Economics
ECN 2101: Principles of Microeconomics (5)
Offerings
Provides a foundation course for business majors. Topics include supply and demand; markets and the price system; allocation of resources, income distribution, economic power and the public sector; international trade; and comparative economic systems.
Attributes: WK Social Sciences
ECN 2102: Principles of Macroeconomics (5)
Offerings
Presents topics including elementary demand and supply, determination of national income, employment and prices, money and banking system, fiscal and monetary policy and economic welfare, economic growth and development and international finance.
Attributes: WK Social Sciences
ECN 2500: Integrated Topics in Business, Economics and Political Science (5)
Offerings
Many of today’s persistent social problems are so intractable precisely because they are complicated problems. They cut across so many domains of life that they defy easy solution. Therefore, to solve them one must tackle multiple dimensions. To that end, this class will consider a single social issue or problem from multiple disciplinary perspectives. A portion of each term will be taught by faculty members from different disciplines within SBGE and will address economic, political/ governmental, and commercial/ market-based considerations. May be repeated for credit 2 times.
Equivalents: BUS 2500, POL 2500
Attributes: Ways of Engaging
Restrictions: Undergraduate only.
ECN 3000: African Development (5)
Offerings
This course provides an overview of the key issues in 20th and 21st century African development. Beginning with the legacy of colonialism, in the first half of this course we explore how geography, ethnic conflict, weak institutions, and political instability consistently undermined both economic growth and poverty alleviation in Africa. In the second half, we examine the shift out of historic "poverty traps" in Africa, looking at the role played by processes of state consolidation, governance reforms, foreign direct investment, economic diversification, and greater integration in the global economy.
Equivalents: POL 3000, GDEV 3000
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
Prerequisites: POL 2320: C- or better
OR (ECN 2101: C- or better
AND ECN 2102: C- or better)
ECN 3050: Institutions and Institutional Analysis (5)
Offerings
This course begins by asking the question: What are institutions and why do they matter? We cover the major concepts in Neo-Institutional Economics (NIE) and examine the relationship between institutions and individual decision making. By understanding the position institutions play in choice situations, we are able to shed important new light on questions of poverty, development, conflict, and political order.
Equivalents: GDEV 3050, POL 3050
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
Prerequisites: POL 2320: D or better
OR (ECN 2101: D or better
AND ECN 2102: D or better)
ECN 3100: East Asian Development (5)
Offerings
The countries of China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have moved more people out of poverty at a faster pace than any other region at any time in the history of the world. At the same time, several of these states have achieved the goal of establishing stable, consolidated liberal democracies. This course sets out the competing theories that explain the political and economic development of the region.
Equivalents: POL 3100, GDEV 3100
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Junior, Senior students only.
Prerequisites: POL 2320: D or better
OR (ECN 2101: D or better
AND ECN 2102: D or better)
ECN 3201: Intermediate Microeconomics (5)
Offerings
Examines microeconomics at the intermediate level with particular application to operations of the firm. Emphasizes the application of theory to actual situations encountered in the management of firms and explores the use of economic theory for projections and forecasting.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Politics, Philosophy & Econ Majors, Minors, Concentrations only. Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
AND ECN 2102: C- or better
AND BUS 3700: C- or better
AND (MAT 2700: C- or better
OR BUS 2700: C- or better)
ECN 3202: Intermediate Macroeconomics (5)
Offerings
An analysis of aggregate income, employment and price level; classical and Keynesian perspectives, and recent contributions.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Economics, Politics, Philosophy & Econ Majors, Minors, Concentrations only.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
AND ECN 2102: C- or better
AND BUS 2700: C- or better
ECN 3231: Urban Economics (5)
Offerings
Examines economic and social factors influencing urban growth and land use patterns, especially forces influencing the demand for urban land and affecting intra-urban rent, real estate values and the housing market. Examines such factors as taxation, zoning and other land-use policies as they relate to the development of urban land. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: D or better
OR ECN 2102: D or better
ECN 3321: Money and Banking (5)
Offerings
Surveys monetary theory and the role of major financial institutions such as commercial banks, the Federal Reserve System and savings institutions in the monetary system. The impact of bank operations on the quantity and flow of money in the economic system is emphasized.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
AND ECN 2102: C- or better
ECN 3435: Marxism: 20th Century Theory and Practice (3)
Offerings
Examines the development of varieties of Marxist theory and practice in the 20th century, compares the Soviet, European, Chinese and Latin American experiences with Marxist thought and practice. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
Equivalents: HIS 3435, POL 3435
Attributes: Upper-Division
ECN 3500: Environmental Economics (5)
Offerings
An introduction to the economic analysis of our changing global environment. This course will study global macroeconomic trends in the quality of air, water, and land resources as well as the underlying microeconomic causes of environmental degradation and resource depletion. Economic concepts addressed will include the “tragedy of the commons”, externalities, environmental policy choice, enforcement of regulation, methods for damage assessment, and estimation of the benefits to conservation and environmental improvement.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
ECN 3690: Inclusive Financial Services (5)
Offerings
Examines microfinance as a tool to alleviate global poverty. Topics include lending methodologies, products, cultural and regulatory environments, financial analysis, and performance improvement of microfinance institutions, along with limitations and controversies surrounding the practice. Grounded in Christian theological understandings of economic development and human well-being.
Equivalents: BUS 3690
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Business Administration, Economics, Global Development Studies, Politics, Philosophy & Econ Majors only.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
ECN 3811: Microeconomics of Development: Community Development (5)
Offerings
Investigates the microeconomic transformation of developing countries and communities. Methods of measuring development and classic growth/development theories will be studied. Challenges of development focused on: demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural inequality; agriculture, rural environment, and rural labor issues; community health; legal infrastructure and business environment; access to financial services and microfinance; international standards, environment, and the role of international aid in shaping markets and opportunities for households; randomized control trials, impact evaluation, situation analysis, root cause identification and community level assessment. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
Attributes: Cultural Understand&Engagement, Upper-Division, Ways of Engaging, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Business Administration, Economics, Global Development Studies, Politics, Philosophy & Econ, Reconciliation Studies, Soc Justice/Cultural Studies Majors, Minors, Concentrations only.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
OR ECN 2102: C- or better
ECN 3812: Macroeconomics of Development: International Economic Growth (5)
Offerings
Investigates the economic transformation of developing countries and communities. Methods of measuring development and classic growth/development theories will be studied. Challenges of development focused on: demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural inequality; growth, inefficiency, and foreign investment; agriculture, rural environment, and rural labor issues; global and community health; legal infrastructure; access to financial services; conflict; international standards, environment, and the role of international aid; policy analysis and current issues. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
Attributes: Cultural Understand&Engagement, Upper-Division, Ways of Engaging, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Business Administration, Economics, Global Development Studies, Politics, Philosophy & Econ, Reconciliation Studies, Soc Justice/Cultural Studies Majors, Minors, Concentrations only. Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
OR ECN 2102: C- or better
ECN 4010: Health Economics (5)
Offerings
This course will examine multiple facets of health and health care. Topics covered in this class include individual health as an investment in human capital; uncertainty, externalities, and cost-benefit analyses of health care provision markets; the role of governments and NGOs in health provision, policy determination, and health as a public good; health insurance markets; the intrinsic connections between community health and economic development.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
ECN 4310: International Political Economy (5)
Offerings
Examines the nature and dynamics of the global economy in relation to the economies and political systems of nations and to theories and models of national, regional and global economic growth. International trade, business and government policy are studied in this context. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
Equivalents: POL 4310
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
ECN 4641: History of Economic Thought I (1-5)
Offerings
A study of the development of economic ideas and philosophies from Moses to mercantilism. Focus is on ethics and economics in the biblical, classical, physiocratic and mercantilist schools of economic thought. Typically offered: Alternate Years. May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: D or better
AND ECN 2102: D or better
ECN 4899: Capstone in Economics (5)
Offerings
In this Economics Capstone course students will integrate and apply the theories of economics that they have learned throughout their career at SPU. The course will emphasize the skill-sets most in demand in the current job market: rigorous and applied data analysis coupled with the strong interpersonal skills and intuitive grasp of theories and concepts necessary to communicate results.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Economics, Politics, Philosophy & Econ Majors only. Post-Baccalaureate, Senior students only.
Prerequisites: ECN 2101: C- or better
AND ECN 2102: C- or better
AND ECN 3201: C- or better
AND ECN 3202: C- or better
ECN 4900: Independent Study in Economics (1-5)
Offerings
The student proposes a topic of current interest in business to a professor in the School of Business and Economics. The student meets with the professor to discuss a bibliography and rough drafts before turning in the final draft of a paper. A 5-credit independent study requires a total of 30 pages of written work. In general, the number of pages of written work must be six times the number of credits, or there must be equivalent work in exams or other requirements. May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
ECN 4940: Internship in Economics (1-5)
Offerings
Provides an opportunity for reflection on a student's internship experience. The internship, paid or unpaid, must have a minimum commitment of 10 hours/week or 100 hours during the quarter, be related to students' Economics major and have provided opportunities for students to relate and apply principles of economics, faith, service, and leadership to a professional work setting. Internship placements must be approved prior to the experience or permission will not be granted to register. Students must complete an internship learning contract and have it signed by their internship supervisor and the faculty sponsor.
Equivalents: ACCT 4940
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
Prerequisites: BUS 2910: D or better
ECN 4945: Advanced Integrative Internship (1-5)
Offerings
Provides students the opportunity to specialize their applied learning to economic issues and questions through individualized guidance with an economics faculty sponsor, first-hand experience in their internship sites, academic research, and face-to-face interviews with professionals. May be repeated for credit up to 6 credits.
Equivalents: BUS 4945
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
Prerequisites: BUS 4942: D or better
OR (ECN 4940: D or better
OR ACCT 4940: D or better
OR BUS 4940: D or better)
ECN 4950: Special Topics in Economics (1-5)
Offerings
Explores selected topics in Economics. May be repeated for credit up to 15 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division