Undergraduate Program

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Introduction

Areas of emphasis: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Monetary Theory, Economic Systems, Development, Econometrics, Public Economics, International Economics, Industrial Organization, Labor Economics, Law and Economics, Health and Welfare, Capstone

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Bachelor of Science in Economics

The Department of Economics offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics. These degree programs provide a broad education involving the domestic and international economy and include the study of institutions, concepts, policy, and tools of analysis. Our students prepare for careers in business, such as in banking, financial markets, insurance, law, management, and consulting; for careers in national, state, and local governments; in teaching; and for graduate study in economics and related fields including business administration, finance, public policy, and law.

The Department stresses flexibility in each undergraduate program and requires a strong core of economic theory, supplemented by mathematics, data analysis or statistics, and computer science. Students in each of these degree programs choose area electives within the department, as well as in the College of Social Science and the University. All students are encouraged to develop programs of study that are tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Beyond the introductory courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, the department offers courses in a number of areas of emphasis. These areas of emphasis are listed below, along with their respective course offerings.

MICROECONOMICS

EC 251H Microeconomics and Public Policy
EC 301 Intermediate Microeconomics
EC 401 Advanced Microeconomics

MACROECONOMICS AND MONETARY THEORY

EC 252H Macroeconomics and Public Policy
EC 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics
EC 330 Money, Banking, and Financial Markets
EC 402 Advanced Macroeconomics

ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

EC 306 Comparative Economic Systems

EC 406

Economic Analysis of Russia & the Commonwealth of Independent States

DEVELOPMENT

EC 310 Economics of Developing Countries
EC 410 Issues in the Economics of Developing Countries
EC 412 Economic Analysis of Latin America
EC 413 Economic Analysis of Asia
EC 414 Economic Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa

ECONOMETRICS

EC 320 Analysis of Economic Data
EC 420 Introduction to Econometric Methods
EC 421 Advanced Econometric Methods

PUBLIC ECONOMICS

EC 335 Taxes, Government Spending and Public Policy
EC 435 Public Expenditures
EC 436 Public Revenues

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

EC 340 Survey of International Economics
EC 440 International Trade
EC 441 International Finance

INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION

EC 360 Private Enterprise and Public Policy
EC 460 American Industry: Structure and Behavior

LABOR ECONOMICS

EC 380 Labor Relations and Labor Market Policy
EC 480 Analysis of Labor Markets

LAW AND ECONOMICS

EC 425 Law and Economics

HEALTH AND WELFARE

EC 495 Economics of Poverty and Income Distribution
EC 498 Economics of Health Care

CAPSTONE COURSE

EC 499 Senior Seminar for Economics Majors (W)

Requirements for Bachelors' Degrees in the Department of Economics

Bachelor of Arts: ECONOMICS

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics emphasizes the use of quantitative techniques in the analysis of economic theories.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics
1. The graduation requirements of the University as described in the Undergraduate Education section of Academic Programs; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

The University’s Mathematics requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics is met by completing Mathematics 124, 132 or 152H.

The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Economics major is met by completing Economics 499 referenced in item 3.a. below.

2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics are required to complete a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses for the College of Social Science NATURAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT.
            One of the following courses (3 credits):
            CSE 101 – Computing Concepts and Competencies
            CSE 131 – Introduction to Technical Computing
            One of the following courses (3 credits)
            STT 315 – Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Business
            STT 421 – Statistics I
            STT 430 – Introduction to Probability and Statistics

3. The following requirements for the major: minimum 30 credits

Students may elect to complete more economics courses than those needed to complete the requirements for the major, with the understanding that the grades earned in such courses will be included in the computation of the grade-point average for courses in the major to meet College of Social Science graduation requirements.

a.   All of the following courses in the Department of Economics (18 credits):

EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics...........................3
EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics..........................3
EC 301 Intermediate Microeconomics...............................3
EC 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics..............................3
EC 420 Introduction to Econometric Methods...................3
EC 499 Senior Seminar for Economics Majors (W)...........3

Economics 251H may be substituted for Economics 201 and 301.  Students who elect this substitution, and who do not take Economics 252H, may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c by completing at least 2 to 3 credits in Economics courses at the 300-400-level, in addition to the 9 credits reference in item 3.c.

Economics 252H may be substituted for Economics 202 and 302.  Students who elect this substitution, and who do not take Economics 251H, may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c by completing at least 3 credits in Economics courses at the 300-400 level, in addition to the 9 credits referenced in item 3.c.

Economics 251H and 252H may be substituted for the following group of courses:  Economics 201, 202, 301 and 302.  Students who elect this substitution may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c. by completing at least 5 to 6 credits in two Economics courses at the 300-400 level, in addition to the 9 credits referenced in item 3.c.

b.   One of the following courses in the international area (3 credits): Economics 306, 310, 340, 406, 410, 412, 413, 414, 440, 441 (3 credits)

c.   Nine additional credits in Economics courses, of which at least six credits must be at the 400-level, while the other three credits may be 300 or 400-level.

In addition, students may elect to complete the requirements for the Business Cognate. The Business Cognate is met by completing four of the following courses (12 credits):

ACC 230 Survey of Accounting Concepts................3
FI 320 Introduction to Finance..................................3
GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law.....................3
MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes.............3
MSC 327 Introduction to Marketing.........................3

Students may substitute Accounting 201 and 202 for Accounting 230.

Bachelor of Science: ECONOMICS

The Bachelor of Science degree in Economics emphasizes the use of advanced math and science in the analysis of economic theories. The program offers students more emphasis on mathematics, statistics, and computer science, as preparation for those who wish to pursue graduate training in economics.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics
1. The graduation requirements of the University as described in the Undergraduate Education section of Academic Programs; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

The University’s Mathematics requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree in Economics is met by completing Mathematics 132 or 152H.

The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Economics major is met by completing Economics 499, referenced in item 3.a. below.

2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics are required to complete a minimum of 15 credits from the following courses for the College of Social Science NATURAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT, including Mathematics 133 or 153H and one of the designated statistics courses: 

CSE 231 Introduction to Programming I
CSE 232 Introduction to Programming II
MTH 133 Calculus II
MTH 153H Honors Calculus II
MTH 234 Multivariable Calculus
MTH 235 Differential Equations
MTH 254H Honors Multivariable Calculus
MTH 255H Honors Differential Equations
MTH 309 Linear Algebra I
MTH 310 Abstract Algebra I and Number Theory
MTH 314 Matrix Algebra with Applications
MTH 320 Analysis I
MTH 340 Ordinary Differential Equations I
STT 441 Probability and Statistics I: Probability
STT 442 Probability and Statistics II: Statistics
STT 461 Computations in Probability and Statistics
STT 471 Statistics for Quality and Productivity

Mathematics 133 or 153H and Mathematics 234 or 254H and Mathematics 235 or 255H may be applied toward the College of Social Science NATURAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT.  Upon prior approval by the department, other courses may be substituted in fulfillment of the College of Social Science NATURAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT.

3. The following requirements for the major: minimum 30 credits

Students may elect to complete more economics courses than those needed to complete the requirements for the major, with the understanding that the grades earned in such courses will be included in the computation of the grade-point average for courses in the major to meet College of Social Science graduation requirements.

a.   All of the following courses in the Department of Economics (18 credits):

EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics...........................3
EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics..........................3
EC 301 Intermediate Microeconomics...............................3
EC 302 Intermediate Macroeconomics..............................3
EC 420 Introduction to Econometric Methods...................3
EC 499 Senior Seminar for Economics Majors (W)...........3

Economics 251H may be substituted for Economics 201 and 301.  Students who elect this substitution, and who do not take Economics 252H, may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c by completing at least 2 to 3 credits in Economics courses at the 300-400-level, in addition to the 9 credits reference in item 3.c.

Economics 252H may be substituted for Economics 202 and 302.  Students who elect this substitution, and who do not take Economics 251H, may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c by completing at least 3 credits in Economics courses at the 300-400 level, in addition to the 9 credits referenced in item 3.c.

Economics 251H and 252H may be substituted for the following group of courses:  Economics 201, 202, 301 and 302.  Students who elect this substitution may satisfy the requirement referenced in item 3.c. by completing at least 5 to 6 credits in two Economics courses at the 300-400 level, in addition to the 9 credits referenced in item 3.c.

b.   One of the following courses in the international area (3 credits): Economics 306, 310, 340, 406, 410, 412, 413, 414, 440, 441 (3 credits)

c.   Nine additional credits in Economics courses, of which at least six credits must be at the 400-level, while the other three credits may be 300 or 400-level.

In addition, students may elect to complete the requirements for the Business Cognate. The Business Cognate is met by completing four of the following courses (12 credits):

ACC 230 Survey of Accounting Concepts................3
FI 320 Introduction to Finance..................................3
GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law.....................3
MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes.............3
MSC 327 Introduction to Marketing.........................3

Students may substitute Accounting 201 and 202 for Accounting 230.

 
MSU
Mailing address:
Michigan State University, Department of Economics,
110 Marshall-Adams Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1038; 517.355.7583.

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