Economics Courses

ECON 260 Business Statistics

Basic statistical procedures, concepts, and computer applications used in the business world. Descriptive statistics, probability, decision theory, probability distributions, sampling distributions, statistical inference, chi-square analysis, and correlation. Prerequisites: MATH 130, 134, or equivalent, sophomore standing. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: ECON 260 Dr. Teresa Ling - Summer 2008

Syllabus: ECON 260 Dr. Bridget Heidemann -  Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 260 Dr. Stacey Jones - Winter 2008

ECON 271 Principles of Economics - Macro

Organization, operation, and control of the American economy in its financial and sociopolitical settings; problems of inflation, unemployment, taxation, the public debt, money, and banking growth. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: ECON 271 Dr. Dean Peterson - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 271 Dr. Meena Rishi - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 271 Professor Alan van der Hilst - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 271 Dr. Joe Philips - Spring 2007

Syllabus: ECON 271 Dr. Stacey Jones - Fall 2006

ECON 272 Principles of Economics - Micro

Operation of the American economy with emphasis on prices, wages, production, and distribution of income and wealth; problems of the world economy. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: ECON 272 Professor Andy Ewing - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 272 Dr. Brian Kelly - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 272 Professor Peter Nickerson - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 272 Dr. Stacey Jones - Spring 2006

Syllabus: ECON 272 Dr. Timothy Sorenson - Winter 2006

ECON 310 Quantitative Methods and Applications

A continuation of ECON 260 with particular emphasis on the following topics: regression analysis, analysis of variance, reliability and validity, and linear programming. Major emphasis will be placed on computer applications of the quantitative methods applicable to business functional areas and on the enhancement of the student's communication, analytical, and computer skills. Prerequisite: ECON 260. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: ECON 310 Dr. Teresa Ling - Summer 2008

Syllabus: ECON 310 Dr. Stacey Jones - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 310 Dr. Mary Jean Rivers - Spring 2006

ECON 325 International Political Economy

Economics and politics of the international system. Trade policy and international gains from trade. Economic and political institutions and economic development. International financial institutions, exchange rates, international financial crises. Pros and cons of globalization. Cross-listed with INST 325. Prerequisite: ECON 271.

ECON 330 International Economic Events and Business Decisions

Develops the economic theory necessary to understand how the international macroeconomy works and influences the behavior and success of business. Emphasis on the impact of international macroeconomic events and how those events affect a firm's ability to compete. Prerequisites: ECON 271. Serves as intermediate macroeconomics course for economics majors and minors. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: ECON 330 Dr. Chris Weber - Winter 2008

Syllabus: ECON 330 Dr. Quan V. Le - Winter 2008

ECON 370 American Economic History

A study of the key developments in American economic history; application of economic analysis to historical data and events; development of economic institutions. Prerequisites: ECON 271, 272.

ECON 374 Intermediate Microeconomics

Demand, supply, costs, and market prices under competitive and imperfectly competitive market conditions. Relationships between price and costs; income and its functional distributions in a capitalistic society. Prerequisite: ECON 272, MATH 130 or MATH 134.

ECON 375 Asian Development Economics

Introduction to Asia and issues in economic development specific to Asia: "Asia as a myth", conceptualizing Asia; common issues for development in Asia; Asian-style democracy; international relations; autocracy, democracy, and development; policy formulation and reform; institutions and path dependency; NGOs; corruption and governance. Economic issues and problems in Japan, South East Asia, Korea, China and India. The New World Economy and the rise of China and India. Human rights, outsourcing, gender and globalization, and regional economic co-operation. Prerequisite: ECON 271.

Syllabus: ECON 375 Dr. Meena Rishi - Winter 2008

ECON 376 Economic Development

Developing nations: agriculture, industry, population, education, technology, exports, imports, capital and savings, unemployment. Trade agreements and foreign aid. Prospects and limits. Prerequisite: ECON 271, 272.

ECON 378 Financial Markets and Economic Development

Nature, function, and regulation of financial markets in the LDCs. Financial repression and liberalization and their effects; financial instability; connections between monetary policy, fiscal policy, and inflation; microfinance; exchange rate regimes; central banking in the LDCs; secondary financial markets in the LDCs; the LDC Debt Crisis; The Asian financial crisis; globalization and LDC financial markets; international financial institutions and the LDCs. Prerequisites: ECON 271, 272.

ECON 379 Comparative Economic Systems

A study of different market structures: capitalist, market socialist, centrally planned. Process of change and reform in Russia, China, and Eastern Europe. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272.

ECON 386 International Business Enterprise

Examines changes in the international competitive environment and how business should respond to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272. For international business, business economics, and international studies majors; does not fill requirement for economics majors or minors.

ECON 461 Economics of Gender and Family

Examines models of family decision-making and applications, such as marriage, divorce, division of labor and childcare. Analyzes competing explanations for the gender gap in earnings and employment. Considers viewpoints from mainstream economics to feminism. Prerequisite: ECON 272.

ECON 463 Applied Econometrics

Study of the theory and application of econometrics for students who need to understand and use regression, generalized least squares, and simultaneous equations. Prerequisites: MATH 130 or 134; ECON 310.

Syllabus: ECON 375 Dr. Bridget Hiedemann - Spring 2008

ECON 468 Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

Covers the economic analysis related to natural resource use, including depletable and renewable resources. Environmental topics include pollution, preservation, conservation, and development. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272.

Syllabus: ECON 468 Dr. Gareth Green - Winter 2006

ECON 470 History of Economic Thought

Major historical developments in economic thought, ancient to contemporary, Christian influence, mercantilism, laissez faire; German and Austrian schools, Marx and socialists; Keynes and neo-Keynesian analysis. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272. Can serve as Senior Synthesis for economics for Economics majors.

ECON 471 Government Finance

Revenues, expenditures, and debts of federal, state, and local governments; public-sector pricing and investment; government finance as means for social reform; shifting and incidence of taxes. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272.

Syllabus: ECON 471 Dr. Barbara Yates - Winter 2008

ECON 472 International Economics 

Pattern, organization, and promotion of U.S. and world trade. Trade theories and policies. Exchange rates, balance of payments and the operation of international monetary systems. WTO. European Integration. Multinationals in foreign trade. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272. (formerly titled International Trade)

Syllabus: ECON 472 Dr. Quan V. Le - Winter 2008

ECON 474 Forecasting Business Conditions

Introduction to casual and ad hoc time series methods of forecasting utilized by business firms. Regression, exponential smoothing, decomposition, and Box Jenkins methods are included. Prerequisites: ECON 271, 272 and 310.

ECON 475 Industrial Organization

Analysis of the market structure of American business and effects of different market structures or pricing, marketing, innovation, and profit seeking. Prerequisites: ECON 271 and 272. ECON 374 recommended.

ECON 477 Policy Analysis in International Development

Applied policy analysis for international development: Field research methods, internet data sources, statistical analysis, SWOT analysis, cost-benefit analysis, sector-wide approaches, project management, monitoring and evaluation. Applications include health care policy, environmental policy, education policy, and poverty reduction strategies. Prerequisites: ECON 271, 272, 310.

ECON 478 Urban/Regional Economics

The causes and consequences of the interdependencies of firms, individuals, households, and governmental units within the constrained space of urban areas. Problems of land, housing, transportation, labor, and public services. Prerequisite: ECON 272.

ECON 479 Economic Growth

Sources and causes of long run economic growth; factors which have kept some countries from growing. Cross national data on income levels and other measures of economic well-being. Economic models used to explain the growth process. Theoretical and empirical models are used to analyze the impact of government policies on economic growth. Prerequisites: ECON 271, 272.

ECON 489 Senior Research

An advanced course providing the opportunity for students to pursue topics in breadth and depth, and to apply the tools of economic analysis to current issues in national and international economic policy. Prerequisite: permission of department chair and three faculty member committee. Limited to economics majors fulfilling Senior Synthesis requirement. Does not satisfy economics elective for business economics major or economics minor.

Finance Courses

FINC 340 Business Finance

Study of the financial policies and practices of business firms; planning, control, and acquisition of short-term and long-term funds; management of assets; evaluation of alternative uses of funds; capital structure of the firm; cost of capital; financing growth and expansion of business firms. Prerequisites: ECON 271, ACCT 230, and advanced standing in Albers School. (fall, winter, spring)

Syllabus: FINC 340 Professor Ekaterina Emm - Winter 2008

Syllabus: FINC 340 Professor Eric Wehrly - Winter 2008

FINC 342 Intermediate Corporate Finance

Working capital management, advanced capital budgeting, lease versus buy analysis, dividend policy, capital structure theory, long-term sources of finance and contingent claim as they apply to corporate financial management. Prerequisite: FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 342 Professor David Carrithers - Winter 2008

FINC 343 Financial Institutions and Markets

The nature, role, and operation of financial institutions and markets in the economy. The impact on the financial system and industries such as banking and insurance of rapidly changing structural, policy, and international conditions. Focus is on the institutional setting facing businesses today as they cope with financing and risk management concerns. (formerly numbered 443) Prerequisites: ECON 271, FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 343 Professor Ekaterina Emm - Winter 2008

FINC 344 Investments and Portfolio Theory

An introduction to financial investments: the theory, practice and empirical research. Emphasis is placed on developing the risk/return relationship. Topics include modern portfolio theory, (CAPM, APT) market efficiency, derivative assets (options, futures), the pricing of contingent claims, and the influence of taxes and inflation. Prerequisite: FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 344 Dr. Ruben Trevino - Winter 2008

FINC 440 Risk Assessment and Analysis

An introduction to the evolution, theory, and economics of risk. Develops emerging concept of enterprise risk management, exploring identification, measurement, prioritization and impact or operational, legal, political and financial/market risk, including next generation risk in a rapidly changing global environment. Application of analytical tools for value at risk model to information systems for risk analysis. Prerequisite: FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 440 Dr. Fred DeKay - Winter 2006

FINC 441 Case Problems in Finance

Through the use of cases, students develop skills in identifying problems, conducting analysis, and using financial theory for making decisions in simulated business settings. Investigates strategies for linking risk management with overall corporate strategy. Prerequisite: FINC 342.

FINC 445 Financial Risk Management 

Develops a methodology to establish an organizations risk tolerance policy based on financial capacity and operational strategy. Evaluates risk financing methods and derivative solutions. The use of financial derivatives, including options, futures, swaps and other financial instruments for hedging price, interest rate, currency risks. Explores why all these strategies are not static as business and market conditions change. Prerequisite: FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 445 Dr. Ivilina Popova - Winter 2008

Syllabus: FINC 445 Dr. Fiona Robertson - Spring 2006

FINC 446 International Corporate and Trade Finance

Investigates techniques used to manage the financial activities of a corporation operating to an international environment. Addresses economic exposure of the firm to exchange rate changes, hedging techniques, capital budgeting, international capital markets, techniques of accessing blocked funds, foreign currency options, and other topics. Prerequisites: FINC 340.

Syllabus: FINC 446 Dr. Vinay Datar — Winter 2008

FINC 448 Capital Budgeting

Capital budgeting is the activity of allocating capital to alternative investment opportunities facing a firm. This course covers a wide variety of tools, techniques, and issues associated with a firms capital budgeting decision. Prerequisite: FINC 342.

FINC 449 Senior Seminar

Advanced topics to expose students to recent research in finance in a seminar setting. Topics covered will depend on instructor. Prerequisites: FINC 340, 342, 344.

FINC 452 Portfolio Management

This course focuses on the design of "efficient" portfolios within a risk-return framework. The subjects included are: setting portfolio objectives and constraints, mean-variance analysis, modern portfolio theory, investment styles, asset allocation, portfolio protection, revision, performance and attribution. Use of portfolio analysis software. Prerequisite: FINC 344.

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