THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

FACULTY SENATE

Senate Document Number 0704F

Date of Senate Approval 12/02/04

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 6: Addition of ECON 230: Sports and Economics (3)

Change in title/description/prerequisite for ECON 250;

Change in title/description for ECON 330.

Effective Date: Fall 2005

1) Add: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 99, new entry for Econ 230 as follows:

230 Sports and Economics (3)

An examination of the economic aspects of professional sports, including historical, legal, and political considerations. Topics include Supreme Court decisions and Congressional legislation affecting sports, the impact of sports on the desegregation of society, and the economics of player salaries, owner profits, franchise values, and publicly-supported stadiums. Spring.

Impact:

This course has been offered as Econ 273 (Special Topics) three times in the last five years. An annual offering pattern implies a slight increase in the use of faculty resources. If this course becomes a part of an ILS Topical Cluster, the course will have to be offered more frequently, perhaps three times every two years. The Department of Economics anticipates being able to handle these additional sections.

Rationale:

Postsecondary institutions in the last few years have begun to realize that sports has a definite “educational side,” and numerous colleges and universities offer sports-related courses in such disciplines as business, economics and history. The interdisciplinary nature of the topics also suggests that the course is a good fit for a liberal arts institution, and especially an ILS Topical Cluster. As a special topics course, average enrollment has been about twenty, indicating that the subject is interesting to students.

2) Delete: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 99, title and course description for Econ 250.

Add: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 99, new entry for Econ 250 as follows:

250 Economic Globalization (3)

An introduction to theories, institutions, and impacts of economic globalization. In addition to economics, the course will consider political, cultural, ethical and historical factors. Topics include basic international trade theory and policy, international economic institutions and organizations, exchange rates, international financial crises, and international economic history. The views of both advocates and critics of economic globalization will be considered. Fall.

Impact:

Econ 250 is currently offered once per academic year. It may be the case that the removal of the prerequisite and the change in title will result in additional demand for the course, which would justify offering an additional section, particularly if the course becomes part of an ILS Topical Cluster. The Department of Economics will be able to manage this additional section.

As a result of removing the prerequisite, the level of economic sophistication will be slightly reduced, but the instructor believes that students are able to understand the material without having had either course in economic principles. Furthermore, in the course’s current form, students who have received permission to waive the prerequisite have been successful in the course.

Rationale:

The change in title and course description is to reflect changes in course content over the last few years as well as the interests of the instructor.

The prerequisite is being removed in order to facilitate inclusion of this course in a potential ILS Topical Cluster on globalization or international affairs and to increase access to students from other disciplines who are interested in becoming better informed on issues of globalization and international economic affairs.

3) Change in title and course description for Econ 330: Labor Economics

Delete: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 100, title and course description for Econ 330.

Add: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 100, new entry for Econ 330 as follows:

330 Women, Men and Work (3)
An examination of the economic behavior of men and women in the world of work, including analyses of market and non-market work. Occupational segregation, inequities in labor market outcomes and gender differences in household production will be addressed. In addition the course will discuss the policy implications of the differing work experiences of men and women. Prerequisite: ECON 101, ECON 102, or WMST 100. Even years Fall.

Add: In Catalog 2004-05, on p. 149, in list of Women’s Studies Electives:

ECON 330 Women, Men and Work

Impact: None anticipated. Although ECON 330 has not been offered in several years, a special topics course on Women, Men and Work has been offered twice in the last three years.

Rationale:

The change in title and course description is to reflect changes in course content. The course in an up-dated version of the basic economics of labor markets course which fully integrates the scholarship on gender in labor markets. When offered in the past, success in the course has required either familiarity with the basic tools of economic analysis (from ECON 101 or 102) or exposure to issues of gender in the workplace, acquired in WMST 100. Motivated Women’s Studies minors have done well without having taken an Economics course.

The course should meet the requirements for an ILS Diversity intensive course and will serve as an elective in the Women’s Studies Program.