Economics (ECON)
ECON 1010 - Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 credits
Fall and Spring Semesters
Students learn how economies function, how they grow and think critically about current economic issues to make better informed personal and civic decisions. The course will pay close attention to government’s role in the macro-economy, specifically monetary policy implemented by the Federal Reserve to manage the money supply and interest rates, as well as fiscal policy implemented by Congress and the President to affect taxes and government spending. These topics will be covered through a combination of lectures, current event-based reading, group discussions and in-class activities.
This course meets the General Education Social Science Breadth and Quantitative Literacy Enhancement requirements.
ECON 1011 - Principles of Microeconomics - 3 credits
Fall and Spring Semesters
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of microeconomics, focusing on the behavior of individual consumers and firms in markets. Through lectures, discussions, problem-solving exercises, and current news analysis, students will gain an understanding of economic concepts such as supply and demand, consumer behavior, elasticity, market structure, production and cost, and government intervention. This course will equip students with analytical tools and critical thinking skills to analyze real-world economic issues and make informed decisions.
This course meets the General Education Social Science Breadth requirement.
ECON 2010 - Regional and Global Economics - 3 credits
Fall and Spring Semesters
This course builds upon introductory macroeconomics to provide a deeper understanding of macroeconomic principles and their application to the global and regional economy. Topics studied include the difference between rich and poor countries, the drivers of economic growth, productivity and innovation, global trade wars and trade agreements, the importance of institutions for the functioning of an economy, global and within-country inequality, fiscal policy and the truce nature of budget deficits, the roles of the U.S. dollar (exchange rates), climate change and the economics of the Covid-19 pandemic. With an international perspective and a wealth of relevant examples, the course illustrates how local economic decision-making is now inescapably global.
Prerequisite: MATH 1150.
ECON 2011 - Microeconomics for Business & Policy- 3 credits
Fall and Spring Semesters
This intermediate microeconomics course explores the core theories and models used to understand how businesses, individuals, and governments make economic decisions. The emphasis will be on approaches that have overlapping applications to both business strategy and policy analysis: market dynamics, pricing strategies, firm behavior, strategic interactions (game theory), consumer choice, and the role of government in addressing issues like pollution and public goods. Students will use case studies, data analysis, and examples from current events to examine how microeconomic principles play out in practice.
Prerequisite: ECON 1011.
ECON 2050 - Forecasting and Predictive Analytics - 3 credits
Fall and Spring Semesters
Today, most business planning routinely begins with a sales forecast. Whether you are an economist, a marketer, a human resources manager, a data scientist, or a financial analyst, sooner or later, you will have to predict something. This course is designed to lead students through the most helpful techniques to use in any prediction effort. It aims to comprehend diverse forecasting tools essential for informed business decision-making. It involves the study of econometric theories to grasp the appropriate application of various methods in practical scenarios, often in the context of financial consulting. The emphasis will be on real-world applications covering topics such as basic and advanced methods for establishing causal inference, regressions involving time series data and panel data methods. The course will also cover how deep learning algorithms (Open AI) are used to analyze and interpret vast volumes of data at a high velocity and scale, making it an ideal tool for predictive analytics.
Prerequisite: MATH 1150.