Economics Minor

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Erin Moody, Ph.D.

Economists study a wide range of phenomena using analytical methods which describe how people and collections of people behave and interact. Many economists define their profession as the analysis of decisions made in the context of scarcity. Economists apply their methods of analysis to many topics, including crime, health care, unemployment, poverty, discrimination, financial markets, environmental quality, international trade and many others.

This minor will prepare students to apply economic analysis to several topics. Because students can choose to take either Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (ECON306/ECON326) or Intermediate Macroeconomics Theory (ECON305/ECON325), students can then focus on upper level Economics courses that fit into either microeconomics or macroeconomics.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Use economic models as tools for explaining and evaluating economic outcomes.
2. Interpret empirical analysis and communicate findings.
3. Apply findings of economic research to inform decision-making.
4. Discuss differences in the economic experiences of people of different races, ethnicities, and genders, including how policies and institutions may have heterogenous effects on the economic outcomes of people of different races, ethnicities, and genders.

The foundation courses in the minor include introductory micro and macroeconomics. Students then proceed to one intermediate level theory course. Finally, students take at least three upper-level courses that explore specific topics in more depth. 

• All courses must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better to be counted towards the minor.
• No more than 6 credits (or two courses) in this minor can count toward major requirements. Students with more than two courses of overlap must substitute non-overlapping 300 or 400 level courses from the approved list to reduce the overlap to no more than two courses.
• Majors in Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PHPE), Social Data Science-Economics Track (SDSC-ECON), and Environmental Science and Policy-Environmental Economics are not eligible to complete the Economics Minor due to the large number of overlapping course requirements.

Courses Required for the Minor

Prerequisites

Calculus I and Statistics (ECON230, BMGT230, ECON321, STAT401, or equivalent) 

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The prerequisites for ECON325 and ECON326 include Calculus III.