-334 Cost-Benefit Analysis, 3 Cr.
Alternative economic policies resulting from weighing the merits of spending public expenditures on various public projects. A systematic approach to the evaluation of individual projects in the selection of the best project to accomplish a given purpose, and in the establishment of priority order among the projects competing for limited funds. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON-217.
ECON-335 Economics of Transportation, 3 Cr.
Demand for and cost of transportation. Urban and interurban markets for transportation of people and goods. Regulation, deregulation, and public policy. Prerequisites:ECON-215 and ECON 217.
ECON-336 Health Economics, 3 Cr.
This is a course in applied economic theory that examines the determinants of health status as well as the determinants of the market quantity and price of health care services. Specific topics covered include: consumer factors which determine demand for health and health care utilization; the role of health insurance in determining health and health care utilization; behavior of health care providers under various types of financial reimbursement mechanisms and market structures.
ECON-338 Applications in Health Economics, 3 Cr.
Health economics is a subfield of Microeconomics. It is characterized by a large and growing body of literature. In recent decades, many of the controversial policies considered by governments have involved issues analyzed by health economists. This course provides an introduction to the market for good health. As such, classroom activities will include a discussion of the key concepts, models and instruments used by health economists to analyze health-related markets. Students will apply these tools to a specific topics in health policy through the collection and analysis of data as well as a presentation of related findings. Prerequisites: ECON 217
Econ-337 Environmental Economics, 3 Cr.
This course allows students to explore and understand the role of economics in analyzing environmental issues and in the development of environmental policy. Some of the topics covered include: air and water pollution, transitioning from depletable to renewable resources; biodiversity and issues of sustainability, energy and transportation.
ECON-340 Managerial Economics, 3 Cr.
The application of economic theory to the analysis of business decisionmaking. Topics include the theories of production, costs, pricing, and capital budgeting. Specific tools such as constrained maximization and regression analysis are applied in a case approach to the estimation and forecasting of revenues and costs, and to the preparation of budget forecasts. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON 217.
ECON-341 Behavioral Economics, 3Cr.
Behavioral economics is concerned with examining the factors influencing economic decision making. This course will discuss recent developments in behavioral economics, focusing on economic behavior, heuritics, and experimental economics. The course will examine sources of bias in decision making and critique the standard perspective of rational behavior. Prerequisites: ECON 215 and ECON 217
ECON-401 Fundamentals of Business Economics, 4 Cr.
Provides knowledge of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory necessary for advanced business analysis. Prerequisites: enrollment in MBA program.
ECON-419 Economic Analysis for Managers, 3 Cr.
This course is an advanced introduction to the application of economic principles and methodologies within the decisionmaking process of the firm. It cultivates the ability to develop constrained maximization and minimization analyses and to apply those analyses to managerial problems of resource allocation, budgeting and forecasting. Prerequisites: Mathematical requirements of the MBA program.