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California State University Bakersfield |
| 2005 - 2007 Catalog |
General Information Program Description
Lower Division Courses Upper Division Courses Graduate Courses
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Department Office: Business Development Center, A247 Telephone: (661) 654-2460 email: dtorres@csub.edu Website: www.csub.edu/Econ/ Faculty: E. Bataille, D. Du, R. Gupta, S.A. Hegde, D. Oswald
Economics is the science of scarcity and of how societies organize the production and distribution of goods and services. Knowledge of economics can make a significant contribution to citizenship, cultural and intellectual development, and career preparation in diverse areas such as diplomacy, banking and finance, business, law, government, or teaching. Economics is an analytical discipline that reinforces skills such as decision-making under uncertainty, making logical deductions and statistical inferences, and collecting and analyzing data. Economic analysis is the process of applying economic tools and the economic way of thinking to real-world problems. The Economics Department offers a wide variety of applied courses as well as standard courses in economic theory.
Economics majors who want to enter applied fields in government, industry, global management and finance, agriculture, diplomacy, public policy, and others, or apply to law school or, eventually, to graduate school, should meet with a department advisor to plan a Minor/Special Minor or area of emphasis and determine the electives that best complement their career goals. Students intending to do graduate work in Economics should complete the calculus sequence and/or a Minor in Mathematics. Students planning to teach social studies at the secondary level can major in Economics and, at the same time, satisfy requirements for the Social Studies Teacher Preparation Program. Required courses for majors must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics is a versatile degree program. It can be customized to suit student interests (see fields of interest below) and career goals. An economics advisor can help the student select a minor or design a special minor that strongly complements the economics major.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Economics
A. Lower Division Requirements MATH 120 and 140 ECON 201 and 202
B. Upper Division Requirements ECON 301, 302, 306, 420, and 490 Four (4) economics electives
The following are suggested courses in various fields of interest: Agriculture, Resource and Environmental Economics ECON 320, 370, 371, 372, 373, 390, 395, 421, 453, and 495 Business Economics ECON 303, 340, 341, 404, 440, 441, 451, and 465 Development Economics ECON 307, 324, 325, 341, 343, 371, 372, 373, 395, 410, 440, 453, and 495 Economic History ECON 304, 305, 306, and 307 Financial Economics ECON 303, 340, 341, 430, 435, 440, and 441 Global Economics ECON 303, 307, 311, 312, 340, 341, 342, 343, 372, 373, 395, 440, and 441 Law and Economics ECON 303, 305, 307, 370, 404, 435, 453, and 465 Public Policy ECON 307, 310, 320, 341, 342, 343, 370, 371, 372, 373, 404, 421, 435, 453 and 465
C. Minor or Special Minor Note: The minor or special minor appears on both the student’s transcript and diploma together with the Bachelor of Arts in Economics. It is indicative of another area of expertise other than economics.
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Pre-Law Concentration
In our nation’s most prestigious law schools today, the study of law is being combined with the economic analysis of the law. Economics has become a very popular undergraduate major for those students interested in going on to law school. The BA in Economics, Pre-Law concentration combines the strengths of Economics with those of other related disciplines, to provide students with exceptional career preparation.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Pre-Law Concentration: A. Lower Division Requirements MATH 120 and 140 ECON 201 and 202
B. Upper Division Requirements ECON 301, 302, 306, 404, 420, and 490 Three (3) economics electives
C. Special Minor: Four courses selected from the following. Two courses must be taken from Philosophy and two from Political Science. PHIL 311 Marx and Marxism PHIL 332 Ethics Theory PHIL 333 Political Philosophy or PLSI 333 Political Philosophy and Thought PHIL 334 Law and Morality PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic PHIL 498 Special Topics PLSI 314 Judicial Power and the Constitution PLSI 315 Civil Liberties PLSI 370 Legal Reasoning
The Social Science Teacher Preparation Program within the BA in Economics
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) has authorized CSUB to offer an approved single subject teacher preparation program in Social Science. The generic Social Science Teacher Preparation Program is listed under Teacher Preparation/Subject Matter Programs. The following course pattern satisfies all requirements for the Social Science Teacher Preparation Program within the BA in Economics.
Requirements for the Social Science Preparation Program
Basic Core Requirements (13 courses, 65 quarter units)
1. Early US History (1 course) HIST 231 2. Modern US History (1 course) HIST 232 3. Foundations of Western Civilization (1 course) HIST 202, 204, 210, 211 4. Making of the Modern World (1 course) HIST 102, 206 5. World Civilization: Asia and Africa (1course) ECON 311, 312 6. Cultural Geography (1 course) ECON 395 7. American Government/US Constitution (1 course) PLSI 314, 315, 316, 317 8. International Relations/Comparative Government (1 course) HIST 436; PLSI 304, 306, 309, 404 9. Microeconomics (1 course) ECON 201 10. Macroeconomics (1 course) ECON 202 11. Cultural and Ethnic Perspectives (1 course) HIST 460, 465, 466, 468; RS 326; SOC 327, 335, 336, 337, 338 12. Gender Perspectives (1 course) ECON 380 13. California Perspectives (1 course) HIST 370, 371; PLSI 319
Breadth and Perspectives (5 courses, 22 quarter units)
14. US History (1 course) HIST 351, 352, 356, 357, 358, 359 15. World Civilization: Europe, Latin America (1 course) ANTH 350; HIST 306, 307, 308, 309, 325, 340, 442, 443; PLSI 309 16. International Comparative Economics (1 course) ECON 311, 410, 440 17. Ethnic and Religious Perspectives (1 course) RS 110, 111, 316, 320, 323, 348 18. Integrative Course (1 course) INST 390
Additional Requirements for the BA in Economics (7 courses, 35 quarter units) 1. Lower Division Requirements MATH 120 and 140 2. Upper Division Requirements ECON 301, 302, 306, 420 and 490 3. Minor or Special Minor
Note: The Minor or Special Minor requirements can consist of (4) non-economics courses satisfying the Social Science Preparation Program requirements.
The Bachelor of Science in Economics
Requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Economics
A. Lower Division Requirements 1. MATH 120 and 140 2. ECON 201 and 202
B. Upper Division Requirements 1. ECON 301, 302, 306, 420, and 490 2. Five (5) Economics courses (see Areas of Emphasis for specifics)
C.
Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics
This emphasis is designed to train students for careers geared toward effectively managing the country’s agricultural and natural resources and protecting the environment. Students learn to apply economic concepts to allocative problems in resource and environmental economics and develop skills in a variety of applied areas such as agricultural and natural resource economics, environmental economics, agricultural trade and agricultural finance.
a. Economics electives must include at least two of the following courses: ECON 370, 371, 372, or 373. b. Completion of 25 quarter units (or five courses) of transferable course work from one of the following Associate Degree programs: Agricultural Business Management, Animal Science, Crop Science, Forestry, Horticulture, Ornamental Horticulture, or comparable programs.
Global Economics
There is scarcely a profession, occupation or trade in the world today that is not affected directly or indirectly, by global or international considerations. Increased global interdependence has greatly expanded the need for managers and analysts with at least some knowledge of world affairs and foreign cultures. The Global Economics area of emphasis gives students a distinct advantage, preparing them for careers in diplomacy, law, education, business, government, finance, banking, journalism, research, demography, public policy, etc.
a. Economics electives must include: ECON 340 and 341 or 440 and at least two of the following: ECON 303, 305, 307, 311, 312, 341, 342, 343, 372, 373, 410, 430, 440, or 441. b. Completion of 25 quarter units or five globally or internationally focused courses in one or more of the following related disciplines: Anthropology, Environmental Studies, History, Business, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology, and other related fields.
Social Science
Economics is a major social science and its concepts can be applied to a wide variety of issues common to the other social sciences. This multi-disciplinary emphasis is designed for students interested in the interdisciplinary applications of economics.
a. Economics courses must include two of the following economics electives: ECON 307, 310/510, 320/421, 381, 385, 435, 453 or 482. b. Completion of 25 quarter units or five approved courses in one or more of the following areas of study: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Geography. Social Work, or other social science disciplines.
3+2 Program: BS Economics-Masters in Social Work (A special case of the Social Science Area of Emphasis)
This special combined degree program leads to the completion of the BS in Economics and the Masters in Social Work in five years. This is a special version of the BS Social Science emphasis. Students must complete five MSW courses instead of the five non-Economics social science courses listed above.
a. Economics electives must include: ECON 307/435, 310/510, 381, 385/482, and 453. b. Completion of the following Masters in Social Work courses: SW 510, 530, 541, 610, 620, and 630. Note: Economics majors should try to complete as many required courses as possible before enrolling in economics electives.
The Minor in Economics
The minor in economics is an excellent complement to any degree program. Students who choose to minor in economics gain fundamental knowledge of both macro- and microeconomic principles and can elect to deepen their knowledge in one or more applied areas of economics by selecting the appropriate upper division electives.
Required courses: 1. ECON 201 Essentials of Microeconomics 2. ECON 202 Essentials of Macroeconomics 3. Two upper division economics courses. (See fields of interest under the Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Economics).
Lower Division
ECON 100 Economic Way of Thinking (5) Introduction to economic analysis and the application of economic analysis to policy problems. The course covers the essentials of microeconomics and macroeconomics including the price system, market organization, stabilization theory and policy, and international trade and finance. In-depth investigation into selected problems as determined by current events.
ECON 105 Personal Economics (5) Personal economic and financial planning problems that individuals and families encounter during the course of their lives. Topics include saving and investment decisions, insurance needs, income taxation, job opportunity analysis, current economic conditions, portfolio and credit management, and retirement planning. This activity-oriented course will incorporate simulations of the Stock Market.
ECON 201 Essentials of Microeconomics (5) Value and distribution theory, including the theory of household behavior, the theory of the firm, and the pricing of factors of production. Emphasis on tools of economic thinking and the historical development of these tools. Selected operational content also provided. Lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: passage of ELM Test. [F,W,S]
ECON 202 Essentials of Macroeconomics (5) Theories of income, employment, and price level. Both the income-expenditure approach and the monetarist approach are studied. Emphasis on tools of economic thinking and the historical development of these tools. Selected operational content also provided. Lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: passage of ELM Test. [F,W,S]
ECON 277 Contemporary Economic Issues (5) An overview of the essentials of business economics. Topics include the economic way of thinking, market mechanism, money and banking, stabilization policy, market structure, economic role of government, human resource and operations management, human capital investment, international trade, marketing and business development, and social responsibility of business enterprises.
ECON 289 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units) Evaluation and assessment of learning, which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office.
ECON 301 Intermediate Microeconomics (5) Theory construction and application in the areas of consumer choice and demand, production and cost, competitive markets, general equilibrium, and welfare economics. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or equivalent.
ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics (5) Keynesian and classical theories of the determination of the level of economic activity. Emphasis is placed on the role of money and the price level. Analysis of monetary and fiscal policy with concentration on the tools of economic analysis. Lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: ECON 202 or equivalent.
ECON 303 Game Theory (5) Game theory is the study of how economic agents make decision in multi-agent decision problems, taking into account the decisions and responses of others. It is essentially a technique for analyzing how people behave strategically in their interaction with others. Topics covered include: games of complete and perfect information, games of incomplete and imperfect information, normal and extensive forms, equilibrium concepts, static and dynamic games, repeated games, as well as applications to market behavior, environmental management, bargaining, auctions, negotiation, institution design, international trade, politics and conflict. Prerequisites: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 304 Development of the American Economy (5) A study of the economic forces that have shaped both the United States and California history. The course begins with Colonial America and continues through the latter half of the 20th century. Included in the exploration of United States history are the following specific topics: Early Exploration, the Colonial Era, the War for Independence, the Development of the Constitution and the Early Republic, the Civil War, the Rise of Industrial America. With respect to California, emphasis is placed on the role of California (e.g., the Gold Rush) in leading the national economy along the path of long run growth. In this exploration we will be utilizing the tools of economic analysis.
ECON 305 Political Economy of Pre-Modern West: Plato to Adam Smith (5) This course examines the pre-modern economies of the West from the ancient Greeks up to the dawn of the industrial revolution in the eighteenth century. It highlights the ways in which these economies were or were not modern and explains the differences in the context of the cultures within which they were embedded. The course also examines the ideas that people used before Smith to understand their economic world. Finally, it explores how these ideas dramatically changed during the course of the scientific revolution and how that transformation in thought helped to give rise to the political economy of Adam Smith. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 306 History of Economic Ideas: Adam Smith to Present (5) This course introduces students to the major theories that have formed the growth of modern economics as well as theorists who contributed to their development. After a brief look at the intellectual background to the eighteenth century, including mercantilism and the Physiocratic School, the rise and expansion of classical political economy from Smith to Ricardo and J.S. Mill are studied. Nineteenth century critics of orthodox political economy are examined. The significance of the nineteenth century marginalist revolution and the twentieth century developments in neoclassical theory are studied together with the Keynesian revolution and postwar developments in policy and theory. In addition, the course will focus on some of the methodological theories that have guided economists in their efforts to create a science of economics.
ECON 307 Political Economy (5) This course focuses on the application of economic logic to collective decision making in non-market contexts. We introduce the concept of rationality, economic justifications for collective action, voluntary cooperation, economic theories of institutions, and different rules for aggregating preferences. Analysis of economic theories of public policy making and implementation in a representative democracy, including legislatures, administrative agencies, courts, and federal systems of government. Study of spatial models of politics in elections and legislatures. Prerequisites: ECON 100 or 201.
ECON 309 Economy and Society (5) Application of economic theory to area studies, topics from California, United States, and world history, and enduring social problems. This activity-oriented course will incorporate simulations of the Stock Market Simulation, a biannual enrichment activity sponsored by the university’s Center for Economic Education and Research. This course cannot be used as an elective towards the major in Economics.
ECON 310 Economics of Health and Health Care (5) Demand and supply of health care services and methods of financing health care expenditures. Topics include health care production, asymmetric information, demographic trends, medical insurance industry, government insurance programs, medical risk and liability, health care reform, and comparative health care systems. Prerequisite: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 311 The Pacific Rim Economies (5) Economic developments in China, Japan, and the newly industrialized economies of East Asia. Trade in the Pacific Rim. Places economic development in its cultural/geographic context and critically examines economic institutions and policies. Recommended: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 312 Economies of the Middle East and North Africa (5) A multi-disciplinary study of economic development in the Middle East and North Africa. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring policy measures that can lead the region toward long term interdependence, stability, and growth. Recommended: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 315 Economics of Sports (5) The Economics of Sports applies the tools of three core microeconomic fields-industrial organization, public finance, and labor economics to the examination of both professional and college sports. Topics to be studied include, but is not limited to, the prevalence of monopoly power in the sports industry, the financing of stadiums and teams, the growth of union power, salary determination and the incidence of racial discrimination. Prerequisite: ECON 201.
ECON 320 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in the Social Sciences (5) An introduction to the basic principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with applications to a variety of problems using established data sources. The course includes fundamental principles of cartographic design and communication, however, students are expected to become proficient users of ArcView GIS Software package. Lab sessions cover step-by-step GIS practice in the real world, including working with public domain data, importing data into GIS, creating a GIS database, performing spatial analysis with tools, building GIS models, and presenting results.
ECON/GEOG 324 Urbanization in the United States (5) Spatial evolution of the American urban system from the late 1700s through the present; changing spatial organization of urban and rural economic activities and the link to the physical geography, impact of developments in transportation, technology, and economic structure on urban areas, and growth and decline of American cities.
ECON/GEOG 325 Economic Geography of California (5) Population growth in California; physical resources and economic development of California; relationships between human settlement patterns and locations of economic activities in California; and the role of water in human and economic location patterns.
ECON 340 Global Economics (5) This course is a comprehensive study of the global economy and the multi-faceted process of globalization. It involves discussions of global economic policies and issues, international monetary and financial markets, comparative advantage and its sources, trade policies and their effects, regionalism and multilateralism, balance of payments and foreign exchange markets, exchange rate systems, global money and banking, arbitrage power, cost and benefits of globalization, industrial structure and trade, the role of the public sector in the global economy, the role of technology in globalization, and an analysis of financial crises.
ECON 341 Globalization and Development (5) This course uses a case study approach to the study of globalization and growth. It uses an applied empirical approach to learning about macroeconomic management, economic development, international trade, and the cross border flows of goods and services and capital. Economic activities such as trade, investments in equities and debt, tourism, development of intellectual property, and financial transactions, have become internationalized. This is the current context in which businesses must operate. Students learn how to conduct an assessment of international environments and political-economic strategies deployed in major world regions. They perform a “country analysis”, which allows them to draw conclusions about market growth, labor costs, inflation and exchange rate stability, direct investment opportunities, etc. Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 202 or permissions of instructor.
ECON 342 Global Conflict and Security (5) This course deals with the role of economics in managing and mitigating international conflict and raising the level of international security. The economic challenges to the provision and maintenance of a level of global security that is conducive to the growth, integration, and development of the world economy shall be studied in this course. Theoretical and empirical models that help us understand the dynamics of global conflict processes, the costs of conflict, issues in conflict management, and the mechanics of global security provision shall be investigated. Important policy issues facing governments and international organizations that undertake to enhance international security will also be covered. Prerequisite: ECON 100 or ECON 201 (recommended) or permission of instructor.
ECON 343 Economics of Immigration Policy (5) The economic effects if various immigration policies, their impact on labor markets, as well as their relationship to national security are explored. The focus is on understanding and analyzing immigration policy, as well as their consequences on society and the economy. This course will also consider immigration policy development. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 202 or permission of instructor.
ECON 370 Economics of Environmental and Safety Regulation (5) Topics to include: static and dynamic efficiency and market failure; economic analysis of air, water, solid waste, and toxic policies; energy and the environment; benefit-cost policy analysis and case studies; tort and insurance issues; incentive-based regulations; monitoring and enforcement issues; risk assessment, management, and communication; global issues and agreements. Prerequisite: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 371 Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources (5) Economic policy analysis of agriculture and natural resources with emphasis on California agriculture. Topics include the structure and organization of US agriculture-food system specifically the operation, financing, linkages, and functions of its components; the economic aspects of a wide range of environmental issues including air and water pollution, optimal forest and fisheries management, and recycling. Cost-benefit policy analysis and case studies; international issues. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 372 Agricultural Trade Policy (5) An introduction to practical considerations of agricultural trade and trade policy analysis. Emphasis is placed on concepts of agricultural trade, analysis of trade policies of major trading partners and the export/import marketing of agricultural products. Also the interdependencies between the world’s food, populations and equitability/poverty problems and possible solutions are explored. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or equivalent or permission of instructor.
ECON 373 Agricultural Finance (5) The objective of this course is to provide students with the tools necessary to evaluate and manage risk in the agricultural industry. This course provides an introduction to the economic theory, organization, and operating principles of agricultural commodity futures markets in the U.S. Emphasis is placed on speculating, hedging, and investing in agricultural commodity futures contracts from the standpoint of the agribusiness entrepreneur. Capital theory is also visited. Prerequisites: ECON 201, Math 120/140 or permission of instructor.
ECON 377 Current Economic Issues (3-5) A study of the current economic and social issues such as education, health, taxation, social security, welfare reform, public debt, international trade, military spending, and financial market performance. May be repeated for different course content. Prerequisite: ECON 202 or permission of instructor.
ECON 380 Gender and Diversity in Workplace (5) Development of topics in labor economics from the perspectives of gender studies. Considerations of both national trends and international comparisons. Topics include household production and time allocation, labor force participation, human capital accumulation, regional mobility, and occupational choices, wage differentials, discrimination, and poverty. Prerequisite: any introductory course in social and behavioral sciences or permission of instructor.
ECON 381 Race, Gender and Prosperity in America (5) Investigation of reasons for economic success and failures of minority members within our economy. This course will start with the main economic tools necessary for policy analysis, move on to economic status, causes and cures, and finish with discrimination. Social policies will be examined including but not restricted to equal employment opportunity and equality of income for Women, Hispanics, and African Americans. Prerequisite: any introductory course in social and behavioral sciences or permission of instructor.
ECON 385 Educational Policy and Diversity (5) Universal education for all is a cornerstone of democracy. Extolled, criticized and reinvented, public education continues to play a crucial role in fostering “equal economic opportunity” – an ideal held dearly by many in the U.S. This course examines the role played by education in mitigating the differences in economic opportunities and outcomes by race, gender and class. This course is a culminating and diversity course for Liberal Studies majors but can also count as an elective towards the economics major or minor.
ECON 390 Regional Economic Study (1-3) A study performance of the local and regional economies, leading to a publication in the Kern Economic Journal. The student will work independently under the direction of a faculty sponsor in completing a project.
ECON 395 Economic Geography (5) An examination of the spatial organization of economic activities. Topics include population dynamics and migration, natural resources and location, transportation and communication networks, agriculture and rural land use, urban land use, city location and urban hierarchies, industrial location, world economic regions, and international trade and investment patterns. Course also includes an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). (This course is also listed as GEOG 395 under “Interdisciplinary Courses.”). This course cannot be used as an elective towards the major in economics.
ECON 404 Law and Economics (5) Law and economics involves a historical survey of the application of economic principles to the law and the contemporary use of economic principles to analyze the structure and effects of property, contract and tort law. Students engage in legal research using Lexis/Nexis in order to analyze the economic content of specific cases. The implications of the economic analysis of law for important policy issues are explained. Prerequisite: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 410 International Economic Development (5) Analysis of major economic impediments to Third World development. Topics include: the structural changes accompanying development, theories of development, impediments to development, role of the international sector, and government policy. Prerequisite: one economics course, or permission of instructor.
ECON 420 Introduction to Econometrics (5) A study of the essentials of econometric theory with computer-based applications. This course will enable students to construct empirical models, collect data, apply appropriate estimation techniques, and interpret the estimation results for decision making. Prerequisite: MATH 120 and 140 or their equivalent.
ECON 421/ERM 421 GIS Applications (5) This course is designed to enhance students’ existing Geographic Information System (GIS) skills and to apply those skills to real-world projects. Learning GIS usually does not really occur until one is faced with data constraints, data error, and the expectation of saying something meaningful and useful given limited resources. This course will provide such an environment. The Advanced GIS and Applications course will be mostly devoted to the analysis of real-world examples and will explore the techniques and procedures required for answering common questions in the environmental resource management field.
ECON 430 Money and Banking (5) A study of the banking system, the demand and supply of money, monetary policy, the quantity theory of money, the interest rate, the theory of portfolio choice, and international finance. Prerequisite: ECON 202 or permission of instructor.
ECON 435 Public Finance (5) This course deals with the economic role of governments in market economies. Topics covered include market efficiency, welfare, externalities, missing markets, pure and impure public goods, club goods, solutions to the externalities problem, preference revelation mechanisms, management of common property resources, cost-benefit analysis, principles of taxation, public sector economics, collective action, voting models, and government intervention in education and health sectors. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 440 International Economics (5) Theory, and policy analysis pertaining to world payments systems, open economy macroeconomics, international trade, multinational enterprises and direct foreign investment, and the international migration of labor. Prerequisite: one economics course or permission of instructor.
ECON 441 Financial Economics (5) This course develops the main arguments in financial theory from an explicitly economic perspective. Financial economics involves the examination of the roles of time, uncertainty and information in economic transactions. This course analyzes financial institutions from a perspective of information theory. We consider the theories of decision-making under uncertainty and asymmetric information. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 451 Managerial and Decision Economics (5) Application of empirical methods to managerial decisions. Topics include estimation of demand, sales forecasts, business conditions analysis, estimation of production and cost functions, pricing and advertising, and capital budgeting. Case studies and software applications. Prerequisite: ECON 201, MATH 120 and 140 or equivalents, or permission of instructor.
ECON 453 Cost Benefit Analysis (5) The concepts and techniques for the analysis and evaluation of the worth of products, services, systems, and structures in relation to their cost, in real and normal terms. Economics and accounting cost concepts, calculating economic equivalencies, comparison of alternatives over time and over value, replacement economy, economic optimization in design and operations, and after-tax analysis. Present values, future values, and discounting are also covered. Prerequisites: MATH 120 and 140 or equivalents, and one course in economics or permission of the instructor.
ECON 465 Industrial Organization and Strategic Behavior (5) Theoretical and empirical aspects of oligopoly theory. Price and non-price competition. The structure, conduct, and performance of selected American industries. Considerations of both antitrust policy and managerial perspectives. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 477 Selected Topics in Economics (1-5) An in-depth study of an area of economics not included in current course offerings. May be repeated for different course content. Prerequisites as announced.
ECON 480 Labor Economics (5) A study of labor force participation, labor demand, education and training, wage differentials, regional and occupational mobility, labor unions, and discrimination, poverty, and income distribution. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or permission of instructor.
ECON 482 Economics of Child and Family Policy (5) Public policy regarding children and families has become a major focus of debate and activity at the federal, state, and local levels. Topics are many and diverse, including welfare reform, child care intervention programs, contraception and abortion, economic resources and poverty, teenage pregnancy, and child support enforcement. Important domains of study are the economic of family, child and adolescent development, demography, gerontology, family functioning, sociological and social services.
ECON 489 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units) Evaluation and assessment of learning, which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office.
ECON 490 Senior Seminar (6) Student proposes and conducts an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Student also compiles a portfolio of course materials for the assessment of the learning outcomes. Student should plan to take two quarters to complete the course. Prerequisite: upper class standing and completion of pertinent course work.
ECON 495 Urban and Regional Economics (5) A study of economic theories of urban and regional development. Topics include: economic base and industry composition analysis; location of economic activity; principles of urban economic development, housing, transportation, poverty and unemployment and municipal finance; forecasting of economic activity using census and socioeconomic data; analysis of economic forces which influence spatial patterns and the relationship between spatial patterns, public services, land use planning and land use control processes. Prerequisite: ECON 201, or ECON 395, or consent of instructor.
ECON 496 Internship in Economics (1-5) Internships may be arranged by the department with various agencies, business, or industries. The assignments and coordination of work projects with conferences and readings, as well as course credits, evaluation, and grading, and the responsibility of the faculty liaison (or course instructor) working with the field supervisor. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. Department will determine credits and application of credit.
ECON 497 Cooperative Education (5) The Cooperative Education program offers a sponsored learning experience in a work setting, integrated with a field analysis seminar. The field experience is contracted by the Cooperative Education office on an individual basis, subject to approval by the department. The field experience, including the seminar and reading assignments, is supervised by the cooperative education coordinator and the faculty liaison (or course instructor), working with the field supervisor. Students are expected to enroll in the course for at least two quarters. The determination of course credits, evaluation and grading are the responsibility of the departmental faculty. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. Department will determine application of credit.
ECON 499 Individual Study (1-5) Consent of department for the offering of independent studies.
ECON 500 Economic Theory (5) Economic theory for MBA candidates. Application of theory to business analysis. Topics include supply and demand analysis, cost theory, market structure, national income and interest rate determination and economic conditions analysis. (Not open to students who have completed ECON 201 and 202.)
ECON 510 Health Economics (5) Economics and financing of health care. Topics include an economic perspective on health industry trends, health production functions, demographic trends and the demand for health care, markets for health professionals, hospital economics, risk and medical insurance, tort law and medical malpractice, regulation of health care, international comparisons of health care systems, and reform proposals.
ECON 661 Managerial Economics (5) A study of the tools of economic analysis oriented toward analysis of managerial behavior and the managerial decision making process as related to demand analysis, cost and pricing problems, market organization, forecasting, capital budgeting, and location analysis. Carries credit in either Business Administration or Economics (This course is also listed as INST 661 under “Interdisciplinary Courses.”)
ECON 699 Individual Graduate Study (1-5) Investigation of an approved project leading to a written report. Project selected in conference with professor in area of major interest; regular meetings to be arranged with professor.
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