BUSINESS ECONOMICS COURSES (ECON)

Coordinator: Dr. Ben L. Kyer

203 Introduction to Microeconomics (3) F, S, SU. Introduction to the role of individuals in economic decision-making, the determination of relative prices and output, and problems associated with resource allocation, monopoly, government regulation, and international trade. Freshmen are allowed to take Economics 203 if they have a minimum SAT score of 800 and a projected GPA of 2.0.

204 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3) F, S, SU. Introduction to the operation and behavior of the economy as a whole. Primary focus is the determination of the level of gross domestic product, the inflation rate, and the unemployment rate. Additional topics include interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, and an introduction to international economics.

250 Introduction to the Basic Principles of Economics (3) (Prerequisite: Education 299) As Needed. Study of microeconomics and macroeconomics within the context of the market economy. Examination of economic problems associated with monopoly, poverty, pollution, unemployment, and inflation. Other topics are government, international trade, money, and banking. Credit may not be applied to any degree offered by the School of Business. Credit toward graduation may not be earned in both Economics 203-204 and Economics 250.

300 Economic History of the United States (3) (Same as History 300) S. Development of business attitudes, institutions, organizations, and technology from the world of the colonial entrepreneur through stages of specialization and integration to the establishment of our modern industrial economy.

310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (3) (Prerequisite: 203) F, SU. Application of economic analysis as it relates to decisions by individuals and firms under various market structures. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills and on applying consumer and producer theory to decisions of individuals, businesses and government.

320 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (3) (Prerequisite: 204) F, SU. Examines the Classical, Keynesian, and IS-LM models of the macroeconomy. The use of monetary and fiscal policy to achieve low rates of inflation and unemployment and an acceptable rate of economic growth is also studied.

321 Money and Banking (3) (Prerequisite: 204) S, SU. Characteristics and functions of money in the modern economy, the Federal Reserve System, and an introduction to financial intermediation, institutions and monetary policy. Emphasis is placed on credit markets, the fractional reserve banking system, and its relationship to financial markets.

323 Urban and Regional Economics (3) (Prerequisite: 203) SU. Study of the growth and development of urban and rural areas of the United States. Topics include industrial, agricultural, and business location; labor migration; urbanization; benefit-cost analysis; and regional objectives and policies.

325 International Economics (3) (Prerequisite: 203) S. International trade and monetary theory including commercial policy, trade restrictions and trade blocs, exchange rate determination, and the balance of payments. Emphasis is on applying economic analysis to international events and issues to improve understanding of how the world economy operates.

340 Environmental and Natural Resources Economics (3) (Prerequisite: 203) F. Examines the relationship between the market system and natural resources. Topics include: economic appraisal of energy policy; resource depletion; economic role of fisheries; pollution control of air, land, and water, regional and global air pollutants; and capital theory.

397 Special Topics in Economics (3) (Prerequisites: previous economics course or permission of school). In-depth study of an area of interest in economics. May be taken twice for academic credit with departmental approval.

400 Public Finance (3) (Prerequisite: 203) S. Examines government spending and taxation as they relate to the provision of public goods, the redistribution of income, and the stabilization of the economy.

405 Development of Economic Thought (3) (Prerequisite: 203 and 204) F. Examines the history of economic thought from the Ancient Greeks to John Maynard Keynes, with special emphasis on Adam Smith, Karl Marx, the marginalist revolution, and Alfred Marshall.

410 Labor Economics (3) (Prerequisite: 310) F. Examines the nature of the labor market and problems dealing with labor groups. Topics include history of the labor movement, union structures, labor law, and collective bargaining.

450 Senior Seminar in Economics (3) (Prerequisite: 310, 320) This course is designed for seniors majoring in Economics and will focus on selected economic issues. Emphasis will be placed on reading, discussion, debate, and preparation of reports and papers on the topics chosen.

497 Special Studies (3), (2), or (1) (Prerequisite: Permission of school) As Needed. Open only to juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their major courses. A maximum of 3 semester hours may be earned. All individual research projects are reviewed by three faculty members from two different disciplines.