Teaching

ECN 319: Intermediate Microeconomics

Intermediate Microeconomics is a calculus-based course that builds on the principles introduced in introductory microeconomics. Together with intermediate macroeconomics, it forms the foundation of modern economic theory.

The course examines consumer behavior, demand theory, production, cost analysis, and firm supply decisions within the framework of constrained mathematical optimization. This analytical approach enables students to develop a deeper understanding of how individuals and firms make decisions under conditions of scarcity.

By emphasizing rigorous economic reasoning and quantitative analysis, the course helps students appreciate the fundamental scarcity of the world's resources and the implications of that scarcity for everyday decision-making, business strategy, and public policy.

ECN 330: Ecomometris

Introduction to Econometrics is an applied, statistics-based course that focuses on developing practical skills in econometric analysis. Unlike courses that emphasize current economic issues and their social or policy implications, this course is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of fundamental econometric methods and the statistical and mathematical principles that support them.

Throughout the semester, we emphasize three complementary objectives: motivation, understanding, and implementation. Motivation comes from using econometric methods to evaluate economic theories with real-world data. Understanding is developed by learning the assumptions, interpretation, and appropriate application of a variety of econometric models. Mastery is reinforced through extensive hands-on analysis and empirical exercises.

Students will apply econometric techniques to many of the economic theories encountered throughout the economics curriculum. For example, we will estimate production functions and examine returns to scale, empirically test the Quantity Theory of Money, the short-run Phillips Curve, Okun's Law, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), and several other important economic relationships. These empirical applications strengthen students' understanding of economic theory while developing the quantitative skills expected of professional economists and analysts.

The course relies heavily on Microsoft Excel and EViews (Student Version, if available at no cost). Both software packages are essential components of the course and should not be viewed as optional. During approximately the first month of the semester, students will use Excel to develop a solid understanding of data management, statistical analysis, and basic econometric techniques. The remainder of the course will focus primarily on EViews, a powerful and widely used econometric software package employed by businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, and consulting firms around the world.

By the end of the semester, students should be comfortable using EViews to estimate, evaluate, and interpret econometric models and be well prepared to apply these skills in advanced coursework, research projects, and professional settings.

ECN 440: International Economics

International Economics examines the economic relationships and interactions among sovereign nations. While international trade is governed by many of the same principles of efficient resource allocation introduced in other economics courses, differences in national policies, currencies, institutions, and economic objectives create unique challenges and opportunities in the global economy.

The course explores the fundamental theories and policy issues that shape international economic activity. Major topics include the gains from international trade, trade policy and protectionism, the balance of payments, exchange rate determination, international monetary systems, policy coordination among nations, international capital markets, and macroeconomic policy in open economies. Together, these topics provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how countries interact through trade, finance, and economic policy, and how these interactions influence economic growth, business decisions, and global prosperity.

BUS 500: Statistics and Quantittive Methods

This course introduces the statistical and quantitative methods used to analyze data and support evidence-based decision-making in business. Students develop practical analytical skills that are widely applicable across business disciplines, economics, finance, marketing, operations, and management.

The course covers descriptive statistics, data visualization, probability concepts, probability distributions, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and multiple regression analysis. Students learn how to organize, summarize, and interpret data using graphical and statistical techniques such as histograms, measures of central tendency, and measures of variability. Building on these foundations, the course examines probability models and hypothesis testing as tools for drawing inferences from sample data and evaluating business and economic questions.

A substantial portion of the course is devoted to multiple regression analysis, where students learn how to model and quantify relationships among variables, interpret statistical results, and make data-driven decisions. By the end of the semester, students will be able to apply appropriate statistical methods to analyze real-world business problems, evaluate empirical evidence, and communicate quantitative findings effectively.

The course assumes prior exposure to introductory statistics and a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, both of which are essential tools for completing course assignments and analyses.

BUS 501: Ecnomic Analysis

This course provides an introduction to both microeconomics and macroeconomics, the two fundamental branches of economics.

Microeconomics examines the behavior and decision-making of individual economic agents, including consumers, workers, owners of productive resources, firms, and the markets for goods and services. It explains how consumption, production, and the distribution of income are coordinated through the market mechanism. Understanding these relationships enables students to analyze economic choices and make more informed decisions in business and everyday life.

Macroeconomics focuses on the performance of the economy as a whole. Topics include the determination of national income, economic growth, unemployment, inflation, business cycles, and the role of monetary and fiscal policy. The course also examines the extent to which government policies can influence economic activity, as well as the limitations of those policies. Together, the microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives provide students with a comprehensive framework for understanding how individuals, businesses, and governments interact in a modern economy.