Course Descriptions

ECONOMICS (EC)

EC 201 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

Analysis of structure and operation of American economy; business cycles, fiscal and monetary institutions, and policies; GDP unemployment and inflation, and economic growth; and other public issues. Offered every semester.

EC 202 Principles of Microeconomics (3)

Analysis of the functioning of firms within a market economy and how the market system allocates scarce resources; basics of supply and demand; theory of pricing under competition, monopoly, and imperfect competition; government interference in the market system; and international trade. Service-Learning Course. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: MA 103 or equivalent.

English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper-division courses.

EC 314 Games and Economic Behavior (3)

This course examines the competitive and cooperative behaviors that occur when parties with conflicting interests must work together. The course also introduces students to individual and group behaviors, and their consequences that happen when the standard economic assumption of self-interest is violated. Applications of the game theory framework and analytical tools to issues in areas such as politics, international relations, business, law, biology and more will be introduced. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: EC 202.

EC 315 Environmental Economics (3)

This course focuses on natural resource economics and environmental issues. Topics include air and water pollution, toxic waste, deforestation, soil erosion, biodiversity, global warming and sustainable development. The course provides students the opportunity to develop skills in applying economic tools to understand and evaluate current environmental issues and their consequences. Service-Learning course. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: EC 202 or ENV 201/ENV 201L. Cross-listed with ENV 315.

EC 420 International Economics (3)

This course provides students with the ability to understand and evaluate global economic trends and the operation of transnational organizations. Topics include causes and consequences of international trade, international trade policies, the role of government in an open economy, comparison of different economic systems, and the global economic environment. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: EC 201.

EC 490 Advanced Seminar in Economics (3)

This seminar serves as the capstone course for the economics minor. Current issues and applications in areas such as behavioral, experimental, urban, public, labor and health economics will be introduced. In addition, students will draw on topics and techniques addressed in this course and other economics courses they have taken to develop an applied research project on an economic topic of interest. The project will involve developing a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and providing recommendations. Students should take this course as the final course in their minor if possible. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: EC 201 and EC 202.