Economics
ECON 25. Introduction to Economics
Prerequisite: GE Foundation A2 for students in English college-readiness Category III and IV. Survey of the development of economic ideas and theories in the context of economic history. Analysis of major economic thinkers. Introduction to contemporary economic issues and policy controversies. Does not count toward the major in economics. G.E. Breadth D2.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: D2
ECON 40. Principles of Microeconomics
Prerequisite: GE Foundation A2 for students in English college-readiness Category III and IV. Introduction to microeconomic theories of demand, production, and income distribution; price determination and resource allocation, under alternative forms of market organization; government regulation of economic activity; applied economic analysis and policy formation in selected topic areas. G.E. Breadth D2.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: D2
ECON 50. Principles of Macroeconomics
Prerequisite: GE Foundation A2 for students in English college-readiness Category III and IV. Economic theories of the determination of income, output, employment, and prices in the economy as a whole; business cycles, fiscal and monetary policies; economic growth and development; international trade; and comparative economic systems. G.E. Breadth D2.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: D2
ECON 100A. Intermediate Microeconomics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Price mechanism and resource allocation under conditions of pure competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly; theories of consumer's choice, cost, production, income distribution; nature of economic generalizations.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 100B. Intermediate Macroeconomics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. An examination of classical, Keynesian and post- Keynesian theories of the determination of the levels of income, output, and employment; the scientific and ideological implications of Keynesian thought; and the theoretical foundations of contemporary monetary and fiscal policies.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
ECON 101. History of Economic Thought
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Evolution of economics as a science; doctrines of different schools of thought -- Mercantilists, Physiocrats, Historical School, Classical Economists; contributions of outstanding economists.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
ECON 102W. Explorations in Economic Literature
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better; satisfactory completion (C or better) of the ENGL 5B or ENGL 10 graduation requirement; upper-division standing. An investigation into important economic ideas and issues through selected readings of either contemporary literature or classics in the history of economic thought or both. The class is conducted as a seminar with emphasis on student contributions. Meets the upper-division writing skills requirement for graduation.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 103. Economics of Inflation, Unemployment, and Growth
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Theoretical and empirical examination of the business cycle, including major economic variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, unemployment, as well as other relevant economic indicators in the United States economy. The course emphasizes business cycle theories, economic indicators, and macroeconomic policies.
Units: 3
ECON 110. Economic History of the United States
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Exploration and colonization to the present; economic factors in development of the United States; relationships of economic forces to historical, political, and social change.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 111. European Economic History
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. An examination of the causes and consequences of economic development in Europe from 1650 to 1950. Survey of selected economic forces that shaped key social institutions.
Units: 3
ECON 114. Economic Development of Poor Nations
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Intensive study of the causes and consequences of underdevelopment which affect two-thirds of the world's people. Topics include theories of development, historical roots of underdevelopment, evaluation of aid programs, New International Economic Order, Asian export economies, managing external debt.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 115T. Topics in Historical and Political Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better or ECON 165 with a C grade or better. Detailed investigation of developments in the United States economy. Topics vary with the needs and interests of students and faculty.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
ECON 117. Environmental Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Investigation into the economics of resource use. Development and creation of resources through the application of technology and the destruction of resources through misuse and pollution of the environment.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall - even
ECON 119. Urban & Regional Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Examination of the San Joaquin Valley from a policy-oriented perspective. Construction of economic models and theories regarding how urban and regional economic activity is located across spaces. Investigation of why cities form and why they locate where they do. Application of regional economic models to the local economy.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
ECON 120. Women in the Economy
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. An exploration of the social and economic forces shaping the economic status of women in the U.S. Topics include women's participation in paid employment and current labor market and family policy issues.
Units: 3
ECON 123. Introduction to Econometrics
Prerequisites: ECON 40, ECON 50 and MATH 11 or MATH 101 or DS 73 or AGBS 71 or PSYCH 42 passed with C grade or better. Statistical data analysis in economics. Use of multiple regression analysis, time series analysis, index numbers. Basic theory; computer applications using major economic data sources; interpretation of results. (2 lecture, 2 lab )
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 125. Introduction to Mathematical Methods for Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40, ECON 50 and MATH 75 passed with a C grade or better. Introduction to mathematical methods useful for economic analysis. Mathematical concepts are developed in the context of economic examples and applications. Knowledge of fundamental economic concepts is required. Strongly recommended for students considering graduate school in economics or business.
Units: 3
ECON 131. Public Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Impact of government expenditures and taxes on the allocation of resources and the distribution of income. Evaluation of government expenditure programs and tax policies. Analysis of existing government policies and proposed reforms.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall - even
ECON 135. Money and Banking
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade. Survey of the monetary and banking system of the United States and analysis of its role in economic growth and stabilization.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
ECON 144. Economics of Sports
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Issues surrounding the monopolistic nature of professional leagues, tax incentives used to attract/maintain a professional franchise, and collective bargaining agreements will be analyzed through Industrial-Organization, Public Finance, and Labor Economics respectively.
Units: 3
ECON 146. Economics of Crime
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation, Breadth Area D and PLSI 2. Economic theory of choice and rationality applied to analysis of crime, focusing on white-collar and corporate crime. Examines costs and benefits of crime control policies. Economics of participation in crime, law enforcement, prosecution, and punishment. G.E. Integration ID.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GE Area: ID
ECON 150. Labor Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Alternative theories of wages, employment, and structure of labor market; impact of collective bargaining on level of wages, employment, and labor's share of national income; history and philosophies of labor movement; structure and functioning of labor unions.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall - even
ECON 152. Economics of Human Resources
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Economic theory of investment in education and job training; economic theories of discrimination; analysis of earnings differentials for women and ethnic minorities. Issues discussed include educational choices, affirmative action, comparable worth, and human resource planning policies.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring - odd
ECON 162. Health Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade. Economic issues associated with the provision of health care in the U.S. Role of competitive market forces, non-profits, and government. Separate consideration of physicians, hospitals, insurance, and drug companies. Comparison to other countries.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring - even
ECON 167. Contemporary Socioeconomic Challenges
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation, Breadth Area D and PLSI 2. In-depth analysis and discussion of major socio-economic challenges currently facing the U.S. Emphasis on understanding basic economic underpinnings of contemporary policy issues. Analysis of conflicting economic, social, political, and historical forces which condition and constrain policy implementation. G.E. Integration ID.
Units: 3
GE Area: ID
ECON 176. Economics Themes in Film
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation, Breadth Area D and PLSI 2. Emphasizes economic concepts, issues, and institutions through an integrated series of classic films, lectures, and discussions. Students will apply the economic way of thinking to social problems involving such topics as economic growth, unemployment, income distribution, discrimination, and the global economy. G.E. Integration ID. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GE Area: ID
ECON 178. International Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40, ECON 50 passed with C grade. International economic relations; problems and policies in the light of fundamental economic theory.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
ECON 179. International Political Economy
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better. Analysis of greater internationalization of national economies. Policies of states and transnational corporations in the context of globalization. Trade, finance, and production in the international context. Regional economic integration. Global assembly and labor issues. Evolution of multilateral institutions.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring - even
ECON 181. Political Economy of Latin America
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Latin America's principal economic problems examined within a historical and contemporary context. Topics may include Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, foreign corporations, debt crises, problems of industrialization, women and labor, agricultural backwardness, and free trade agreements. Intensive examination of major nations (particularly Mexico) and of dominant theoretical interpretations. Theories of development (structuralism, dependency, dualism, modernization) are integrated into case studies. Multicultural/International M/I.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring - even
ECON 183. Political Economy of the Middle East
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation, Breadth Area D and PLSI 2. A survey of historical, social, cultural, political, and economic development, economic development in the Middle East. An examination of Western colonial policies, the creation of modern states and their political and economic policies, the role of religion, and cultural heritage. GE Area ID
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GE Area: ID
ECON 185. Directed Readings
Prerequisites: ECON 40, ECON 50 passed with C grade and permission of instructor. Directed readings in the literature of economics. Intensive reading of economic literature on special topics under faculty supervision.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
ECON 188T. Topics in Macro and International Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Consideration of in-depth, special topics in Macro and/or International Economics. Topics vary with the needs and interests of students and faculty.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
ECON 189T. Topics in Microeconomics
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. Consideration of in-depth, special topics in Microeconomics. Topics vary with the needs and interests of students and faculty.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
ECON 190. Independent Study
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better. See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for SP grading.
Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
ECON 191I. Internship in Applied Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with a C grade or better, senior standing, and economics major. Supervised experience in either the private or public sector to provide students an opportunity to professionally apply economic theory and analysis. CR/NC grading only.
Units: 1-3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
ECON 192. Senior Project
Prerequisite: ECON 40 and ECON 50 passed with C grade or better, senior status as economics major. Course consists of directed readings, experiential activities and seminars. The course exposes students to how economics is applied and how economists undertake research and disseminate their findings. Students are also expected to participate in a culminating scholarly activity consistent with integrating concepts, methods, analytical tools and perspectives in economics.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Back to Top