Department of Economics & International Business

This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

Chair: Mark W. Frank     (936) 294-1265

Website: Department of Economics & International Business 

Vision

To develop outstanding Economics, International Business, and Business Analysis programs with faculty that is recognized for excellence in instruction, research, and service.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Economics and International Business is to support the mission of the University and the College of Business Administration by providing students with an academic foundation to become productive citizens, to develop successful careers, and to provide interested students with the background to pursue graduate or professional studies.  The Department will provide curricula that promote critical thinking skills and enhance decision making abilities, which help students become productive and informed citizens. Faculty will engage in research to create and disseminate new knowledge, develop quality-teaching skills, maintain high professional standards, and actively serve the University Community.

Academic Programs

The Economics program is intended for students seeking a logical, ordered way of looking at business problems. The principles, approaches, and conclusions derived from the study of economics form the basis for developing sound policies in business, government, and personal life decisions.

The International Business program is designed for students preparing for positions with business, government, or international agencies dealing with international trade and foreign investments. As a result of the growing importance of international trade in the world economy, domestic and multinational corporations face a growing need for employees with specialized training in matters relating to international trade.

Career Opportunities

The study of economics is an effective way to prepare for several types of careers, including:

  • Economic Consulting
  • Legal Profession
  • Government Sector
  • Market Research
  • Corporations and Financial Institutions
  • Graduate education in law, business, public administration, urban studies, and economics.

The study of international business is an effective way to prepare for several types of careers, including:

  • International Corporations
  • Federal and International Agencies, both public and private 
  • Graduate education in law, international business, public administration, and economics.

Suggested Minors

  • Accounting
  • A Foreign Language
  • Banking
  • Economics (for International Business majors)
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Math
  • Political Science

The Department of Economics and International Business offers a minor in economics and a minor in international business for students pursuing a major that requires or encourages a minor. 

Student Organizations

  • Economics and International Business Club
  • Omicron Delta Epsilon

Study Abroad

Students may earn academic credit toward their Economics and/or International Business degree by participating in one of the several faculty-led study abroad programs held each summer. For additional information, contact the Department Chair, the SHSU Office of International Programs, or visit the webpage: Study Abroad Information. Current study abroad programs include:

  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Aachen, Germany
  • Beijing, China

Internships

A student may earn a maximum of six hours in approved, supervised educational work experience in internships. Internship applications are available in the Departmental office. It is the responsibility of the student to identify the internship opportunity. In order to receive academic credit, a student must meet the eligibility conditions, obtain prior approval from the Department Chair, and meet the guidelines established by the College of Business Administration for monitoring the quality of the learning experience.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for economics and international business majors. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships using Scholarships4Kats at Financial Aid.  The Scholarships4Kats program is a single application that will allow the student to apply for most scholarships available on campus whether at the departmental, college, or university-level.  The deadline for applying for Department of Economics and International Business scholarships is December 31. Department of Economics and International Business scholarship recipients are announced in April for the following academic year. The specific scholarships that are available through the department vary from year to year and may include:

  • Armstrong Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Economics
  • Armstrong Foundation Endowed Scholarship in International Business
  • Assam Scholarship in Monetary Economics
  • Faculty Scholarship in Economics
  • Faculty Scholarship in International Business
  • William B. Green Scholarship in International Business

Business Analysis

BANA 2372. Business Analysis. 3 Hours.

This course is an introduction to the use of quantitative business techniques. Students will learn the following topics in this course: organizing and presenting data, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete and continuous distributions, systems of equations, modeling, optimization procedures, and statistical inference.
Prerequisite: MATH 1324 or MATH 1420 or MATH 1314.

BANA 3363. Inter Business Analysis. 3 Hours.

This course is a continuation of BANA 2372 and is designed to introduce the use of statistics as a business tool in the face of incomplete knowledge. Students will learn the following topics in this course: estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, goodness-of-fit measures, correlation, simple and multiple regression.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and BANA 2372.

BANA 3364. Operations Research. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will learn quantitative methods used in the analysis of business problems. Topics include: decision theory, linear programming, transportation and inventory models, Bayesian probability, and queuing theory.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and BANA 2372.

BANA 4080. Independent Study. 3 Hours.

BANA 4365. Intro To Bus Forecasting& Econ. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will apply statistical methods for business and economic forecasting and for hypothesis testing, estimation, and analyzing economic data.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2301, ECON 2302, and BANA 3363.

Economics 

ECON 1100. Economics of Social Problems. 1 Hour.

This course will develop needed critical thinking skills by requiring students to analyze the distributional effects, equity, benefits/costs, and unintended consequences of policies. Students will learn the importance of becoming engaged citizens with an emphasis on efficiency and equity issues. The course will enhance student offerings by providing an additional option to complete the one hour elective in the Social and Behavioral Science component of the university core.

ECON 2300. Introduction To Economics. 3 Hours.

This course is a combination of micro-economic and macro-economic principles. It is designed for those who are neither majors nor minors in economics but who would benefit from a one semester introduction to economic principles. No credit given for ECON 2300 if ECON 2302 or ECON 2301 previously completed.

ECON 2301. Principles Of Macroeconomics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will survey the following topics: the economic role of government, public finance and taxation, unemployment and inflation, national income theory, money and banking, economic fluctuations and growth, and international trade and finance.

ECON 2302. Principles Of Microeconomics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will survey basic economic principles including individual decision making, price theory, analysis of the firm, competition and monopoly, and the distribution of income.

ECON 3341. Comparative Economics Systems. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine market oriented, free enterprise capitalism, and its development, compared with alternative economic system.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3344. Cont International Issues Eco. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will survey current literature dealing with international trade and financial issues.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3351. Labor Economics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine unemployment, wage theory, collective bargaining, labor legislation, and proposals for the solution of labor problems. The recent problems of labor are given special consideration.
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3352. Energy & Environmental Econ. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine how human values, activities, and institutions affect the environment and how the tools of economics can be used to evaluate public policy alternatives designed to improve the quality of the environment.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3357. Intermediate Microeconomics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will study the following topics: pricing and output policies of firms; resource pricing; and distribution under condition of perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition.
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours and ECON 2302 and BANA 2372.

ECON 3360. Behavioral Economics. 3 Hours.

Students use economic tools coupled with insights from other behavioral sciences to better describe and predict human behavior as it relates to economic decisions, and to generate improved policy prescriptions. Topics may include prospect theory, judgment biases, self-control, financial anomalies, and incentives.
Prerequisite: 50 hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3370. Economics Of Business & Govt. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will study the complex relationship between the business sector and the public sector in the United States and in the global marketplace. Topics will include the regulation of business in its various formats and the promotion of business nationally and internationally.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3372. Intermediate Macroeconomics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine the following topics: national income concepts and measurements; the analysis of the factors influencing the level of national income, employment, price, and production; and applications to current problems.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2301 and BANA 2372.

ECON 3373. Urban And Regional Economics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will analyze issues of spatial economics, including why cities are formed, patterns of residential and business location, transportation problems, crime, poverty, and suburban sprawl.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 3374. Eco Of Public Fin & Public Pol. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine the function of government in the marketplace with emphasis on pubic goods, externalities, taxation, fiscal federalism, and cost-benefit analysis.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 4080. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.

Individual study arranged with a member of the Economics and International Business faculty. Conferences and written reports are typically required. A carefully prepared research paper concludes the course. This course may be taken for Academic Distinction Credit and can be used for internship credit. This course may be repeated. Variable Credit (1-3).
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours and departmental approval.

ECON 4085. Special Topic. 1-3 Hours.

This course of faculty-led study is designed to provide undergraduate students exposure to new Economics topics and concepts in a course setting. Variable credit (1-3).

ECON 4340. International Economics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will survey a wide range of topics of international economics with emphasis on international trade theory and policy.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 4348. Economic Development. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will examine the theoretical explanations and historical factors of economic development and underdevelopment, as well as analyze policies for accelerating development in third world countries.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2301 and ECON 2302.

ECON 4350. Health Economics and Finances. 3 Hours.

The health care sector compromises one-sixth of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and has grown continuously over the last 20 years. Given the large employment by the health care sector and the complex policy issues regarding health care, students will benefit from a clear understanding of the structure of the industry.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2302 or departmental approval.

ECON 4353. Economics Of Sports. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will apply economic principles to sports and analyze economic aspects of sports including: demand and supply, advertising, team output decisions, and league/conference organization role of government.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 4357. Managerial Economics. 3 Hours.

This course in an integration of economic tools of analysis with optimization techniques such as calculus, LaGrangian multipliers, and linear programming. Additional topics include risk analysis and decision-making under uncertainty, inventory control, profitability analysis, and capital budgeting.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed hours and ECON 2301 and ECON 2302 and BANA 3363 and FINC 3320.

ECON 4360. Intl Field Studies in Economic. 3 Hours.

This course is the study of economic policy, institutions, firms, and consumer behavior of the host country in a study abroad program.
Prerequisite: 50 Completed Hours, ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302, and departmental approval.

ECON 4362. Econometrics for Business. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the process of gathering and analyzing nonexperimental economic data. Students will analyze cross-sectional, time series, and panel data; using multiple regression techniques and interpret the results within an economics framework.
Prerequisite: BANA 3363 and ECON 3357 or FINC 3320.

ECON 4365. Intro To Bus Forecasting& Econ. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will apply statistical methods for business and economic forecasting and for hypothesis testing, estimation, and analyzing economic data.
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours and ECON 2301 and ECON 2302 and BANA 3363.

ECON 4373. Monetary Economics. 3 Hours.

In this course, students will study the role of money in a market economy with special attention given to national and international monetary and banking systems, as well as to their influence on the levels of income, employment, and international capital movements. (Taught only in the Fall.)
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.

ECON 4389. Internship. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to apply academic skills in a practical work environment under the supervision and guidance of a working professional.
Prerequisite: 50 completed hours, overall GPA of 2.5 or greater, ACCT 2301, ACCT, 2302, BANA 2372, ECON 2301, ECON 2302, and departmental approval.

Faculty

Director/Chair: Mark W. Frank

Milo D. Berg, PHD, Associate Professor of Business Analysis, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Texas A&M University; BSB, Univ of Minesota-Twin Cities

Donald L Bumpass, PHD, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Oklahoma State University; MS, Oklahoma State University; BA, Oklahoma State University

Mark W. Frank, PHD, Professor of Economics and Chair, Economics and International Business, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Texas At Dallas; MS, Univ of Texas At Dallas; BS, Texas A&M University

Fidel Gonzalez, PHD, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Texas At Austin; MS, Univ of Texas At Austin

Darren P Grant, PHD, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Florida State University; BS, Florida State University

Youn Oh Kim, PHD, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Southern California; MA, Univ of Southern California; BA, Ewha Womans Univ.

Santosh Kumar, PHD, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Houston-Main; MA, Univ of Houston-Main; MA, University of Delhi; BA, Ramjas College

Zijun Luo, PHD, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Kansas State University; BA, South China Normal University

Jessica Nicole Monnet, PHD, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Calif-Irvine; MS, Univ of Oregon; BA, Univ of Oklahoma-Norman

Valerie P Muehsam, PHD, Associate Professor of Business Analysis, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Texas A&M University; MBA, Sam Houston State University; BBA, Sam Houston State University

Hiranya K Nath, PHD, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Southern Methodist University; MA, Southern Methodist University; MPHIL, Jawaharlal Nehru University; MA, University of Delhi; BA, University of Delhi

Vlad Marius Radoias, PHD, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Southern California; MA, Central Michigan Univ; BA, Bucharest Acad of Eco Studies

Christian Werner Raschke, PHD, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, LSU & A&M College; MS, LSU & A&M College; BS, Southeast Missouri State Univ

Markland Howard Tuttle, PHD, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Tennessee-Knoxville; MBA, Sam Houston State University; BBA, Sam Houston State University

Interim Faculty

William B. Green, PHD, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, LSU & A&M College; MA, LSU & A&M College; BBA, Lamar University

Natalie D Hegwood, PHD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Analysis, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Houston-Main; MA, Univ of Houston-Main; BBA, Univ of Texas At Austin; BBA, Univ of Texas At Austin

Kevin Samuel Shaw Henning, PHD, Clinical Asst Professor of Business Analysis, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Texas Tech University; MS, Texas Tech University; BBA, University of The Southwest

George E. Samuels, PHD, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, PHD, Univ of Oregon; MA, Univ of Oregon; MA, Univ of Texas At Austin; BA, Univ of Texas At Austin

Raisa Tasnim Sara, MSC, Lecturer of Economics, Department of Economics & Intl Business, MSC, Univ of London - School Econ; BSC, Queen Mary Univ of London