Economics Course Descriptions

ECON 101. American Economy
A course designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of how a free-market economy works as
individuals make microeconomic decisions of their own based on cost-benefit principle. Discussions of the
cyclical nature of GDP production, joblessness, cost of living, interest rates, public debt and deficits will be
included.


ECON 109. Introduction to World Economy
This introductory level course is designed to promote student interest and curiosity regarding the relationship of
America with other countries, the forces that drive them, and what the government can or cannot do to resolve
particular issues. An average college student should know the evolving issues of international economic
significance and the historical perspective of international business and commercial connections between
America and the rest of the world.


ECON 201. Principles of Macroeconomics
An introductory course concerned with the working of the economy as a whole. Development of the theories of
consumption, investment and equilibrium income; application of the theory to current macroeconomic
problems; monetary and fiscal policy and its influence on economic activity.


ECON 202. Principles of Microeconomics

An introductory course concerned primarily with the functioning of specific parts of the economy. The theory
of consumer behavior and firm behavior under varying degrees of competition; the determination of price in
both product and resource markets. Application of the theory to current microeconomic problems.

ECON 301. Intermediate Macroeconomics
The course is a survey of the current and past theories of the macro-economy and how stable it is. These
theories could be explained using graphical, algebraic and written analysis. Also, the effects of the various policy views of each theory are considered, and each view’s relation to the economy we observe is analyzed.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.


ECON 302. Intermediate Microeconomics
The course analyzes how consumers, firms, government, or any other economic units may make optimal
decisions under various market conditions. Microeconomic theory is utilized to evaluate selected economic
policies and practices of business firms and the government. Conditions for overall efficiency are also
developed. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 304. Agricultural Economics
An introductory course to fundamental principles of economics and their applications to agriculture and food
industries in the United States. It covers agricultural production and its linkages to agribusiness, farms, food
marketing, world markets, financial institutions and the environment. The course also deals with issues of price
determination, production cost and profit maximization. Prerequisites: ECON 201, and ECON 202.

ECON 305. Econometrics
This course develops skills to estimate economic relationships grounded in economic theory. Students will use
statistical software for estimation. Basic concepts of statistics will be used. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202;
BA 203.

ECON 306. Public Finance, Taxation and Fiscal Policy
Analysis of taxation and government expenditures. The impact of various levels of government on the local,
state and national economies. Historical and current analysis of the role of fiscal policy on business cycles.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 308. Money, Banking and Monetary Theory
A survey of historical development of American monetary and banking institutions; analysis of contemporary
monetary theory and policy and a critique of monetary problems and their alternative solutions; a review of the
international monetary structure. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 309. The Economics of Criminal Justice
The economics of criminal justice is a multi-disciplinary course that uses economics to deal with core issues of
criminal justice and social work. The course touches on a variety of issues ranging from criminal law to law
enforcement and incarcerations while also considering the social benefit of rehabilitation. Also covered are
issues of relationships between crime and unemployment, special cases of victimless crimes and white-collar
crime.

ECON 310. Economic Development
Problems of economic development facing the low-income countries of the world. Topics include international
trade, foreign aid, capital formation and the role of government in the industrialization process. Selected areas
of the U.S. such as Appalachia will also be considered. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 315. Behavioral Economics
An introductory course related to the relatively new and fast-expanding field of behavioral economics, which
analyses evidence of psychology in economic theory. Human beings behave in different ways than standard
rational economic theory predicts. We will explore the intersection of psychology in standard notions of
economic theory.

ECON 318. Financial Economics
An introductory course about the dynamics of financial markets. It also provides the theoretical foundation of
finance. The course provides in-depth financial analysis and their application in markets. We will learn about
the investment decisions, portfolio and risk management, security analysis and derivative market.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202

ECON 320. Labor Economics
Analysis of the theoretical and historical development of the American labor movement; collective bargaining,
wage theory and the impact of union wage policy upon current economic and social problems. Prerequisite(s):

ECON 201 and 202.
BA 322. Agriculture Marketing
An introduction to agricultural marketing. The course covers agricultural marketing issues such as pricing
considerations, shipping and transportation, promotion, and changing agricultural product mix. Also, the course
covers U.S. government policies such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and food used for
international development and aid. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 202

ECON 330. Urban Economics
This course focuses on urban areas as unique places of production and consumption. The role of transportation
costs in determining city location will be discussed and analysis will be developed to explain why cities are
taller than the surrounding countryside. In addition to these location aspects of cities, such urban problems as
poverty, crime, education, transportation, public finance and optimal city size will be examined in detail.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 340. Contemporary Economic Issues
Reports and discussion of leading economic problems and issues. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship of
economics to real-world problems. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 351. Economics of Energy Exploration
Energy economics draws on microeconomic foundations to introduce students to the production, pricing and
distribution of energy sources such as oil, gas and coal. The primary focus of the course is to explain the
allocative and productive efficiency as the rationale that drives the technical and political forces of global
energy industries and markets. Prerequisite(s): ECON 202.

ECON 399. Special Topics in Economics (1-3 credit hours)
A junior-level course designed for a topic of special current interest, including televised courses. Prerequisite(s):

ECON 201 and 202 or consent of instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.

ECON 401. History of Economic Thought
Survey of economic theory covering major schools of economic thought and the economic environment which
produced them. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201and 202.

ECON 406. Comparative Economic Systems
A comparative study of the philosophical and ideological foundations of these systems ranging from capitalism
to communism. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 409. Mathematical Economics
Application of selected mathematical principles to economics. Differential and integral calculus, matrix algebra,
input-output analysis and linear programming will be applied to economic theory. Static, comparative static and
dynamic analysis will be considered. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201, 202 and MATH 120.

ECON 410. International Economics
Factors affecting the flow of trade and balance of payments; international economic theory and application;
trade controls and their influence on international economics. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 411. Contemporary Economic Thought
This course compares neoclassical economics with a selection of heterodox economic schools of thought.
Economic methodology and sociology of economic science are emphasized. The methodological framework is
applied to the social systems of capitalism and socialism. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 412. Agricultural Finance and Trade
An introduction to financial management in agricultural business including micro and macro trade
theories. Topical coverage includes capital, leverage, liquidity, risk, practices in exporting and importing
regions, policies of major agricultural trading nations and institutions, aid, and development
relationships. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 202

ECON 415. Managerial Economics
Application of microeconomic theory and techniques of analysis to make managerial decisions. This class
provides a practical knowledge of demand estimation, linear programming, game, theory, pricing and capital
budgeting. Course includes learning and use of appropriate software. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and 202.

ECON 416. International Finance
This course studies practical framework for understanding and conducting effective business and financial
decision making by multinational firms in an international context. This course meets the requirements for BA

Prerequisite(s): ECON 201, 202 and BA 313 or ECON 410.

ECON 417. Health Economics
Economic analysis of the dynamics of health care provision and consumption in the U.S. Discussion of health
care costs, access, legislation and international comparison of health care systems. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201
and 202.

ECON 420. Senior Seminar
This course is the capstone of the undergraduate economics experience and it integrates the economics core.
The student will select a research topic, construct a model or literary framework, and apply it to the problem. A
baccalaureate test of the knowledge and proficiency in the economics core will be administered as part of
student assessment. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201, 202, 301, 302, 305, 306, and 308.

BA 422. Agricultural Issues and Policy
An advanced course in the agriculture concentration. Topical coverage includes: farm subsidies and support,
climate change, food safety, foreign trade, agricultural ethics, drug cultivation, “food stamps” (SNAP), and
immigration. Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 202.

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