The International Economics degree program equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in the international world of business and economics, while emphasizing the skills to develop orderly and critical thinking. It stresses both theoretical and applied concepts, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, communication skills and basic computer literacy.
We also expect our students to appreciate and draw from their knowledge of other disciplines, other cultures and other languages. The pluralistic approach taken by the department allows students to connect the content taught in the economics classes with the occurrences in the real world, thereby preparing them for diverse and challenging work environments. To concretize that connection, the Franklin Frank Program was created to foster service learning and to develop a student "economy" that can provide reflection on the nature of money and job creation.
In today’s world of economic uncertainty, a deep understanding of economics is more vital than ever. A major in economics translates into job opportunities in various fields including teaching, government services, finance, banking and insurance, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, public administration and management. Many of those opportunities also offer important salaries.
Majors
Analyze and think critically about economic issues.
The International Economics major prepares students to think critically about economic issues, with special emphasis on international and comparative matters. Greater economic integration and the process of “globalization” of economic and business affairs increasingly call for an international approach to economic education.
The growing mobility of people and resources in a world of rapid technological progress in communications requires a greater knowledge and understanding of the differences among people and economic systems that persist even in a highly integrated world. In this spirit, the International Economics degree gives students a solid background in the fundamentals of economic analysis, while adopting a pluralistic approach to economic education that exposes students to a wide spectrum of theories and systems of thought comprising the different facets of the discipline. Special emphasis is given to economic policy issues and economic institutions. Students are made aware of the institutional differences that exist across countries, of their evolution and reforms, through an appreciation of the institutionally based nature of the market system. In this context, the discipline of economics is presented as a logical, and yet practical and creative field.
The emphasis in Political Economy provides an opportunity for students to focus on a set of courses that analyze the complex inter-relationships between economics and politics in an increasingly globalized world. Political economy, as an interdisciplinary field of study, explores issues centered on the ways in which political institutions affect the performance of economic systems as well as the ways in which economic interests affect the form of institutions and policies. It entails a variety of approaches, to include the application of economic theories to political choice, historical analysis, and models drawn from game theory applied to political institutions.
In addition to the major field of study, students may choose a minor in Economics. The Economics minor is not open to majors in International Economics in any emphasis, International Relations (Political Economy emphasis) or International Banking and Finance.
View requirements
International Economics
The major in International Economics provides students with tools to understand the contemporary world. Through rigorous training in different theoretical approaches and empirical techniques, students will develop critical, analytical, and empirical insight into current economic issues. The constantly increasing mobility of people and resources in a world of rapid technological progress requires a greater knowledge and understanding of the differences among cultures and economic systems that persist even in a highly integrated world. Therefore, a primary focus of this major is on economic policy issues and economic institutions.
Economics is only one lens through which to examine societal problems and so the department maintains an interdisciplinary approach on a variety of issues, while laying the groundwork for a reflective, ethical, and global understanding of the subject area. The menu of courses exposes students to a variety of theories through the recognition of economics as a contested and evolving discipline, and through an appreciation of the institutionally based nature of the market system.
This major prepares students for careers in teaching, banking, business strategy, public policy, law and management, consulting, media, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as providing a solid foundation for graduate studies.
Not open to majors in International Economics with an emphasis in Political Economy
Major Requirements (45 Credits)
- Lower-level Requirements (21 credits)
-
- ECN 100 Principles of Macroeconomics
-
This entry-level course in economics covers the fundamentals of macroeconomics and, together with ECN 101, it provides the necessary prerequisites for any other upper-level course in economics. This course introduces students to the study of economics as a field of knowledge within the social sciences. In the first part, focus will be on the definition, the explanation, and the significance of national income, business fluctuations, the price level, and aggregate employment. In the second part, special attention is devoted to the functioning of a payment system based on currency and bank money. Finally, students will discuss the instruments and the functioning of public policy aimed to stabilize prices and maintain high levels of output and employment within the current macroeconomic context. Current economic news will be regularly scrutinized.
- ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics
-
This is an entry-level course in economics, covering fundamentals of microeconomics and aimed at students who choose it as an elective or plan to continue their studies in economics. This course helps students develop basic analytical skills in economics and microeconomics. It provides students with a basic understanding of the market system in advanced capitalist economies. It examines the logic of constrained choice with a focus on the economic behavior of individuals and organizations. After a theoretical analysis of the determinants and the interaction of supply and demand under competitive conditions, alternative market structures will be investigated, including monopolistic and oligopolistic forms. The course examines the conditions under which markets allocate resources efficiently and identifies causes of market failure and the appropriate government response. The introduction to the role of government includes its taxing and expenditure activities as well as regulatory policies.
- ECN 204 History of Economic Thought
-
This intermediate-level course studies the evolution of economic ideas from the early Eighteenth century to modern times, with emphasis on the differing conceptions of economic life and the methodological underpinnings of three main strands of thought: Classical economics, Marginalism, and the Keynesian paradigm. The course is organized around four main themes: the source of wealth, the theory of value, economic growth and business cycle in the capitalist system, and the notion of equilibrium in economic analysis. The course aims at providing a systematic conceptual framework to investigate the development of economic ideas, in their intersections with philosophy and the political and historical evolution of societies, hence highlighting the nature of economics as a social science. At the same time, the course stresses the methodological features (in terms of a rigorous and formalized language) peculiar to the economic reasoning.
- ECN 225 Issues and Controversies in Macroeconomics (Intermediate Macroeconomics)
-
This intermediate-level course in macroeconomics builds upon the introductory two-semester (ECN 100 and ECN 101) sequence and, in conjunction with ECN 256, prepares students to study upper-level economics. This course is designed to provide students with an appreciation of current economic issues and questions in modern macroeconomics, through the recognition of economics as a controversial subject. In the first part, we review some important measurement issues in macroeconomics that have policy consequences. In the second part, students will explore the competing theoretical frameworks developed in the twentieth century to explain growth cycles, employment and inflation. Finally, the acquired knowledge will be applied to the current policy issues in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Recommended prerequisite: MAT 200.
- ECN 256 Managerial Economics (Intermediate Microeconomics)
-
This intermediate-level course in microeconomics builds upon the introductory two-semester sequence and, in conjunction with ECN 225, prepares students to upper-level economics. This course completes the theoretical background on microeconomics and introduces students to more advanced topics, with an emphasis on the practical relevance and application of theory. The essence of the course is, in particular, the study of the interaction between rational individual decision-making (e.g. consumers, firms, the government) and the working of economic institutions like markets, regulation and social rules. Topics covered include an introduction to game theory, strategic behavior and entry deterrence; analysis of technological change; the internal organization of the firm; economic efficiency; public goods, externalities and information; government and business.
- MAT 182 Statistics For Everybody
-
Statistics for Everybody is an introductory course covering essential applied statistical concepts and techniques. It incorporates a well known Social Science statistical portal called the Survey Documentation and Analysis tool throughout the course. The course begins with an understanding of how we conceptualize and operationalize statistical concepts into measurable variables. We then begin to explore data using descriptive statistics and simple data visualizations – learning both how to create and interpret meaningful data visualizations. Next we learn how to compare and contrast different variables and cohorts, exploring similarities through correlation and differences through means testing. Finally, we explore more advanced analysis techniques including developing contingency tables and multiple regression models, examining their outputs (z-scores, p-values) to better understand the notion of statistical significance. Students culminate their learning with a final project, leveraging their own hypotheses and statistical analyses in order to present their own unique findings.
- MAT 200 Calculus
-
The course begins with a review of functions and their graphs, after which students are introduced to the concepts of differentiation and integration. Understanding is reinforced through extensive practical work, with a strong emphasis on applications in economics, statistics and management science.
- Required Courses (12 credits)
-
- ECN 303 Development Economics
-
The course will introduce students to the evolution of theory and practice in economic development in three stages. First, models of economic growth and development including work by Harrod-Domar, Robert Solow, Arthur Lewis, and Michael Kremer are compared to provide students with a feeling for how economists have conceived of the development process. The class then proceeds to examine particular development issues such as population growth, stagnant agriculture, environmental degradation, illiteracy, gender disparities, and rapid urbanization to understand how these dynamics reinforce poverty and deprivation. In the final stage, students will read work by supporters as well as critics of international development assistance and use the knowledge and perspective they have gained thus far to independently evaluate efficacy of a specific development intervention.
- ECN 325 Money, Banking and Financial Markets
-
This upper-level course in economics is the first part of a two-semester sequence including ECN 328. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the monetary dimension of contemporary economies. This includes the nature of the means of settlement, the technology of monetary payments, the banking system and its pro-cyclical, crisis-prone character that requires control and regulation, the response of financial markets to changing policy conditions and perceived risks, and central banks’ operations and goals when setting interest rates. Special attention is devoted to current monetary policy issues with special reference (but not limited) to the practice of the U.S. Fed and the European Central Bank. Recommended prerequisite: BUS 226, ECN 225, ECN 256.
- ECN 328 International Banking and Finance
-
This upper-level course in economics is the second part of an ideal two-semester sequence including ECN 325. This course is designed to provide students with an appreciation of the meaning and consequence of international monetary relations, notably with respect to cross-border payments and investments under different monetary, banking, financial, and political institutions. In the first part, the class will investigate currency exposure, the currency market and its actors, the determination of exchange rates, measures and indices of the external value of a currency. In the second part, focus will be on the structure of balance-of-payments accounting, the size and significance of current account imbalances, and exchange rate policies. Finally, students will study monetary unions with special reference to the current issues and future prospects of Economic and Monetary Union in Europe. Recommended prerequisites: ECN 225, ECN 256, ECN 325
- ECN 341 International Trade
-
This course will introduce students to the major theories and tools used in the study of international trade. Particular attention will be paid to deriving, analyzing, and assessing the empirical evidence for and against the Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin conceptions of comparative advantage, the Stolper-Samuelson Factor-Price Equalization Theorem, and New Trade Theories based on assumptions of imperfect competition. Students will become skilled at using a variety of graphical devices including offer curves to describe the effect which variations in government policy, factor dynamics, country size, technology, tastes, and transport costs will have on the terms of as well as the magnitude and distribution of the gains from trade. (With professor permission, students may take this course with no ECN 256 prerequisite.)
- Upper-level and Capstone Requirements (12 credits)
-
Four of the following:
- ECN 320 Game Theory, Information, and Contracts
-
The course investigates in a simple but rigorous way some of the fundamental issues of modern microeconomics, exploring the main concepts of game theory, as well as the basic elements of the economics of information, and of contract theory. A solid background on these topics is essential to the investigation of strategic decision making, the assessment of the relevance of asymmetric and/or incomplete information in decision processes, and the design of contracts. These, in turn, are among the most important issues that firms and individuals commonly need to face in all situations in which the consequences of individual decisions are likely to depend on the strategic interactions among agents' actions, and on the signaling value of information. Proceeding from intuition to formal analysis, the course investigates the methodological approach of game theory (allowing for a systematic analysis of strategic interaction) and the main concepts of the economics of information (allowing to assess the effects of asymmetric or incomplete information on agents' decisions). Further, it combines both game theory and economics of information to provide an introduction to the essential elements of contract theory.
- ECN 355 Political Economy: Theories and Issues
-
This course is designed to introduce students to the foundations of political economy. Political economy is the study of the economic system from a critical, historical and interdisciplinary perspective to provide a greater understanding of our current economic system. In this course, students will learn about different theories in political economy and how these theories help us understand the transformation of a pre capitalist system to the current capitalist system. Some of the approaches that students will be introduced to are Institutional, Marxian, Sraffian, Post-Keynesian and Austrian. This course will also draw from these various theories and examine their implications for different issues that arise from the current social and economic formation. Some of the issues that will be considered in this course are social and economic inequality, gender inequality, issues concerning the ecology, power relations and conflict in modern society, political economy of poverty and uneven development.
- ECN 387 Introduction to Econometrics
-
The course introduces the basic principles of econometrics as a set of tools and techniques to quantitatively investigate a variety of economic and financial issues. The application of econometric methods allows studying the relationships between different economic and financial variables, hence providing a natural way to test and confront alternative theories and conjectures, as well as to forecast and simulate the effects of different economic and financial policies. The course approach is mainly focused on applications. A discussion of the main theoretical issues and a systematic analysis of econometric tools are prerequisites for the investigation of a number of economic and financial applications.
- ECN 490 Senior Research Project in International Economics
-
Research proposals are to be coordinated with the faculty advisor and the Division Chair.
- ECN 492 Internship in International Economics
-
Internship experiences are to be coordinated in advance with the faculty advisor and the Division Chair.
- ECN 497 Research Seminar in Economics and Finance
-
This course is offered when students and instructors arrange a special seminar on material that is beyond the scope of a particular course. It is open to students majoring in International Economics or Finance with permission from the Division Chair and is supervised by an Economics or Finance faculty member.
Note: ECN 490, ECN 492 and ECN 497 require permission from your Advisor and the Division Chair.
International Economics with an Emphasis in Political Economy
The major in International Economics with an emphasis in Political Economy provides an opportunity for students to focus on a set of courses that explore issues centered on the ways in which political institutions affect the performance of economic systems as well as the ways in which economic interests affect the form of institutions and policies. It entails a variety of approaches, to include the application of economic theories to political choice, historical analysis, models drawn from game theory applied to political institutions, courses on environmental issues and its implications for the current economic system.
This major prepares students for careers in teaching, banking, business strategy, public policy, law and management, consulting, media, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as providing a solid foundation for graduate studies.
Not open to majors in International Economics
Major Requirements (51 Credits)
- Lower-level Requirements (24 credits)
-
- ECN 100 Principles of Macroeconomics
-
This entry-level course in economics covers the fundamentals of macroeconomics and, together with ECN 101, it provides the necessary prerequisites for any other upper-level course in economics. This course introduces students to the study of economics as a field of knowledge within the social sciences. In the first part, focus will be on the definition, the explanation, and the significance of national income, business fluctuations, the price level, and aggregate employment. In the second part, special attention is devoted to the functioning of a payment system based on currency and bank money. Finally, students will discuss the instruments and the functioning of public policy aimed to stabilize prices and maintain high levels of output and employment within the current macroeconomic context. Current economic news will be regularly scrutinized.
- ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics
-
This is an entry-level course in economics, covering fundamentals of microeconomics and aimed at students who choose it as an elective or plan to continue their studies in economics. This course helps students develop basic analytical skills in economics and microeconomics. It provides students with a basic understanding of the market system in advanced capitalist economies. It examines the logic of constrained choice with a focus on the economic behavior of individuals and organizations. After a theoretical analysis of the determinants and the interaction of supply and demand under competitive conditions, alternative market structures will be investigated, including monopolistic and oligopolistic forms. The course examines the conditions under which markets allocate resources efficiently and identifies causes of market failure and the appropriate government response. The introduction to the role of government includes its taxing and expenditure activities as well as regulatory policies.
- ECN 204 History of Economic Thought
-
This intermediate-level course studies the evolution of economic ideas from the early Eighteenth century to modern times, with emphasis on the differing conceptions of economic life and the methodological underpinnings of three main strands of thought: Classical economics, Marginalism, and the Keynesian paradigm. The course is organized around four main themes: the source of wealth, the theory of value, economic growth and business cycle in the capitalist system, and the notion of equilibrium in economic analysis. The course aims at providing a systematic conceptual framework to investigate the development of economic ideas, in their intersections with philosophy and the political and historical evolution of societies, hence highlighting the nature of economics as a social science. At the same time, the course stresses the methodological features (in terms of a rigorous and formalized language) peculiar to the economic reasoning.
- ECN 225 Issues and Controversies in Macroeconomics (Intermediate Macroeconomics)
-
This intermediate-level course in macroeconomics builds upon the introductory two-semester (ECN 100 and ECN 101) sequence and, in conjunction with ECN 256, prepares students to study upper-level economics. This course is designed to provide students with an appreciation of current economic issues and questions in modern macroeconomics, through the recognition of economics as a controversial subject. In the first part, we review some important measurement issues in macroeconomics that have policy consequences. In the second part, students will explore the competing theoretical frameworks developed in the twentieth century to explain growth cycles, employment and inflation. Finally, the acquired knowledge will be applied to the current policy issues in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Recommended prerequisite: MAT 200.
- ECN 256 Managerial Economics (Intermediate Microeconomics)
-
This intermediate-level course in microeconomics builds upon the introductory two-semester sequence and, in conjunction with ECN 225, prepares students to upper-level economics. This course completes the theoretical background on microeconomics and introduces students to more advanced topics, with an emphasis on the practical relevance and application of theory. The essence of the course is, in particular, the study of the interaction between rational individual decision-making (e.g. consumers, firms, the government) and the working of economic institutions like markets, regulation and social rules. Topics covered include an introduction to game theory, strategic behavior and entry deterrence; analysis of technological change; the internal organization of the firm; economic efficiency; public goods, externalities and information; government and business.
- MAT 182 Statistics For Everybody
-
Statistics for Everybody is an introductory course covering essential applied statistical concepts and techniques. It incorporates a well known Social Science statistical portal called the Survey Documentation and Analysis tool throughout the course. The course begins with an understanding of how we conceptualize and operationalize statistical concepts into measurable variables. We then begin to explore data using descriptive statistics and simple data visualizations – learning both how to create and interpret meaningful data visualizations. Next we learn how to compare and contrast different variables and cohorts, exploring similarities through correlation and differences through means testing. Finally, we explore more advanced analysis techniques including developing contingency tables and multiple regression models, examining their outputs (z-scores, p-values) to better understand the notion of statistical significance. Students culminate their learning with a final project, leveraging their own hypotheses and statistical analyses in order to present their own unique findings.
- MAT 200 Calculus
-
The course begins with a review of functions and their graphs, after which students are introduced to the concepts of differentiation and integration. Understanding is reinforced through extensive practical work, with a strong emphasis on applications in economics, statistics and management science.
- POL 100 Introduction to Political Science
-
Basic concepts of the discipline are discussed in this class with a focus on the evolution of the state and the role of the individual from historical, ideological, and comparative perspectives.
- Or
- POL 101 Introduction to International Relations
-
This course provides the basic analytic tools necessary for the understanding of international relations. After a brief introduction to the realist and liberal approaches to the study of international relations, the course covers various fundamental concepts, such as national power, foreign policy, conflict, political economy, international trade, and international organizations.
- Upper-level Requirements (27 credits)
-
- ECN 303 Development Economics
-
The course will introduce students to the evolution of theory and practice in economic development in three stages. First, models of economic growth and development including work by Harrod-Domar, Robert Solow, Arthur Lewis, and Michael Kremer are compared to provide students with a feeling for how economists have conceived of the development process. The class then proceeds to examine particular development issues such as population growth, stagnant agriculture, environmental degradation, illiteracy, gender disparities, and rapid urbanization to understand how these dynamics reinforce poverty and deprivation. In the final stage, students will read work by supporters as well as critics of international development assistance and use the knowledge and perspective they have gained thus far to independently evaluate efficacy of a specific development intervention.
- ECN 320 Game Theory, Information, and Contracts
-
The course investigates in a simple but rigorous way some of the fundamental issues of modern microeconomics, exploring the main concepts of game theory, as well as the basic elements of the economics of information, and of contract theory. A solid background on these topics is essential to the investigation of strategic decision making, the assessment of the relevance of asymmetric and/or incomplete information in decision processes, and the design of contracts. These, in turn, are among the most important issues that firms and individuals commonly need to face in all situations in which the consequences of individual decisions are likely to depend on the strategic interactions among agents' actions, and on the signaling value of information. Proceeding from intuition to formal analysis, the course investigates the methodological approach of game theory (allowing for a systematic analysis of strategic interaction) and the main concepts of the economics of information (allowing to assess the effects of asymmetric or incomplete information on agents' decisions). Further, it combines both game theory and economics of information to provide an introduction to the essential elements of contract theory.
- ECN 341 International Trade
-
This course will introduce students to the major theories and tools used in the study of international trade. Particular attention will be paid to deriving, analyzing, and assessing the empirical evidence for and against the Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin conceptions of comparative advantage, the Stolper-Samuelson Factor-Price Equalization Theorem, and New Trade Theories based on assumptions of imperfect competition. Students will become skilled at using a variety of graphical devices including offer curves to describe the effect which variations in government policy, factor dynamics, country size, technology, tastes, and transport costs will have on the terms of as well as the magnitude and distribution of the gains from trade. (With professor permission, students may take this course with no ECN 256 prerequisite.)
- ECN 355 Political Economy: Theories and Issues
-
This course is designed to introduce students to the foundations of political economy. Political economy is the study of the economic system from a critical, historical and interdisciplinary perspective to provide a greater understanding of our current economic system. In this course, students will learn about different theories in political economy and how these theories help us understand the transformation of a pre capitalist system to the current capitalist system. Some of the approaches that students will be introduced to are Institutional, Marxian, Sraffian, Post-Keynesian and Austrian. This course will also draw from these various theories and examine their implications for different issues that arise from the current social and economic formation. Some of the issues that will be considered in this course are social and economic inequality, gender inequality, issues concerning the ecology, power relations and conflict in modern society, political economy of poverty and uneven development.
- Three of the following:
-
- COM 301 Globalization and Media
-
This course examines media in the context of globalization. Most broadly, students will explore what constitutes globalization, how globalization has been facilitated and articulated by media, how media have been shaped by the processes of globalization, and perhaps most significantly, the social implications of these complex and varied processes on politics, international relations, advocacy and cultural flows. In order to map this terrain, students will survey the major theories that constitute this dynamic area of study.
- COM 314 Digital Journalism in a Global Context
-
Recent developments in media technologies from Big Data to Artificial Intelligence, corporate structure such as the rise of journalists' networks and consortia, and the organization of public life have hugely impacted the practice of journalism in the ''global village.'' This course explores the shifting landscape of journalism, with an eye toward how these developments affect journalism’s role in society. The course will also introduce the students to the techniques of journalism in digital media and offer them conceptual and practical tools with which to navigate the Infosphere. By the end of the course, students should have a clear sense of the various ways journalists have taken up digital media and a broad understanding of the ways in which recent social and economic developments have changed both the practice of journalists and the nature of a public nowadays contended between ''globalization'' and ''glocalization.''
- ENV 200 Understanding Environmental Issues
-
This case study based course serves as the bridge experience for students completing their introductory course requirements for the ESS major or the ENV minor and who are now moving into the upper-level courses (However it is open to all interested students meeting the prerequisite). Through detailed examination of several case studies at the local, regional, and global levels, students synthesize material from introductory level courses to explore the interdisciplinary nature of today’s environmental issues. They examine what different disciplines offer to our understanding of and attempt to solve these issues.
- ENV 210 Natural Disasters, Catastrophes, and the Environment
-
As long as humans have walked the planet, they have faced dangers from the environment, such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. Today's technology creates new possibilities for disasters, including climate change, killer smog, and nuclear accidents. Students in this course will study the science behind natural disasters as well as examine society's preparedness for and response to these problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. It will look at both historical and recent events and consider what disasters await us in the future.
- HIS 310 The Cold War
-
The Cold War was many things. It was primarily a global power struggle between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, two Superpowers which divided the world into competing alliances and engaged in proxy wars. It was a tense and often unstable nuclear standoff. It was also an ideological clash between freedom and totalitarianism; between economic equality and exploitation; and between imperialism and anti-colonial nationalism. This course examines these intersecting facets as well as the ways in which the Cold War is interpreted and its profound and continuing impact not only on the principal protagonists but on all of the peoples of the world.
- HIS 355 The World and the West in the Long 19th Century
-
The world today has been shaped to a large extent by Europe and America in the long nineteenth century between the Enlightenment and the First World War. During this period dramatic changes in social, economic, political and cultural ideas and institutions were related to changes in how people in the West conceptualized the world around them. Although Europeans and Americans exerted global influence through industrialization and imperialism, in turn they were influenced by people beyond the West from Africa to the Far East. Thus globalization is not a recent phenomenon. With emphasis on Christopher Bayly's recent book The Birth of the Modern World, 1780-1914: Global Connections and Comparisons, among other works, this course will focus on major themes in the study of modernity such as political ideologies and the roles of science and religion as related to the development of the idea of ''Europe'' or ''the West'' with special reference to the British colonies, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and Japan. It is intended to provide not only a broad view of a crucial period in modern history but also a functional knowledge of themes and concepts necessary for understanding the contemporary world. Students read primary as well as secondary sources, and attention is devoted to methodological considerations and recent trends in scholarship.
- POL 302 Political Philosophy
-
This course is designed to familiarize students with the major currents of political philosophy. It covers a broad range of central thinkers from the major philosophers of ancient Greece up to the proponents of modern-day liberalism. The course situates political philosophies in their historical context of emergence and thereby provides an overview of the history of the central ideas which are at the heart of thinking about politics, society and justice. The reading of primary and secondary sources serves as the basis for in-depth class discussions and a critical engagement with the normative underpinnings of societal organization.
- POL 377 International Political Economy
-
The interplay between political and economic issues has become central to the study of international relations in the modern world. This course will examine the traditional theoretical foundations of International Political Economy (the views of the liberals, the Marxists, the nationalists, etc.) and their applicability to today's world. Using an inter-disciplinary approach, the course will look at both historical background and present-day issues and conditions. The problems of development and North-South relations and the question of sustainability will be examined. International trade issues, such as the relations between trade globalization and environmental and human rights concerns and the role of institutions such as, the WTO, the IMF and G8 meetings will be studied. Finally the course will also consider new problem areas such as the internet and its control and e-commerce and the emerging role of non-governmental organizations.(Formerly POL 277. Students cannot earn credit for both POL 277 and POL 377.)
- Two additional courses from the following:
-
- ECN 325 Money, Banking and Financial Markets
-
This upper-level course in economics is the first part of a two-semester sequence including ECN 328. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the monetary dimension of contemporary economies. This includes the nature of the means of settlement, the technology of monetary payments, the banking system and its pro-cyclical, crisis-prone character that requires control and regulation, the response of financial markets to changing policy conditions and perceived risks, and central banks’ operations and goals when setting interest rates. Special attention is devoted to current monetary policy issues with special reference (but not limited) to the practice of the U.S. Fed and the European Central Bank. Recommended prerequisite: BUS 226, ECN 225, ECN 256.
- ECN 328 International Banking and Finance
-
This upper-level course in economics is the second part of an ideal two-semester sequence including ECN 325. This course is designed to provide students with an appreciation of the meaning and consequence of international monetary relations, notably with respect to cross-border payments and investments under different monetary, banking, financial, and political institutions. In the first part, the class will investigate currency exposure, the currency market and its actors, the determination of exchange rates, measures and indices of the external value of a currency. In the second part, focus will be on the structure of balance-of-payments accounting, the size and significance of current account imbalances, and exchange rate policies. Finally, students will study monetary unions with special reference to the current issues and future prospects of Economic and Monetary Union in Europe. Recommended prerequisites: ECN 225, ECN 256, ECN 325
- ECN 387 Introduction to Econometrics
-
The course introduces the basic principles of econometrics as a set of tools and techniques to quantitatively investigate a variety of economic and financial issues. The application of econometric methods allows studying the relationships between different economic and financial variables, hence providing a natural way to test and confront alternative theories and conjectures, as well as to forecast and simulate the effects of different economic and financial policies. The course approach is mainly focused on applications. A discussion of the main theoretical issues and a systematic analysis of econometric tools are prerequisites for the investigation of a number of economic and financial applications.
- ECN 490 Senior Research Project in International Economics
-
Research proposals are to be coordinated with the faculty advisor and the Division Chair.
- ECN 492 Internship in International Economics
-
Internship experiences are to be coordinated in advance with the faculty advisor and the Division Chair.
- ECN 497 Research Seminar in Economics and Finance
-
This course is offered when students and instructors arrange a special seminar on material that is beyond the scope of a particular course. It is open to students majoring in International Economics or Finance with permission from the Division Chair and is supervised by an Economics or Finance faculty member.
Note: ECN 490, ECN 492 and ECN 497 require permission from your Advisor and the Division Chair.
3-YEARS BACHELOR OPTION
This major is also offered as a 3-year accelerated bachelor’s degree, designed for students with specific high school academic credentials who are admitted to Franklin with advanced standing credit, equivalent to 30 US credits. This option grants students a jump start on their introductory level University courses. Learn more about the 3-year bachelor’s degree at Franklin or contact the Office of Admission.
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| ECN 100 Principles of Macroeconomics |
ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics |
| MAT 200 Calculus |
MAT 201 Introduction to Statistics |
| WTG 130 Introduction to Academic Writing II |
WTG 150 Academic Writing: Crossing Borders |
| First Year Seminar in ECN, BUS, or POL | W course (Choose a writing intensive class) |
| TVL (Choose an academic travel class) |
TVL (Choose an academic travel class) |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| ECN 225 Issues and Controversies in Macroeconomics (Intermediate Macroeconomics) |
ECN 341 International Trade |
| ECN 256 Managerial Economics (Intermediate Microeconomics) |
ECN 328 International Banking and Finance |
| ECN 325 Money, Banking and Financial Markets |
ECN 204 History of Economic Thought / ECN *** |
| TVL (Choose an academic travel class) |
W course (Choose a writing intensive class) |
| Modern Language 100 | Modern Language 200 |
| ECN *** = any of the upper-level menu of options |
YEAR THREE - SAMPLE CURRICULUM
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| ECN 303 Development Economics |
ECN 204 History of Economic Thought / ECN *** |
| ECN 204 History of Economic Thought / ECN *** |
ECN 204 History of Economic Thought / ECN *** |
| ECN 204 History of Economic Thought / ECN *** |
Global Responsibility CORE |
|
W course |
Global Responsibility CORE |
| Global Responsibility CORE | |
| ECN *** = any of the upper-level menu of options |
