Senate Document Number 1201S

Date of Senate Approval 01/18/01

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 7: Catalog Changes in Economics

Effective Date: Fall 2001

a. Delete ECON 490

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 100, the entry for 490 Senior Research Seminar (4).

Impact: None.

Rationale: During academic year 1999-2000 this course was replaced by 380 (1) and 480 (3), and is no longer needed.

Add: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 98, the following:

245 Land Economics (3)
An examination of the interdependence of land and people, with special emphasis on how people affect land. Issues considered include the determination of property values, property rights, land tenure, land conversion and government policies including land use planning, agricultural and environmental policies. Additional topics may include the geography of land use, sprawl, farmland preservation, the economics of food security, and world food problems. Prerequisite: ECON 101 or 102. Fall.

Impact: None. This course has been taught as a special topic during the fall of the last three years. Therefore its inclusion will not affect departmental staffing patterns.

Rationale: This course examines the interactions of land and people. As such it is essentially interdisciplinary and draws upon the training and ongoing research of Dr. Mathews. It draws from a recognized body of knowledge, Land Economics being its leading journal. Its inclusion will especially expand the learning opportunities of students in economics and environmental studies, although it has been taken by students from very diverse majors.

c. Change description of ECON 310

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 98, the entry for 310 Public Finance (3).

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

310 Public Finance (3)
Analysis of economic principles underlying government intervention in a market economy, theories of bureaucratic behavior and the impact of collective choice arrangements (e.g., majority voting). Topics include pollution control, lotteries, income taxes, the national debt and social security. Prerequisite: ECON 101 or 102. Fall.

Impact: None.

Rationale: The new entry more accurately describes the course.

d. Changes to ECON 261

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 98, the entry for 261 U.S. Economic History (3).

Add: Immediately before the entry for ECON 365, the following:

361 U.S. Economic History (3)
An examination of the process of economic change in the United States, with an emphasis on the causes and consequences of economic growth. Topics include the economic causes of the Industrial Revolution, the economics of slavery, the changing role of government and the Depression of the 1930s. No credit given to students who have credit for ECON 261. Prerequisite: ECON 101 or 102. Even years spring.

Impact: Probably none. Neither the slight tightening of the prerequisite, nor the higher course level are expected to affect enrollments noticeably. Virtually no students have taken the course to satisfy the social science General Education requirement.

Rationale: The prerequisite and level change more accurately reflect the nature of the course and its demands on student knowledge and intellectual maturity.

e. Change list of General Education Social Science courses

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 45, the following:

ECON 261 U.S. Economic History 3

Impact: None.

Rationale: This change is necessitated by the change in ECON 261 noted in (d).

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 95, the following:

Concentration in Economics
The objectives of this concentration are: 1) to introduce students to general economic theory and its applications to social problems; and 2) to enable students to create a course of study consistent with their career goals, including graduate study, law, M.B.A. programs, and specific employment objectives.

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

General Economics
A study of economics and its applications that enables students to create a course of study consistent with their interests and career goals.

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 96, the following:

Concentration in International Economics
This concentration explores the international dimensions of economies in the context of current and historical political developments.

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

Concentration in International Economics
An exploration of the international dimensions of economies in the context of current and historical political developments.

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 96, the following:

Concentration in Monetary Economics and Finance
This concentration focuses on the monetary and financial aspects of the economy. It is designed to acquaint student with the workings of financial institutions, the stock market, monetary and fiscal policy, and decisions involving government finance.

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

Concentration in Monetary Economics and Finance
An investigation of the monetary and financial aspects of the economy, including the workings of financial markets and institutions, monetary and fiscal policy, and government finance.

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 97, the following:

Economics with Teacher Licensure

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

Economics with Teacher Licensure
A study of economics consistent with teacher licensure requirements.

Impact: None.

Rationale: The changes provide more uniform descriptions for each approach to the major.

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on pages 96-97, for each concentration, the text accompanying

III. Other departmental requirements

Add: In place of the deleted entries, the following:

III. Other departmental requirements--Senior demonstration of competency and oral competency are met by completion of ECON 480 with a grade of C or higher.

Impact: None.

Rationale: The department is moving toward a capstone course in which all competencies are demonstrated. This movement was facilitated by the substitution of the current two-semester research sequence (380 and 480) for the previous one-semester (490) course. 480 is essentially involved with the conduct and presentation of student research and thus provides a natural place for student competencies to be demonstrated. Every student will continue to have a seminar experience in addition to 380 and 480, that experience being provided by 316, 406 or 450.

h. Changes in Required courses in the major

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 95, under Concentration in Economics, the following:

I. Required courses in the major--34 hours, including: ECON 101, 102, 301, 302, 365, 380, 450, 480; 12 additional hours in Economics, at least six of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

I. Required courses in the major--34 hours, including: ECON 101, 102, 301, 302, 365, 380, 316 or 450, 480; 12 additional hours in Economics, at least six of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 95, under Economics with Teacher Licensure, the following:

I. Required courses in the major--34 hours, including: ECON 101, 102, 301, 302, 365, 380, 450, 480; 12 additional hours in Economics, at least six of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Add: In place of the deleted entry, the following:

I. Required courses in the major--34 hours, including: ECON 101, 102, 301, 302, 365, 380, 316 or 450, 480; 12 additional hours in Economics, at least six of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Impact: None.

Rationale: Students will now be able to select from two seminars (316 or 450) in different semesters rather than just 450 (in the fall) to meet their major requirements. This will expand student choice in a meaningful and responsible direction. Each course of study in the major will now have two seminars from which students must choose one.