Explore Fall 2023 Courses
Course Descriptions
Please see below for more complete descriptions of our upcoming courses. Note that unforeseen changes may occur. Check out the UNM Schedule of Classes for the most accurate and up-to-date information on course availability.
ECON 2110: Macroeconomic Principles
VARIOUS INSTRUCTORS | OFFERED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE - SEE LOBOWEB FOR UPDATES
The Great Recession of 2008-2009 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were the largest contractions of the national economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The global effects of these contractions, in some ways, were even more severe than the Great Depression, in part because the world economy is so much more interconnected now than it was then. The economies of many places, including New Mexico, are still recovering.
Events like these have changed how we think about government spending, the relationship between inflation and unemployment, the role of the Federal Reserve, the costs and benefits of globalization, and what else matters to well-being. Macroeconomics, the study of the economy as a whole, explains what these mean and how they interrelate. By the end of the course, you will better understand the world around us, develop improved problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, and recognize the powerful role macroeconomics plays in your daily life.
Pre-requisite: NONE
Meets General Education curriculum Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences.
ECON 2120: Microeconomic Principles
VARIOUS INSTRUCTORS | OFFERED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE - SEE LOBOWEB FOR UPDATES
What's the best way to reduce carbon emissions? Will a soda tax reduce obesity? Why are your clothes made in China? How does Starbucks decide what price to charge for your afternoon cup of coffee? What impact does a minimum wage have on workers? Why is there a physician shortage in rural areas? Should states legalize recreational marijuana?
This course provides the tools to answer questions like these by analyzing decision-making under scarcity, how incentives shape human behavior, and why there are tradeoffs in virtually any decision. By the end of the course, you will better understand the world around us, develop improved problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, and recognize the powerful role microeconomics plays in your daily life.
Pre-requisite: NONE
Meets General Education curriculum Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences.
ECON 300: Intermediate Microeconomics I
YANG | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | MW 11:00AM - 12:15PM | SECTION 005
REISER | 100% ONLINE | 2H TERM | SECTIONS 001 & 002 (001 LIMITED TO AOP ONLY)
This course builds on the microeconomic principles already learned to develop a more profound intuition and understanding of economic decision-making using graphing and mathematical techniques. Core topics include how consumers and firms make the best decisions they can given the constraints they face; and what the model of perfect competition teaches us about market efficiency. Time permitting, additional topics may include market power, asymmetric information, game theory, externalities and public goods, and behavioral economics. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid foundation in the main concepts and methods used in microeconomic analysis to prepare you for upper-level electives.
Prerequisites: ECON 2110 and ECON 2120 and (ECON 307 or MATH 1430 or MATH 1512).
ECON 303: Intermediate Macroeconomics I
WANG, X. | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM | SECTION 005
STAFF | 100% ONLINE | 1H TERM | SECTIONS 002 & 003 (003 LIMITED TO AOP ONLY)
This course builds on the macroeconomic principles already learned to develop a more profound intuition and understanding of the aggregate economy using graphing and mathematical techniques. Core topics include the causes and consequences of business cycles, monetary and fiscal policy, economic growth and development, and international trade and finance. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid foundation in the main concepts and methods used in macroeconomic analysis to prepare you for upper-level electives.
Prerequisites: ECON 2110 and ECON 2120 and (ECON 307 or MATH 1430 or MATH 1512).
ECON 307: Economic Tools
BINDER | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM | Section 005
REISER | 100% ONLINE | 1H TERM | SECTIONS 001 & 002 (001 LIMITED TO AOP ONLY)
This course introduces students to the mathematics, data, and writing skills essential for understanding, interpreting, and communicating economic concepts. The first half of the course is devoted to the math most commonly used in economics concepts. Topics covered are equations, graphs, and formulas; solving for equilibria; comparative statics analysis; single-variable differentiation and optimization; and multi-variable differentiation. Microeconomic and macroeconomic applications accompany each math topic. The second half of the course provides students with a hands-on data analysis project. Students will compile and analyze economic data in Excel and write up their findings in a research paper that follows conventions used by professional economists. This course can be used as an elective and/or as a pre-requisite for ECON 300 & ECON 303.
Prerequisite: MATH 1220 or MATH 1240 or ACT Math =>26 or SAT Math Section =>620 or ACCUPLACER College-Level Math =>100.
Pre- or corequisite: 2110 or 2120.
ECON 309: Introductory Statistics & Econometrics
VAN DER GOES | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | MW 8:30AM - 9:45AM | SECTION 003
VILLA | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM | SECTION 004
STAFF | 100% ONLINE | 1H TERM | SECTIONS 001 & 002 (001 LIMITED TO AOP ONLY)
We observe real-world economic phenomena around us all of the time. Measuring relationships between economic variables is fundamental to understanding and addressing real-world problems and policy questions. Econometrics – using statistical tools to analyze economic data - is the primary method economists use to quantify these relationships and lend support (or not) to economic theories. In this course, you’re introduced to fundamental skills in econometrics – statistical inference, working with different types of data, regression analysis, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of empirical techniques, and the introductory use of prominent statistical software (e.g., Stata or R, depending on the section). The aim of the course is to lay the foundations in econometrics training to prepare you for future study in empirical methods.
Prerequisite: ECON 2110 and ECON 2120 and MATH 1350.
ECON 331: Economics of Poverty and Discrimination
SANTOS | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | T 6:00PM - 8:45PM | SECTION 001
Explores trends in income distribution, especially across and within groups, and examines theories explaining behavior and outcomes. Public policy concerning poverty and discrimination is studied and discussed.
Prerequisite: ECON 300 or permission of instructor
ECON 332: Economics of Regulation
STITH | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM | SECTION 001
The role of government in the economy: the theory and real-world implementation of regulatory policy, including cost-benefit analyses, with a focus on environmental, health, and safety regulation.
Prerequisite: ECON 300
ECON 335: Health Economics
VAN DER GOES | 100% ONLINE | 2H TERM | SECTIONS 001 & 002 (002 LIMITED TO AOP ONLY)
Market concepts and health care issues. Economic assessment of the U.S. health care system. Explores physician supply and demand, hospitals, malpractice, pharmaceuticals, insurance and related topics.
Prerequisites: ECON 2110 and 2120
ECON 360: History of Economic Thought
STAFF | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | MWF 11:00AM - 12:15PM | SECTION 001
As a course at the nexus of economic thinking, history, and philosophy, students will explore the development of the principle economic doctrines and schools of economic thought from the Physiocrats to Keynes.
Prerequisites: ECON 2110 and ECON 2120
ECON 407: Math Methods in Economics
WANG, J. | IN-PERSON | FULL TERM | TR 11:00AM - 12:15PM
A survey course designed to develop those mathematical results and methods which find frequent use in economic analysis.
Prerequisites: ECON 300 and 303
ECON 424: International Trade
REISER | 100% ONLINE | 2H TERM | SECTIONS 002 & 003 (002 LIMITED AOP ONLY)
This fully online, asynchronous course introduces you to the classical and leading models of international trade patterns, how to evaluate trade policy, and the controversies surrounding free trade. In addition, as a 400-level course, you’ll get to apply what you’ve learned in your previous economics coursework by working in a small group to develop an empirical research proposal on a trade-related topic. The aim of the course project is for you to practice being an economist and experience elements relevant to the research process – for example, curiosity, creativity, grit, critical thinking, and the challenges and benefits of collaborative work.
Prerequisites: ECON 300 and 309
ECON 451: Independent Study
VARIOUS INSTRUCTORS | ARRANGED
Independent study courses are for senior economics majors wishing to study topics not covered in an existing course or to study topics in more detail under the guidance of a faculty member. Course content, credit hours (1 – 3), and other requirements will be agreed upon between the student and faculty member before the course begins. The course can be used as an upper-division elective but does not satisfy the 400-level requirement for economics majors.
Interested students should contact the faculty member they wish to work with, sharing the topic(s) they want to explore further.
Prerequisites/restrictions: Senior standing and ECON 300, 303, and 309
ECON 498: Reading for Honors
VARIOUS INSTRUCTORS | ARRANGED
The first semester of the Economics Departmental Honors sequence, typically taken in the fall. This is a three-credit course.
The Economics Departmental Honors program is open to outstanding economics majors wishing to earn the Economics Departmental Honors designation. Candidates work under the supervision of a faculty member to develop an honors thesis on a research topic agreed upon by the student and the faculty supervisor. Expectations and requirements for honors designation are agreed upon between the student and the faculty member before acceptance into the program.
After consulting with a faculty member willing to supervise their research, students must enroll in the department’s honors courses - ECON 498: Reading for Honors (typically in the fall semester) followed by ECON 499: Senior Honors Thesis (typically in the subsequent spring semester). These courses are in addition to those required for the major. University requirements for graduating with departmental honors include an overall grade point average of 3.20 and at least 7 credit hours in departmental honors courses.
Interested students should contact the faculty member they wish to work with, sharing the research idea they want to pursue.
Prerequisite: ECON 309
Restriction: Junior or senior standing with an overall grade point average of at least 3.2 and approval of the department
ECON 499: Senior Honors Thesis
VARIOUS INSTRUCTORS | ARRANGED
The second semester of the Economics Departmental Honors sequence, typically taken in the spring. This is a four-credit course.
The Economics Departmental Honors program is open to outstanding economics majors wishing to earn the Economics Departmental Honors designation. Candidates work under the supervision of a faculty member to develop an honors thesis on a research topic agreed upon by the student and the faculty supervisor. Expectations and requirements for honors designation are agreed upon between the student and the faculty member before acceptance into the program.
After consulting with a faculty member willing to supervise their research, students must enroll in the department’s honors courses - ECON 498: Reading for Honors (typically in the fall semester) followed by ECON 499: Senior Honors Thesis (typically in the subsequent spring semester). These courses are in addition to those required for the major. University requirements for graduating with departmental honors include an overall grade point average of 3.20 and at least 7 credit hours in departmental honors courses.
Prerequisites: ECON 498
