Economics (ECON)
ECON 1100. Economics of Social Problems. 1 Hour.
Students build critical thinking skills by analyzing the distributional effects, benefits and costs, and potential unintended consequences of public policies. The course may emphasize the importance of active civic engagement. It also broadens student opportunities by providing an additional option for completing the one-hour elective in the Social and Behavioral Science component of the university core.
ECON 2300. Introduction To Economics. 3 Hours. [TCCN: ECON 1301]
Students gain a concise introduction to both microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, developing a foundational understanding of how individuals, firms, and economies make decisions. The course is intended for those who are not majoring or minoring in economics but who want the benefits of a one-semester overview of key economic concepts. Students should note that no credit is awarded for ECON 2300 if ECON 2301 or ECON 2302 has already been completed.
ECON 2301. Principles Of Macroeconomics. 3 Hours. [TCCN: ECON 2301]
Students gain a foundational understanding of macroeconomic performance measures, including GDP, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, and exchange rates, and learn what determines these variables. They also explore the role of government institutions and policies and develop insight into the nature and causes of short-run economic fluctuations.
ECON 2302. Principles Of Microeconomics. 3 Hours. [TCCN: ECON 2302]
Students gain an introduction to fundamental economic principles, including how individuals make decisions, how prices are determined, how firms operate, and how markets function under competition and monopoly. They also learn the basic concepts underlying the distribution of income.
ECON 3340. Economics and Business in the Global Economy. 3 Hours.
Students examine the foundations of the international business environment within the global environment. They explore the opportunities and challenges of doing business in the contemporary, ever-changing, and increasingly globalized world.
ECON 3341. Comparative Economics Systems. 3 Hours.
Students explore the development and functioning of market-oriented, free-enterprise capitalism and compare it with alternative economic systems. Through this comparative perspective, students gain a deeper understanding of how different systems allocate resources and shape economic outcomes.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3344. Contemporary International Issues in Economics. 3 Hours.
Students examine current literature on international trade and financial issues, gaining insights into global economic interactions, policy impacts, and the dynamics of international markets.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3351. Labor Economics. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of core labor economics principles, learning how workers and firms interact in the labor market. They explore topics such as unemployment, wage determination, human capital investment, and the effects of public policy, applying both theoretical models and real-world examples to critically analyze labor market outcomes.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3352. Energy and Environmental Economics. 3 Hours.
Students explore how human values, activities, and institutions impact the environment and learn to apply economic tools to evaluate public policy options aimed at improving environmental quality.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3357. Intermediate Microeconomics. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of how firms determine pricing and output, how resources are priced, and how income is distributed across different market structures, including perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition.
Prerequisite: ECON 2302 and BANA 2372 or MATH 1342.
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: 42 hours and ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3370. Economics of Business and Government. 3 Hours.
Students examine the interactions between the business sector and the public sector in the United States and globally. They learn how businesses are regulated in various contexts and how policies promote business activity both nationally and internationally.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 3372. Intermediate Macroeconomics. 3 Hours.
Students develop a deep understanding of key macroeconomic concepts and measurements, learning how income, employment, prices, and output are determined in an economy. They gain proficiency in core macroeconomic models, including the IS-LM and AD-AS frameworks for both closed and open economies, and apply these models to analyze macroeconomic shocks and evaluate economic policy issues.
Prerequisite: ECON 2301 and MATH 1342.
ECON 3374. Economics of Public Finance and Public Policy. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of the government’s role in the marketplace, exploring topics such as public goods, externalities, taxation, fiscal federalism, and cost-benefit analysis. They learn to evaluate how government actions influence economic outcomes and societal welfare.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 4080. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.
Students engage in individualized study under the guidance of an Economics or International Business faculty member, developing research, analytical, and writing skills through conferences, written reports, and a culminating research paper. The course may be taken for Academic Distinction Credit or internship credit and can be repeated to deepen learning. Variable credit (1–3). Course Equivalents: ECON 4380
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
ECON 4085. Special Topic. 1-3 Hours.
Students explore new and emerging topics in economics through faculty-led study, gaining exposure to advanced concepts that enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills. The course offers flexible credit (1–3) to match the depth of study desired. Course Equivalents: ECON 4385 .
ECON 4340. International Economics. 3 Hours.
Students gain a comprehensive understanding of international economics, exploring topics such as international trade theory and policy, international finance and payment systems, and international macroeconomics. They develop the skills to analyze global economic interactions and assess the effects of economic policies on international markets.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 4348. Development Economics. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of the core principles of development economics and the microeconomic foundations that influence individual and household behavior in developing countries. They explore topics such as poverty, inequality, human capital, credit markets, and the role of public policy in promoting growth and development, applying both theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to critically analyze development strategies and outcomes
Prerequisite: ECON 2301 and ECON 2302.
ECON 4350. Health Economics. 3 Hours.
Students apply microeconomic principles to analyze healthcare markets, including the demand and supply of services, market equilibrium under uncertainty, asymmetric information, and market failures. The course covers the role of insurance, risk management, and cost-effectiveness analysis, and emphasizes policy evaluation in real-world healthcare contexts.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2302 or departmental approval.
ECON 4353. Economics Of Sports. 3 Hours.
Students gain the ability to apply economic principles to the sports industry, analyzing aspects such as demand and supply, advertising, team output decisions, league and conference organization, and the role of government. They develop skills to evaluate how economic concepts influence decision-making and outcomes in sports contexts.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 4357. Managerial Economics. 3 Hours.
Students learn to apply economic theory to analyze and improve business decision-making. It includes such topics as market analysis, production and costs, pricing, choice under uncertainty, and strategic interactions.
Prerequisite: ECON 2302.
ECON 4360. International Field Studies in Economics. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of the economic policies, institutions, firms, and consumer behavior of a selected country, learning how its economy operates and interacts within the global marketplace. They develop skills to analyze national economic performance and assess the effects of policies on both domestic and international economic outcomes.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302, and departmental approval.
ECON 4362. Econometrics for Business. 3 Hours.
Students develop the skills to gather and analyze nonexperimental economic data, applying multiple regression techniques to cross-sectional, time series, and panel datasets. They learn to interpret results within an economic framework, enhancing their ability to make data-driven economic analyses and informed decisions.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302, and BANA 3363 or MATH/STAT 3379.
ECON 4365. Business & Economic Forecasting. 3 Hours.
Students apply descriptive statistical methods and inferential principles of estimation and hypothesis testing to create and evaluate forecasts of business and economic data. Course Equivalents: BANA 4365
Prerequisite: 42 completed hours and ECON 2301 and ECON 2302 and BANA 3363 or MATH/STAT 3379.
ECON 4370. Applied Data Tools for Economics and Business. 3 Hours.
Students learn how to analyze business data using advanced statistical methods, tools and software. Topics include data preparation, data visualization, and deployment of automated analytics pipelines using the appropriate computer software.
Prerequisite: BANA 2372 or MATH 1342.
ECON 4373. Monetary Economics. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of the role of money in the economy and how central banks, financial institutions, and markets influence the money supply, interest rates, and price levels. They develop skills in analyzing U.S. monetary policy, evaluating its effects on economic activity, and applying key theories to understand both domestic and international economic dynamics.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 4375. Urban Economics. 3 Hours.
Students explore the economic forces that shape cities and the location decisions of firms and households. Topics include the formation and growth of urban areas, spatial patterns of economic activity, and urban challenges such as transportation, poverty, and sprawl. Emphasis is placed on how market forces and public policies interact to influence urban development and performance.
Prerequisite: ECON 2300 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302.
ECON 4389. Internship. 3 Hours.
Students gain practical experience by applying academic knowledge in a professional work environment under the supervision of an experienced practitioner. They develop workplace skills, professional judgment, and a deeper understanding of how economic and business concepts are applied in real-world settings.
Prerequisite: Overall GPA of 2.5 or greater, ACCT 2301, ACCT 2302, ECON 2301, ECON 2302, BANA 2372 or MATH 1342, and departmental approval.
