Graduate Economics Course Descriptions

ECON - 601. Microeconomics: Theory and Applications (3)

Advanced microeconomic theory is presented to analyze behavior of consumers and firms under national and international market conditions. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 602. Macroeconomics: Theory and Applications (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 615 or permission. Advanced theory in macroeconomics in the context of an open economy. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 615. Mathematics for Economists (3)

Applications of linear algebra and calculus to equilibrium, dynamic, and optimization models of economic theory. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 616. Special Topics in Mathematics for Economists (3)

Applications of differential equations, phase diagrams analysis, stability analysis, optimal control theory, calculus of variations, differential games, and dynamic programming in economics. Offered every other Spring.

ECON - 620. Graduate Econometrics (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 615 or permission. Covers the essential econometric techniques for economic and business forecasting and decision analysis: regression theory and applications, time series analysis, and forecasting. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 623. Field Research Methods (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 620. This course is intended to be taken by Master's students in International and Development Economics in the Spring semester to prepare students for Summer field research. The course covers a variety of topics including sampling methods, field interview techniques, planning an empirical research strategy, ethical issues, importance of the protection of human subjects, and advice for maintaining proper health and safety during field research.

ECON - 624. Internet Data Sources (3)

This course, intended for graduate students, will help students learn how to find and manipulate statistical and economic data found on the Internet. The course is an especially important tool for graduate students who are about to enter the job market in areas such as macroeconomics and finance. This course will teach students how to find and utilize data such as that measuring GDP, inflation, and unemployment statistics.

ECON - 625. Econometrics of Financial Markets (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 620. A topics-oriented course exploring econometric issues and techniques specific to financial economics. Previous topics include facts of the Cap-M model and for random walks in financial markets. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 627. Applied Econometrics for International and Development Economics (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 620. An applied econometrics course where students with a foundation in regression analysis learn to apply more advanced econometric techniques in their analysis of data. Topics covered include selection bias, simultaneity issues, panel data and time series regression.

ECON - 650. Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 601 or corequisite. Monetary policy, financial markets and institutions, competition, market efficiency, innovation and institutional changes, properties of various financial instruments, impact on savings, investment, and capital formation. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 651. Monetary Economics (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 602 or corequisite. This course emphasizes the institutional structure of banking, government regulation of banking, and government control of the money supply and economic activity. We focus on the needs and processes underlying money and financial markets to understand how and why financial markets and institutions are in a constant state of evolution and the consequences for effective government policies. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 655. Options and Futures (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 615. Options, futures and other derivative contracts are widely used to manage risk by businesses and financial institutions. This course provides students with a solid understanding of 1) the economic functions of futures, forwards and options, 2) the operation of the futures and options markets, 3) the pricing of futures, options and other derivatives, and 4) basic strategies in trading options. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 660. Industrial Organization (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 601. Survey of market structure, conduct, and performance of industry and the economics of regulation and anti-trust laws. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 665. Law and Economics (3)

Prerequisite: ECONUG - 311. Law and Economics offers master's students an understanding of how economic theory provides a framework to analyze legal systems. It will also teach students the fundamental importance of the law in fostering economic growth and development. The economic foundations of both domestic and international institutions will be studied extensively.

ECON - 670. International Trade (3)

Prerequisite: . A comprehensive survey course in the theory of international trade and an economic analysis of international trade policies. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 671. International Finance (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 602 or corequisite. The world monetary system: foreign exchange markets, risk reduction instruments and international capital markets in the context of open economy macroeconomics. Evaluation of policies, practices, and institutions in the field of international investments and international finance. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 672. Economic Development (3)

Prerequisite: . Development economics: theoretical and empirical investigations of economic development issues, policies, and strategies. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 673. Development Microeconomics (3)

Prerequisite: . Advanced economic development theory and investment theory in an applied context, with particular emphasis on current issues and problems. Offered every Spring.

ECON - 674. Development Macroeconomics (3)

Prerequisites: ECONUG - 312 or ECONG - 602. Quantitative economic techniques and computer software are used to develop simulation models, input-output models, and general equilibrium models for economic forecasting, business decision analysis and country-level economic policy appraisal and planning. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 675. Finance and Investment in Emerging Economies (3)

This class will analyze the economics of foreign investment in emerging economies such as the newly industrializing economies of Asia and Latin America. Emphasis will be placed on understanding transnational capital flows, foreign direct investment, privatization of industry, the role of exchange rate and currency risk, and models of foreign portfolio investment.

ECON - 676. Natural Resource Economics and Development Policy (3)

Prerequisite: . Signs of environmental stress and of the depletion and extinction of natural resources abound in developing nations around the world. This course is for graduate students, especially students in the International and Development Economics Master's program, and will examine the issues surrounding changes in the environment of developing nations during the process of industrialization, trade-offs between economic growth and resource depletion, and issues surrounding sustainable development.

ECON - 677. International Political Economy (3)

Prerequisite: . In most developing countries today planned development is being abandoned in favor of market-guided strategies. This course provides a political economy analysis of the relationship between government and the economy in developing nations. It examines the various paradigms and debates in the field of international political economy, and with case studies illustrates how domestic and transnational political economic structures have shaped development patterns in diverse third world settings.

ECON - 678. Population and Labor Economics (3)

Prerequisite: ECONUG - 311 (or equivalent) or permission of instructor. The uses of economic analysis to understand the problems of population growth and population policy, household formation, immigration, labor market discrimination, and income inequality and poverty.

ECON - 690. Graduate Seminar (3)

Prerequisite: ECONG - 620. A capstone course which emphasizes economic methodology and economic research. All students will carry out and present a research. Offered every Fall.

ECON - 691. Special Topics in Economics (3)

Covers a variety of areas, the focus depending on the expertise of the instructor. May be repeated for credit each semester that a different topic is covered. Offered intermittently.

ECON - 696. Internship (1-3)

Project report based on an internship program with a department of a business, industry, or government. Must be arranged with a faculty member.

ECON - 698. Directed Readings and Research (1-3)

The written permission of the instructor and the dean is required. Must be arranged with a faculty member.

ECON - 699. Thesis (1-3)

Directed research leading to the presentation of a master's thesis. Must be arranged with a faculty member.