Economics is the structured study of how people make decisions when faced with scarce resources. When aggregated, these individual decisions constitute markets - the key
analytical construct in economics. In practice, economics combines analytical and mathematical models with statistical analysis to understand the functioning of markets,
to explain market outcomes, and to prescribe mechanisms such as public policy to improve these outcomes.
The economics concentration at the Honors College combines solid theoretical training with necessary analytical tools. The concentration culminates with the
Honors Thesis, which allows students to apply their training to a well-defined topic of their choice. Upon completion of the economics concentration at the
Honors College, students will be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of fields or to enter graduate school in Economics or related disciplines such as
International Studies, Public Policy, Law, and Business. Students interested in an MBA or courses in business may explore the
MBA Pathway and Business minor options.
Available Options: Concentration in Economics; Minor Concentration
Concentration in Economics
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|
| ECO 2023 | Honors Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 2013 | Honors Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 3101 | Honors Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 3203 | Honors Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 4412 | Honors Econometrics: Applied Regression Analysis | 3 |
MAC 2311 or
MAC 1147 | Honors Calculus I or
Honors Pre-Calc, Alegebra and Trig | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Honors Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| ISS 4932* | Honors Writing in the Social Sciences II (taken twice) | 2 |
| | Electives | 18 |
| ECO 4970 | Honors Thesis | 6 |
| | Total Credits | 48-9* |
|
*ISS 4932 is required to be taken twice only for students who matriculated after Fall 2011, although it is also recommended for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2011. It is taught every year in the fall and is to be taken once as a junior and once as a senior.
|
Electives
Students take at least 18 credits of elective courses. Students should choose their elective courses in accordance with their general interests and with their
proposed Honors Thesis topic. 3-6 credits of these elective courses must be "Interdisciplinary elective courses" and the remaining 12-15 credits must be upper-division (3000-4000)
economics courses. Interdisciplinary elective courses must be (i) relevant to students' Honors thesis topic and (ii) must not be used to satisfy a requirement in the Honors Core
(but may be an Honors Core course). Elective courses are listed below. Other courses may be used only with the permission of the concentration advisor. Note that 3 credits of Electives
may be non-Honors courses without petition to the Concentration Advisory Board. Also, students are reminded that they need 45 upper-level (3000 or 4000-level) credits to graduate.
Economics Electives
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|
| ECP 4302 | Honors Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ECS 3013 | Honors International Economic Development | 3 |
| ECO 3303 | Honors History of Economic Thought | 3 |
| ECO 4108** | Honors Mathematical Economics:
Advanced Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECP 3451 | Honors Law and Economics | 3 |
| ECO 4400 | Honors Industrial Organization
and Game Theory | 3 |
| ECO 4531 | Honors Public Finance and Public Policy | 3 |
| ECO 4532 | Honors Modern Political Economy | 3 |
| ECO 4906 | Honors Directed
Independent Study in Economics | 3 |
| ECO 4932 | Honors Special Topics
in Economics (Writing) | 3 |
| FIN 3105 | Honors Introduction to Saving,
Investment and Financial Markets | 3 |
**Originally numbered ECO 4117
|
Interdisciplinary Electives
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|
| CPO 3003 | Honors Comparative Politics | 3 |
| CPO 4305 | Honors Latin American Politics | 3 |
| EUH 3604 | Honors European Intellectual History I | 3 |
| EUH 3607 | Honors European Intellectual History II | 3 |
| EVS 3403 | Honors Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| EXP 4631 | Honors Thinking and Decision Making | 3 |
| GEO 3144C | Hon. Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| INR 2002 | Honors Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| INR 3102 | Honors American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| MAS 2103 | Honors Matrix Theory | 3 |
| PHI 2361 | Honors Ways of Knowing | 3 |
| POS 2692 | Honors Punishment | 3 |
| POS 4603 | Honors Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| POT 3021 | Honors History of Political Theory | 3 |
| STA 3164 | Honors Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
|
Thesis Research and Preparation: The capstone to the economics concentration will be an Honors thesis. Every student will be expected to write a thesis proposal in their
junior year under the supervision of an HC faculty member.
The thesis will be a year long project and will be written in the senior year.
Restrictions: Students must receive a grade of C or above in all concentration courses.
Minor Concentration in Economics
The Economics minor concentration provides students with a background in economic theory and introduces them to a variety of applications in economics – the study of individual
decision-making and society. A minor concentration in economics could complement any program of study. Students in other concentrations who are ultimately interested in business
or law careers should seriously consider a minor concentration in economics
(or the Business Administration Minor option).
To complete the economics minor concentration, students complete the following courses totaling 18 credit hours:
- ECO 2013 Honors Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 2023 Honors Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
- ECO 3101 Honors Intermediate Microeconomics or ECO 3203 Honors Intermediate Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Three additional 3 credit upper level economics courses (9 credits)
Students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in all the above courses. Note that 12 of the 18 credit hours for the economics minor concentration must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
At least 50% of these upper level credits must be earned in Honors College courses.
Revised 9/16/2011 and 3/30/2012 (to include MAC 1147). Updated 9-24-12. Prior version is online.
