Faculty
Cristina Parsons, Assistant Professor of Economics (Program Chair)
John Volpe, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
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Description
The Economics Program at Trinity College combines the traditional
cornerstones of economics with the distinct emphases of Trinity's
mission. The curriculum provides all students with the opportunity to
become familiar with the macroeconomic and microeconomic paradigm, as
well as to develop facility with economic applications in various policy
areas. Consistent with the interdisciplinarity of Trinity College's
curriculum and its focus on gender, race, and diversity, the courses
offered by the Economics Program invite students to study the discipline
from a variety of perspectives and to understand the historical and
institutional context in which both private and public decisions are
made. In addition, the Economics Program follows the mission of Trinity
College by providing both breath and depth of study, and by encouraging
students to develop an ability to abstract, handle data, critically
analyze existing work, both theoretical and applied, and develop their
own research agenda.
The Economics Program supports a major and a minor in both the
College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies.
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Major Requirements
Required Courses (25 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
ECO 121 Introduction to Economics I (Macroeconomics)
ECO 122 Introduction to Economics II (Microeconomics)
ECO 365 Microeconomic Theory
ECO 366 Macroeconomic Theory
ECO 367 Econometrics
ECO 480 Senior Seminar
MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics
MAT 125 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I
Elective Courses (18 credits)
SIX additional upper-level (200-300 level) courses in economics
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Minor Requirements
Required Courses (15 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
ECO 121 Introduction to Economics I (Macroeconomics)
ECO 122 Introduction to Economics II (Microeconomics)
ECO 365 Microeconomic Theory
ECO 366 Macroeconomic Theory
MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics
Elective Courses (6 credits)
TWO additional upper-level (200 or 300-level) courses in economics
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Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Advanced Placement scores of 4 or 5 will be accepted for credit by the
Economics Program to satisfy ECO 121 and ECO 122.
CLEP Policy:
Standard scores and above are accepted in the CLEP examination only in
consultation with program faculty.
Grades in Major Courses:
Majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in their
major. Majors must receive a grade of "C" or better in
required courses.
Pass/No Pass:
With the exception of internships, courses fulfilling a major or minor
requirement may not be taken pass/no pass.
Senior Assessment:
The senior assessment includes a comprehensive project to be completed
under the direction of program faculty. Students must earn a grade of
"C" or better on this project.
Transfer Credits:
Transferring students who wish to minor in economics must take at least
three economics courses at Trinity College. Transferring students who
wish to major in economics must take at least six economics courses at
Trinity College, one of which must be ECO 480. Acceptance of transfer
courses is dependent upon program review and approval.
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Course Descriptions
ECO 105 Contemporary Issues
Analyzes current topics in applied economics as a way of introducing
students to basic economic theory and to the questions addressed by the
discipline.
3 credits
FLC Area V
ECO 121 Introduction to Economics I (Macroeconomics)
Introduces principles of macroeconomics, emphasizing such topics as
national income, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The role
of policy in affecting macroeconomic outcomes is examined in detail.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 122 and MAT 109 or equivalent
FLC Area V
Core II
ECO 122 Introduction to Economics II (Microeconomics)
Introduces principles of microeconomics and their applications. Topics
include supply and demand, operation of markets, consumer and enterprise
behavior, competition and monopoly, and microeconomic policy.
3 credits
Prerequisite: MAT 109 or equivalent
FLC Area V
Core II
ECO 235 Environmental Economics
Provides a background in environmental and resources economics.
Externalities, evaluation methods, and corrective mechanisms are
covered. The course explores optimal depletion rates of both exhaustible
and renewable resources through the use of basic economic models. It
also surveys existing environmental legislation and analyzes policies
that may improve society's welfare.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
ECO 262 Inequality
Analyzes issues surrounding poverty and economic inequality within the
United States.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
FLC Area V
ECO 263 Money and Banking
Describes and analyzes money and its functions; the financial system,
including the monetary authority, financial institutions, and financial
markets; and monetary policy, its implementation and effects on the
economic system.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 122
ECO 265 Latin American Economics
Provides an overview of the economic development process and the main
policy issues that confront Latin America. The course covers the
historical background, explanations of underdevelopment, and the recent
performance of Latin American economies, as well as policy issues and
specific current problems in the region.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 122
ECO 270 International Economics
Examines the economics of international trade. Topics include theories
on why countries engage in trade; tools of trade policy; reasons for
trade restrictions; economic effects of regional trading blocs, such as
the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Community.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 122
FLC Area V
ECO 280 Issues in Economic Development
Examines economic problems of developing countries, with an emphasis on
the role of policy. Compares economic performance across both developing
and developed countries.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 121 and ECO 122
FLC Area V
ECO 352 Industrial Organization
Analyzes economic models of U.S. antitrust and regulation laws. Applies
economic analysis to legal case studies of price controls, horizontal
and vertical mergers, intent to monopolize, environmental regulation,
and franchising.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
ECO 361 Labor Economics
Analyzes the process of wage and employment determination, the
organization and role of labor unions, the structure of labor markets,
labor market discrimination, and macroeconomic implications of labor
market behavior.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
ECO 365 Microeconomic Theory
Examines the behavior of individual economic agents. Develops models of
consumer and producer behavior in the setting of perfect competition,
monopoly, and other market structures.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 121 and ECO 122
ECO 366 Macroeconomic Theory
Examines the economy from the aggregate point of view. Analyzes the
factors that cause fluctuations in important economic variables such as
output, employment, consumption, investment, the price level, interest
rates, and exchange rates.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 121 and ECO 122
ECO 367 Econometrics
Develops the tools necessary for applied economic research. After a
review of statistical inference, regression analysis is undertaken.
Econometric techniques are used to estimate, test, and deal with various
problems of single-equation and multiple-equation economic models.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 121, ECO 122, and MAT 110
ECO 369 Public Finance
Analyzes the principles of government expenditure and taxation. Topics
include public goods, externalities, cost-benefit analysis, the
structure of the U.S. tax systems, and the effects of expenditure
programs and taxes on economic behavior. Specific public policy issues
are also addressed.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
ECO 371 International Finance
Studies the principles of open economy financial macroeconomics. The
course describes and analyzes the determinants of exchange rates, trade
balances, and capital flows. The role of policy in affecting output
levels, price levels, and interest rates in different countries is
examined in detail. Past and present international monetary
arrangements are examined.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
ECO 375 Women and the Economy
Applies the theory of the household and investment in human resources to
female labor force participation, marriage, family formation, sex
discrimination, women's education choices, and government policies
affecting the economic status of women.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ECO 122
FLC Area V
ECO 480 Senior Seminar
Develops advanced macroeconomic and microeconomic theory and applies it
to current issues. Requires a major research paper.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECO 121, ECO 122, ECO 365, and ECO 366
ECO 488 Internship
Economics majors may be employed in meaningful work in government,
business, labor, research, and finance. Eligibility for internship
requires second semester junior status at least. Forty hours are
required for each credit; no more than three credits can be earned for a
single internship. No more than two internships are eligible for credit.
Supervision includes weekly consultation with the internship advisor and
constant supervision by the onsite internship supervisor. Two
evaluations are required: one by the onsite supervisor and one by the
student. Pass/no pass grading system is used.
credits arranged
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