College of Liberal Arts
and Social Sciences

Who's Who in the Department of Economics

Chair:
Paul R. Gregory

Professors:
John J. Antel, Alok Bhargava, Steven G. Craig, W. Davis Dechert, Thomas R. DeGregori, Paul R. Gregory, Chinhui Juhn, Thomas H. Mayor, David Papell, Roy J. Ruffin, Roger Sherman, Barton Smith, Bent E. Sørensen

Associate Professors:
Richard N. Bean, Nicholas Feltovich, Janet E. Kohlhase, Nathaniel Wilcox

Assistant Professors:
Aimee Chin, Emin Dinlersoz, Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan, Christian Murray, Rebecca Achee Thornton (Clinical)

Objectives

Economics is the study of how a society chooses to allocate its finite resources among the infinite demands of its members. This includes analysis of the decisions made by households and firms about production and consumption of finished goods, inputs to production, and labor services, in addition to analysis of the impact of public policies on these decisions and on the economic well-being of society and its members.

Specific subject areas studied in economics include aggregate analysis of business cycles and economic growth (macroeconomics), analysis of labor markets, public finance and taxation, industrial organization, international trade, the economics of money and banking, and studies in specialized fields.

The academic programs of the Department of Economics seek to develop students' capacity to think systematically and analytically about social issues. These analytical abilities give our graduates a strong fundamental background for success in professional life. The department's graduate programs prepare students for careers as economists in business, government, and the academic community. The undergraduate program has been designed to allow students maximum flexibility to orient their curriculum either toward preparation for graduate study in law, business, or economics, or toward professional courses and career placement.

In addition to the academic experience, the department offers undergraduate students two opportunities for practical experience, the internship program (ECON 4390) and the tutors program. The internship program offers practical experience in a professional environment, while the tutors program allows advanced students to earn course credit while mentoring students taking introductory economics in a drop-in setting oriented towards problem-solving.

Economics Major

Students must earn a minimum 2.00 grade point average in all courses in the major (required or elective) attempted at this university.

Students who choose to major in economics must also meet the university core requirements and the college core requirements for a Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

In addition, Bachelor of Science candidates must take MATH 1313 or 1314 or equivalents and at least one of the following: ECON 4349, 4350, 4360, 4362, 4364, or 4365 (counts as part of the required 15 advanced semester hours). Students must complete at least 15 of the required 30 semester hours in economics in residence at the University of Houston. Twelve of these 15 hours must be advanced. Transferred credit to be counted toward the economics major requirements must have a grade of C- or better.

Students considering graduate study in economics are strongly urged to substitute MATH 1330 and 1431 for MATH 1313 and 1314, and to take additional electives in mathematics.

To receive a free brochure, or for information about the value of an economics degree as preparation for careers or graduate study, or for additional information about Department of Economics programs, write, call, or visit one of the web sites:

Department of Economics
Attn: Undergraduate Advisor
University of Houston
204 McElhinney Hall
Houston, Texas 77204-5019

713-743-3804 or 713-743-3811

www.economics.uh.edu
www.uh.edu/academics/sos/econ/econjobs.htm

Minor in Economics

Students must take nine semester hours, at least six of them advanced (3000 level or above), in residence and earn a 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average in all minor courses attempted at this university. The proposed minor program must be approved by the undergraduate advisor in Economics.

Economics Course Clusters

Economics majors, or students desiring a minor in economics, may want to consider focusing effort on a cluster of courses. Each cluster, which concentrates on a particular study focus or job-related area, is designed to match the intellectual interests or career requirements in a specific sub-area of economics. By taking the majority of advanced hours (for an economics major or minor) in a particular cluster of courses, students are able to direct their learning into a specific area.

A cluster is not for everyone. Students desiring a broadly based general education will want to choose from a wide array of economics courses. On the other hand, for students with particular goals for graduate study in economics, law or business, or for students planning to work in a specific sector of the economy, specialization through a cluster concentration can significantly enhance their prospects of achieving their objectives.

List of Economics Course Clusters

Microeconomic Theory
Applied Microeconomics
Quantitative Methods
Pre-Law
International
Urban Planning
Economic History and Institutions
Money and Banking
Health

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Microeconomic Theory Cluster
(for Economics Graduate Study)

Computational Economics (4362)
Economics and Decision Theory (4350)
Experimental Economics (4364)
International Trade (4370)
Introduction to Game Theory (4349)
Introduction to Mathematical Economics (4360)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Applied Microeconomics Cluster
(for Business, Industrial Engineering)

Economics of Energy (3385)
Economics of Health Care (3368)
Economics of Project Evaluation (3386)
Environmental Economics (3363)
Industrial Organization (4376)
Labor Economics (3365)
Public Finance (3377)
Urban Economics (4377)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Quantitative Methods Cluster
(for Economics Graduate Study, Quantitative Careers)

Computational Economics (4362)
Experimental Methods in Economics (4364)
Introduction to Mathematical Economics (4360)
Statistical Methods in Economics (4365)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Pre-Law Cluster
(for Law, Government Careers)

American Economic Growth (3350)
Economic Analysis of U.S. Legal Systems (4321)
Economics and the Real World (4391)
Environmental Economics (3363)
Industrial Organization (4376)
Public Finance (3377)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

International Cluster
(for International Business, Government Careers)

American Economic Growth (3350)
Comparative Economic Systems (3340)
Economics of Development (3351)
International Monetary Economics (4368)
International Trade (4370)
Russian and Soviet Economic Development and Transformation (3341)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Urban Planning Cluster
(for Public Administration, Urban Studies, Architecture, Education Careers)

Project Evaluation (3386)
Public Finance (3377)
Regional Economics (4369)
Urban Economics (4377)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Economic History and Institutions Cluster
(for Journalism, International Business, Regional Studies Careers)

American Economic Growth (3350)
Comparative Economic Systems (3340)
Economics of Development (3351)
Economic Development of Africa (3353)
Economic Development of Asia (3355)
History of Economic Doctrines (3344)
Russian and Soviet Economic Development and Transformation (3341)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Money and Banking Cluster
(for Banking, Finance)

American Economic Growth (3350)
Economics of Money and Banking (3371)
International Monetary Economics (4368)
International Trade (4370)
Monetary Economics (4371)

- back to cluster list - back to top -

Health Cluster
(for Medical Professions)

Economics of Health Care (3368)
Economic Analysis of U.S. Legal Systems (4321)
Industrial Organization (4376)
Labor Economics (3365)
Public Finance (3377)

To receive more detailed advice about constructing a degree plan, please contact:

University of Houston
Department of Economics
Attn: Undergraduate Advisor
204 McElhinney Hall
Houston, Texas 77204-5019

713-743-3804 or 713-743-3811