Course Descriptions
U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit.
R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.
U 100S Introduction to Political Economy 3 cr. A critical examination of the market mechanism as a social decision-making device to guide the use of a nation's resources. The limitations of these processes in the light of current economic problems such as the rise of the large corporation, monopoly, environmental degradation, economic discrimination and the increasing role of the government.
U 111S Introduction to Microeconomics 3 cr. The nature of a market economy, economic decisions of the household and firm, competition and monopoly, value and price determination, distribution of income and applied microeconomic topics.
U 112S Introduction to Macroeconomics 3 cr. The determination of the level of national economic activity, inflation, economic instability, the role of money and financial institutions, and selected topics in public economic policy.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 302S The Montana Economy 3 cr. An introduction to various ways of analyzing state and local economies using Montana and its regions as a case study. The Montana economy is analyzed by region and major industrial sector.
UG 304 Public Finance: Expenditures 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S and 112S. Rationale for governmental expenditure; public goods, public choice; analysis of expenditure policy; intergovernmental relations.
UG 305 Public Finance: Taxation 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S and 112S. Tax incidence; economic effects of alternative tax policies at the federal, state, and local levels.
UG 310S Contemporary Issues in Political Economy 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Econ 100, 111 or 112. Analysis of alternative approaches to contemporary economic problems to develop more informed and logically consistent personal perspectives on current economics issues and to form a more tolerant view of other such perspectives.
UG 311 Intermediate Microeconomics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S and Math 150 or equivalent. Analysis of consumer behavior, production, factor pricing, and income distribution under assumptions of perfect competition.
UG 313 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 112S and Math 150 Analysis of national income determination, unemployment, and inflation with emphasis on the role of fiscal and monetary policy.
UG 315 History of Economic Thought 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Offered alternate years. A survey of economic ideas from antiquity through the present.
UG 317 Money and Banking 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Definition and role of money; banks and other financial institutions as suppliers of money; the federal reserve system as a regulator of money; monetary theories, history, and policy.
UG 320 Health Economics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ course. Survey of market forces that govern the production and consumption of medical care in the U.S. market; uncertainty, asymmetric information, and concentrations of market power resulting in inefficient outcomes. Topics include cost escalations, role of medical insurance, and problems of an aging population.
UG 323 Labor Economics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Economic analysis of labor markets. Theories of wage determination, discrimination and poverty with implications for manpower policy.
UG 324 Industrial Relations 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Offered alternate years. Theory and practice of collective bargaining in contemporary American labor markets. Emphasis on case studies.
UG 332 International Economic Relations 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Offered alternate years. International finance; theory, policy, institutions and issues. Analysis of balance of payments, exchange rate determination, exchange rate regimes, and international financial agreement.
U 336 US Asian Economics 3 cr. Offered alternate years. The study of Asian economies and their impact on the US and world economies through a study of international trade and economic development in Asia.
UG 345S The Economics of Wildland Preservation 3 cr. An economic analysis of the costs and benefits associated with preserving natural areas. The extension of economic tools to analyze the value of noncommercial resources, goods, and services is one focus. A critique of the limits and dangers associated with that extension is also developed.
UG 350 Economic Development 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Offered alternate years. Study of the processes of economic growth and development in the less developed world.
UG 374 Comparative Economic Systems 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Offered alternate years. Comparative analysis of alternative ideal types of economic organization stressing the assumptions and values used in their critique and defense. Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascism.
UG 376 Monopoly and Public Policy 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S. Offered alternate years. The theoretical basis for public policy solutions to market power. Emphasis on case studies in matters of antitrust, regulation of public utilities, and public ownership of business enterprises.
U 393 Omnibus Variable cr. (R-9) Independent work under the University Omnibus option. See University of Montana Catalog, Academic Policies and Procedures section.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 396 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Prereq., six credits in economics and consent of instructor.
UG 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-12) Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements within the business community. The student must complete a learning agreement with a faculty member, relating the placement opportunity to his or her field of study. The department will determine the number of credits to be earned for the experience based upon the activities outlined in the learning agreement. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office. The department has determined that credit for this course cannot count in the 36-credit minimum requirement for the major.
UG 431 International Trade 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Econ 311 or consent of instructor. International trade; theory, policy, institutions, and issues. Analysis of comparative advantage and trade restrictions, negotiations, and agreements.
UG 440 Environmental Economics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S. Same as EVST 340. Outlines a theoretical framework for the analysis of environmental problems, including concepts of market failure and externalities, materials balance and property rights. The policy implications of this analytical model are explored for a range of topics including pollution and the preservation of natural environments and species. Consent of instructor required.
UG 460 Econometrics 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., an introductory statistics course. Quantitative methods in economics with emphasis on regression analysis.
UG 486 Economic Research Seminar Variable cr. (R-15) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instructor.
UG 487 Senior Seminar in Economics 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Econ 311, 313, six additional credits at the upper division level and upper-division standing. Capstone course for economics majors and others. Advanced topics in economic methodology, theory and/or public affairs.
U 488 Research Methods and Thesis Design 2 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., Senior standing, economics major. Development of senior thesis proposal; presentation of research topics and methods by economics faculty and seminar participants.
U 489 Senior Thesis 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Senior standing, economics major. Completion of senior thesis; presentation of results by seminar participants.
UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-15) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 497 Advanced Problems Variable cr., (R-15) Prereq., 12 credits in economics and consent of instructor.
G 501 Graduate Research Variable cr. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring.
G 511 Microeconomic Theory 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., Econ 311. Advanced theoretical treatment of consumer and producer behavior.
G 513 Macroeconomic Theory 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Econ 313. Advanced theoretical treatment of national income determination, unemployment and inflation.
G 560 Advanced Econometrics 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., Econ 460. Advanced quantitative methods in econometrics. Coverage of probit-logit regression models, simultaneous equation system, and other specialized techniques.
G 569 Empirical Research Design Variable cr. (R-6) Role and scope of empirical research. Planning and conduct of a research project.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Prereq., Consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office.
G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every term.