Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Economics (ECON) Courses


Economics

Courses

Economics

  • ECON 100 - Principles of Macroeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: MATH 103  or higher.
    Money and banking, price changes, national income analysis, business cycles, economic growth, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade.

  • ECON 101 - Principles of Microeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: MATH 103  or higher.
    Business organization, price theory, allocation of resources, distribution of income, public economy.

  • ECON 300 - Fundamentals of Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements.
    Designed for non‑majors. Presents basic training in economics for social studies teachers or citizens who wish to exercise a reasoned judgment about economic issues in public affairs.

  • ECON 301 - Economics of Public Issues


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: Completion of G.E. Foundation courses and a score of 11 or higher on the GWAR Placement Examination or successful completion of the necessary portfolio course that is a prerequisite for a GWAR Writing Intensive Capstone course (subject to approval by the General Education Governing Committee (GEGC)).
    A writing-intensive approach to understanding and critically evaluating current social problems and public policies using basic economic analysis.

  • ECON 306 - Environmental Issues of the World Economy


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and the Category B requirement, and ECON 101 .
    Interdisciplinary analysis of human impact on the atmosphere and biological diversity; consideration of policies to foster sustainable development with emphasis on the economic perspective.

  • ECON 310 - Microeconomic Theory


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 , ECON 101 , and either MATH 115 , MATH 119A , or MATH 122 , with grades of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses.
    Analysis of economic concepts and their applications to business situations. Emphasis on supply and demand analysis, costs of production, variations of competition and monopoly, revenues, prices, profits and losses, and other aspects of the operations of the business enterprise.

  • ECON 311 - Macroeconomic Theory


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 , ECON 101 , and either MATH 115 MATH 119A , or MATH 122 , with grades of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses.
    Determinants of levels of income, employment, and prices; of secular and cyclical changes in economic activity; and of the effects of public policies upon aggregative economic experience.

  • ECON 313 - History of Economic Thought


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100  and ECON 101 , or ECON 300 .
    Evolution of economics as a science. Doctrines of the different schools of economic thought. Study of the contributions of outstanding economists.

  • ECON 317 - Economic Analysis I


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite(s): ECON 100 , ECON 101 , ES P 200  and one of the following: MATH 115  or MATH 119A  or MATH 119B  or MATH 122 .
    The study of the microeconomic theory, economic institutions and political institutions that are the foundation to developing public policy to achieve an efficient allocation of scarce resources.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 320 - Money and Banking


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100  and ECON 101 .
    Nature and functions of money and its relation to prices; the monetary system of the United States; the functions of banks, bank credit, foreign exchange and monetary control.

  • ECON 330 - Game Theory


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 101  or ECON 300 .
    A formal study of conflict and cooperation, and their application to modeling and analyzing an interactive situation, especially in the context of microeconomics.

  • ECON 333 - Managerial Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 , ECON 101  and either MATH 115 , MATH 119A , or MATH 122 .
    The tools of marginal analysis and their application to managerial decisions and planning. Emphasis upon calculating solutions to operational problems. Topics include demand analysis, production and cost, pricing, and output decisions. Product and factor markets will be analyzed.

  • ECON 340 - Economics in Movies


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 101  or ECON 300 
    Application of economic concepts to real-world situations as depicted in movies. Economic analyses of incentives, trade-offs, supply and demand, insurance, the used car market, crime, pollution, and other topics.

  • ECON 341 - Global Labor Market Issues


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 101  or ECON 300 .
    Application of labor economic theory to global labor markets. Focus on international comparison of wages, unemployment, human capital, working conditions, and government labor policy.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 355 - Law and Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100  and ECON 101 , or ECON 300 .
    Analysis of economic concepts and their application to law and legal institutions. Emphasis on property law, contract law, accident law, crime control and judicial administration.

  • ECON 366 - Introduction to Development Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100  and ECON 101  or ECON 300 .
    Economic and social aspects of economic development. General analysis of all aspects of economies in developing countries. Application of concepts to current situation in developing countries from different parts of the world.

  • ECON 372 - International Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100  and ECON 101 , or ECON 300 .
    Covers selected issues concerning the international economy from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics include: International trade theory, the globalization production, political economy of trade policy, international economic institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade negotiations, and foreign exchange markets.

  • ECON 380 - Economic Statistics


    (4 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 , ECON 101 , and either MATH 115 , MATH 119A , or MATH 122 , with grades of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses.
    Use of descriptive and inferential statistical concepts for the analysis of economic data. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability theory, discrete and continuous probability distributions, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation analysis.

    (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours)
  • ECON 403 - Mathematical Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Applications of calculus, linear algebra and other mathematical tools in formulating and solving economic problems. Designed for exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 406 - Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 306 , MATH 115  or MATH 119A  or MATH 119B  or MATH 122 , and BIOL 260  or ECON 380  or MATH 380  or STAT 108  or equivalent.
    Applications and economic analysis of environmental and natural resource problems. Topic areas include frameworks for decision-making, the role of data and analysis in policy, pollution control, resource management, and energy economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 410 - Advanced Microeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Applications of microeconomic theory. Examination and analysis of particular markets and contemporary issues. Specific emphasis on policy analysis for government and business decisions. Designed for graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F). ECON 510 
  • ECON 411 - Advanced Macroeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Applications of macroeconomics, monetary and forecasting theory to operational management and planning decisions of government and business. Designed for graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F). ECON 511 
  • ECON 420 - Forecasting


    (4 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 311 , and ECON 380  or MATH 380  with grades of “C” or better.
    Principles and methods of forecasting. Evaluation of the reliability of existing forecasting techniques. Also covers use of the macroeconomic model as a basis for forecasting and the role of forecasts in the formulation of national economic policy.

    (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours.)
  • ECON 430 - Industrial Organization


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  with a grade of “C” or better.
    The structure, behavior and performance of firms and industries. Implications of separation of ownership and control, Corporate social responsibility and the profit motive. The dilemma of size versus competition.

  • ECON 434 - Economics of Regulation


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  with a grade of “C” or better.
    A comprehensive survey of the past, present and future of the political regulation of economic and business activity. Consideration of the rationale for regulation and deregulation and the creation, design and removal of regulatory practices.

  • ECON 437 - Urban Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  with a grade of “C” or better.
    Economic analyses of city formation and size, business and residential location decisions, land use. Application of microeconomic theory to urban transportation issues, residential segregation, urban poverty and crime, and housing markets. Introduction to local public finance and provision of local public goods.

    Not open for credit to students with credit in ECON 537 .
  • ECON 438 - Regional Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Economic evolution and growth of cities, states and countries. Roles of geography, demography, location of industries, and factors determining regional growth and development will be considered. Special attention will be paid to the economic integration of U.S. states and European nations.

    Not open for credit to students with credit in: ECON 538 
  • ECON 441 - Labor Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310 , and ECON 380  or MATH 380  with grades of “C” or better.
    Manpower resources and their utilization, with particular reference to labor unions, collective bargaining and related public policies. Effects of these institutions on production, employment, prices and patterns of income distribution.

  • ECON 450 - Public Sector Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Analysis of the theory of public goods. Criteria for efficient allocation of resources between private and public sectors. Possible responses of government externalities, such as environmental degradation. Emphasis on the allocation and distribution effects of government expenditures and taxation.

  • ECON 455 - Transportation Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310 , and ECON 380  or MATH 380  with grades of “C” or better.
    Economic analysis of intercity transportation, cost measurement, applications of pricing principles, project evaluation, and economic regulation. Policies towards railroads, air transportation, and intercity highways.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 462 - Environmental Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  or ECON 317  with a grade of “C” or better.
    Economic analysis of environmental problems and policy. Market failures due to externalities, public goods, and common property resources will be examined. Private (market) and public (governmental) solutions to environmental problems are examined.

  • ECON 464 - Natural Resource Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  or ECON 317  with a grade of “C” or better, and one of the following: ECON 380  or MATH 380  or BIOL 260  or STAT 108  or GEOG 200 , or equivalent.
    Microeconomic and capital theory applied to problems of conserving and managing natural resources. Analysis of public policies affecting renewable and nonrenewable resources including price controls, taxation and leasing. Representative topics include: forestry, fishery, energy, water, and mineral economics.

  • ECON 465 - Economic Development


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  and ECON 311  with grades of “C” or better.
    Economic and social factors underlying economic development. Analysis of problems associated with economic growth of less developed countries. Evaluation of development policies.

  • ECON 470 - International Trade


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  with a grade of “C” or better.
    Examines theories of trade, welfare implications of different trade policies, the political economy of trade policies, and global trading arrangements.

  • ECON 471 - International Finance


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 311  and ECON 380  or MATH 380  with grades of “C” or better.
    Covers topics in international finance in both an applied and theoretical framework, such as the balance of payments, the foreign exchange market, income, trade, capital flows, asset market adjustment mechanisms, and exchange rate regimes.

  • ECON 485 - Introduction to Econometrics


    (4 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310 , ECON 311 , and ECON 380  or MATH 380  with grades of “C” or better.
    Introduction to econometrics, with a focus on understanding and applying the classical linear regression model. Emphasis placed on applications of regression analysis.

    Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours) Not open for credit to students with credit in ECON 585 .
  • ECON 486 - Econometrics II


    (4 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 485  with a grade of “C” or better.
    The second in a two-semester sequence introducing students to basic techniques in econometrics: advanced regression, including time-series and panel data analysis. Critical evaluation of selected examples of empirical economic research, and exercises in applied econometrics.

    (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours) Not open for credit to students with credit in: ECON 586 .
  • ECON 490 - Selected Topics in Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
    Topics of current interest in economics selected for intensive development.

    May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
  • ECON 495 - Field Studies Practicum


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 310  or ECON 333  and consent of instructor.
    Observation and practical experience, at a managerial level, in an appropriate business or government enterprise. Applications for permission to enroll must be filed with the Economics Department at least six weeks prior to beginning of the semester involved.

    May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.
  • ECON 499 - Directed Study


    (1-3 units)

    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
    Independent study under the supervision of a faculty member.

    May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.
  • ECON 500 - Business Economics


    (3 units)

    Workings of the price system in resource allocation with special emphasis on the role of business in the economy. Analysis of the economic implications of various forms of industrial organization and the application of public policy to business activity.

    Letter grade only (A-F). Not open to students majoring in economics or pursuing an M.A. in economics.
  • ECON 503 - Mathematical Economics


    (3 units)

    Applications of calculus, linear algebra and other mathematical tools in formulating and solving economic problems.

    Letter grade only (A-F). Not open for credit to students with credit in: ECON 403 .
  • ECON 510 - Advanced Microeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 310  or equivalent with grades of “C” or better.
    Applications of microeconomic theory. Examination and analysis of particular markets and contemporary issues. Specific emphasis on policy analysis for government and business decisions. Designed for graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F). ECON 410 
  • ECON 511 - Advanced Macroeconomics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 311  or equivalent with grades of “C” or better.
    Applications of macroeconomics, monetary and forecasting theory to operational management and planning decisions of government and business. Designed for graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F). ECON 311 
  • ECON 537 - Urban Economics


    (3 units)

    Economic analyses of city formation and size, business and residential location decisions, and land use. Application of microeconomic theory to urban transportation issues, residential segregation, urban poverty and crime, and housing markets. Introduction to local public finance and provision of local public goods.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 538 - Regional Economics


    (3 units)

    Economic evolution and growth of cities, states and countries. Roles of geography, demography, location of industries, and factors determining regional growth and development will be considered. Special attention will be paid to the economic integration of U.S. states and European nations.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 555 - Transportation Economics


    (3 units)

    Economic analysis of intercity transportation, cost measurement, applications of pricing principles, project evaluation, and economic regulation. Policies towards railroads, air transportation, and intercity highways.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 562 - Environmental Economics


    (3 units)

    Economic analysis of environmental problems and policy. Market failures due to externalities, public goods, and common property resources will be examined. Private (market) and public (governmental) solutions to environmental problems are examined.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 564 - Natural Resource Economics


    (3 units)

    Microeconomic and capital theory applied to problems of conserving and managing natural resources. Analysis of public policies affecting renewable and nonrenewable resources including price controls, taxation and leasing. Representative topics include: forestry, fishery, energy, water, and mineral economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 565 - Economic Development


    (3 units)

    Economic and social factors underlying economic development. Analysis of problems associated with economic growth of less developed countries. Evaluation of development policies.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 570 - International Trade


    (3 units)

    Examines theories of trade, welfare implications of different trade policies, the political economy of trade policies, and global trading arrangements.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 571 - International Finance


    (3 units)

    Covers topics in international finance in both an applied and theoretical framework, such as the balance of payments, the foreign exchange market, income, trade, capital flows, asset market adjustment mechanisms, and exchange rate regimes.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 585 - Econometrics I


    (4 units)

    First course in a two-semester sequence introducing students to basic techniques in econometrics. Basic statistics and the classical linear regression model are covered. Emphasis is given to computing estimators using simulated and actual data sets.

    Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours)
  • ECON 586 - Econometrics II


    (4 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 585 
    The second in a two-semester sequence in advanced econometric and time series techniques. Current techniques to analyze panel data and to forecast using time series data. Emphasis is placed on empirical techniques commonly used in applied econometric analysis to support decision-making.

    Letter grade only (A-F). (Lecture 3 hours, activity 2 hours)
  • ECON 587 - Research Methods in Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisite: ECON 585 
    Applications of research methods to economics. Topics include: developing a research question, performing a literature review, data compilation and statistical analysis.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 597 - Directed Studies


    (1-3 units)

    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
    Intensive reading and/or practical research in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 660 - Seminar in Natural Resources and the Environment


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 510 , ECON 511 , ECON 585 , ECON 586 , ECON 587 , and one of the following: ECON 562 , ECON 563  or ECON 564 .
    Research methods applied to selected topics from energy, natural resources, and the environment.

    Letter grade only (A-F). (Seminar 3 hours.)
  • ECON 666 - Seminar in Transportation Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 510 , ECON 511 , ECON 555 , ECON 585 , ECON 586 , and ECON 587 .
    Advanced topics in transportation economics including passenger and freight transportation issues, congestion pricing, toll roads, mass transit systems, maritime economics, transportation regulation, firm performance, as well as welfare effects of transportation policy.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 670 - Seminar in International Trade and Development


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 510 , ECON 511 , ECON 585 , ECON 586 , ECON 587 , and one of the following: ECON 565 , ECON 570  or ECON 571 .
    Selected topics dealing with current problems and solutions in international trade, finance, and development.

    Letter grade only (A-F).
  • ECON 690 - Seminar in Economics


    (3 units)

    Prerequisites: ECON 510 , ECON 511 , ECON 585 , ECON 586 , and ECON 587 .
    Corequisite: ECON 691 
    Seminar on topics of current interest in economics.

    Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with different topics.
  • ECON 691 - Economics Research Lab


    (1 unit)

    Corequisite: ECON 690 
    Practical applications, empirical exercises, and research methods in economics.

    Letter Grade only (A-F) 1 hour contact. May be repeated to a maximum of 2 units in different semesters
  • ECON 697 - Directed Research


    (1-3 units)

    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
    Independent research under the guidance of a faculty member.

    Letter grade only (A-F).