Telephone:
(760)
750-4152
Department Chair:
Ranjeeta
Ghiara, Ph.D.
Faculty:
Roger A. Arnold, Ph.D.
Robert Brown, Ph.D.
Ranjeeta Ghiara, Ph.D.
Robert Rider, Ph.D.
Programs Offered:
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics
- Minor in Economics
The student majoring in economics will acquire a set of analytical tools and a way of thinking that will help him or her to better understand and predict the behavior of individuals, groups, and societies. Learning economics does for the undergraduate student what corrective lenses do for the person with impaired eyesight: it brings the world into focus. Things that were invisible become visible, the complex and hard-to-understand become simple and easily understood.
Economics is the study of human behavior as it relates to the condition of scarcity: that is, the condition where resources are limited in relation to human wants. An important part of economics is the study of how individuals, groups, and societies deal with scarcity through markets or exchange-like institutions. Economic theory is sufficiently powerful to explain many varieties of exchange relationships. This is evident in the number of fields in which economic analysis is currently utilized, such as business, history, law, psychology, political science, and sociology.
Economics has always been a highly respected field of study, but in the past three decades its reputation has soared. There are perhaps three major reasons for this change. First, many people have come to realize that economics plays an important role in their everyday lives. Recession, inflation, the exchange value of the dollar, the savings rate, interest rates, taxes, mergers, government expenditures, and economic growth all matter. These economic factors touch lives; they affect dreams. Second, economists have developed better tools and more refined methods of analysis: they have successfully extended their analytical apparatus and the economic way of thinking beyond the traditional confines of the science. Third, the one language that is becoming increasingly more universal is the language of economics. The American business person may not speak Japanese, and the Japanese business person may not speak English, but both of them know the language of supply and demand, profits, production, costs, international trade, and competition. Both of them know the language of economics.
Recommended Course of Study
For those students who are required to take ECON 201 and 202, it is recommended that ECON 201 be taken first. Students are also advised to complete their mathematics requirement (MATH 132) and their statistics requirement (BUS 304) early in their course of study. Students who expect to apply to do graduate work in economics are advised to speak to the program director in economics at their earliest convenience for a suggested course of study.
Educational and Career Opportunities
The economics major provides the undergraduate student with a solid academic background for graduate study in a wide variety of areas. The most relevant areas include economics, business, and law. Career opportunities include positions in business, banking, journalism, government, law, and teaching. Economists are well-represented in occupations in both the private and public sectors. Students interested in knowing more about educational and career opportunities in economics are invited to speak with economics faculty members.
Preparation
High school students are encouraged to take four years of English, three to four years of mathematics, and an economics course (if available).
Transfer Students
Students may transfer a maximum of six (6) lower-division semester units in economics and a maximum of (6) upper-division semester units in economics, which may be applied toward the economics major or minor. Three (3) of the six (6) lower-division semester units must be in a course that clearly fits the course description in this catalog for ECON 201; three (3) must be in a course that clearly fits the course description for ECON 202. Upper-division semester units must be in courses that clearly fit the course description in this catalog for any upper-division level course and satisfy any conditions or prerequisites. However, all of the four required upper-division theory courses (ECON 301, 302, 303, and 441) must be completed at Cal State San Marcos. All transfer courses must at least be equal in scope, content, and level to the equivalent Cal State San Marcos course.
Special Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and the Minor in Economics
Each course counted towards the major or the minor must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. No more than two (2) units of ECON 497 may be counted toward the major. Only one of the courses listed, ECON 305 and 306, may be counted toward the major or minor. Students who have already received credit for ECON 250, may then consult with the Economics Department Chair to gain permission to count ECON 250 as replacing either ECON 201 or ECON 202 (but not both courses) for purposes of satisfying the Preparation for the Major requirements, lower-division Minor requirements, and certain upper-division economics course prerequisites.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS
Units
General Education*
51
Preparation for the
Major*13
Major
Requirements30
Students must take a
sufficient number of
elective
units to bring the total
number of
units to a minimum
of120
Preparation for the Major
Non-Economics
Supporting Courses
(7 units)
Units
BUS
304 4
MATH
132 3
Lower-division (6 units)
ECON
2013
ECON 2023
Major Requirements
Upper-division (30
units)
Units
ECON
3013
ECON
3023
ECON
3033
ECON
4413
Upper-division
electives in economics to be
selected by students in consultation with their
academic advisor18
MINOR IN ECONOMICS
Three (3) lower-division units in Area B (math and science) and three (3) units of lower division General Education Area D (Social Sciences) are automatically satisfied by courses taken in preparation for the major.
Lower-division (6 units)
Units
ECON
2013
ECON
2023
Upper-division (15 units)
ECON
3013
ECON 302 3
ECON
3033
ECON
4413
Upper-division
electives in economics to be
selected by students in
consultation with their
academic
advisor3
Total Units 21