Major in Economics | Minor in Economics | Major in International Business | Minor in International Business | Course Descriptions
Chair:Donald G. Freeman (936)294-1265
Faculty: Ulyses Balderas, Doug Berg, Edward Blackburne, Donald Bumpass, Marilyn Butler, Viera Chmelarova, Mark Frank, Donald Freeman, Fidel Gonzalez, Darren Grant, William Green, Natalie Hegwood, John Miller, Mitchell Muehsam, Valerie Muehsam, Hiranya Nath, Troy Quast, Isabel Ruiz, George Samuels, Mark Tuttle, Carlos Vargas-Silva
To develop outstanding Economics, International Business, and Business Analysis programs with faculty that is recognized for excellence in instruction, research, and service.
To provide curricula that promote critical thinking skills and enhance decision making abilities, which help students become productive and informed citizens. Faculty will engage in research to create and disseminate new knowledge, develop quality-teaching skills, maintain high professional standards, and actively serve the University Community.
The Economics program is intended for students seeking a logical, ordered way of looking at business problems. The principles, approaches, and conclusions derived from the study of economics form the basis for developing sound policies in business, government, and personal life decisions.
The International Business program is designed for students preparing for positions with business, government, or international agencies dealing with international trade and foreign investments. As a result of the growing importance of international trade in the world economy, domestic and multinational corporations face a growing need for employees with specialized training in matters relating to international trade.
The study of economics is an effective way to prepare for several types of careers, including:
The study of international business is an effective way to prepare for several types of careers, including:
Suggested Minors
A student may earn a maximum of six hours in approved, supervised educational work experience in internships. Internship applications are available in the Departmental office. It is the responsibility of the student to identify the internship opportunity. In order to receive academic credit, a student must meet the eligibility conditions, obtain prior approval from the Department Chair, and meet the guidelines established by the College of Business Administration for monitoring the quality of the learning experience.
Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for economics and international business majors. Applications from upper-classmen for various scholarships, available through the Department of Economics and International Business office and also through the Dean’s office, are accepted between January 2 and February 15. Scholarship recipients are announced in April for the following academic year. The specific scholarships that are available through the Department of Economics and International Business vary from year to year. Economics and International Business majors need only to complete the application for scholarships available through the Department or the Dean’s office in order to be considered for all scholarships available in any given year.Scholarships that are available from year to year may include:
Scholarships that are available from year to year may include:
All students are required to complete the University general education requirements (common core) as described in Degree Requirements and Academic Guidelines section in this catalog. Additionally, all students are required to complete Component Area 1 – Communications (ENG 164 and 165), Component Area 2 – Mathematics (MTH 199 for business majors), and four hours from Component Area 3 (Natural Science) before being allowed to register for upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
Major In Economics1
Bachelor of Business Administration
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | ENG 265, 266; PHL 261, 263 | 3 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | COM 282 or GBA 261* | 3 |
| MTH 199 | 3 | ECO 234 | 3 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 8 | POL 261, 200-level Political Science | 6 |
| ECO 233 | 3 | ACC 231, 232 | 6 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective3 | 3 | BAN 232, GBA 281 | 6 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | Cultural Studies Electives4 | 3 |
| 30 | 30 | ||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| MGT 380 | 3 | MGT 475, 476 | 6 |
| GBA 389, BAN 363 | 6 | ECO 361, 473, or 490 | 3 |
| FIN 367, MKT 371 | 6 | ECO 335, 374, 468, or 480 | 3 |
| ECO 362, 367 | 6 | ECO 464, 364, or 370 | 3 |
| ACC 331 | 3 | ECO Elective (300- or 400-level) | 3 |
| MIS 388 | 3 | Electives | 12 |
| ECO 463, 465, or 467 | 3 | 30 | |
| 30 |
* Subject to action by the Board of Regents, the Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
A minor in Economics (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Economics requires ECO 233, 234, 362 or 367, and 9 advanced hours in ECO with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Degree candidates for a minor in economics must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the economics minor or not.
Major in International Business1
Bachelor of Business Administration
Students majoring in International Business will automatically have a minor in Economics. There are enough electives in the International Business program to earn a minor in most business disciplines without adding additional hours to the program. Check with your advisor.
The first and second years are the same as for a major in Economics.
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| MGT 380 | 3 | ECO 4635, 4805 | 6 |
| GBA 389, BAN 363 | 6 | FIN 4715 | 3 |
| FIN 367, MKT 371 | 6 | MGT 475, 476 | 6 |
| ACC 331 | 3 | MGT 4715,6 or MKT 4715,6 | 3 |
| ECO 3355, 3745, 4685, GBA 4655 | 6 | Minor Electives7 | 12 |
| MIS 388 | 3 | 30 | |
| ECO 362 or 367 | 3 | ||
| 30 |
* Subject to action by the Board of Regents, the Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
A minor in International Business (30 or 33 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in International Business requires ACC 231, 232; ECO 230 (or 233 and 234), 480; FIN 367; MGT 380; MKT 371; 6 hours from FIN 471, GBA 465, MGT 471 or MKT 471, and 3 hours from ECO 335, 374, 463, or 468 with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in international business must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the international business minor or not.
1 Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses from: Biology (including ESC 147), Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography course that satisfies a laboratory science requirement is GEO 131/111), or Physics.
3 Select from AGR 299*, ART 160, 161, 163, 260, DNC 131, 176, MUS 161, 264, 265, THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum.
4 Select from BSL 236, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266, HIS 265, 266, or SOC 168. Satisfies the Cultural Studies requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum.
5ECO 463, FIN 471, GBA 465, and MGT 471 are typically offered ONLY in the fall semester. ECO 480, and MKT 471 (previously MKT 470) are typically offered ONLY in the spring semester. ECO 335, 374, or 468 are typically offered every third semester on a rotating basis (one each semester) each fall or spring semester. See an advisor for a schedule of course offerings.
6 MKT 471 (previously MKT 470) and MGT 471 (International Management and Marketing) are dual listed courses. A student cannot receive academic credit for both MKT 471 and MGT 471.
7 A minor in a supporting business field or a foreign language is strongly recommended. A minor in most supporting business fields can be accomplished by using the available elective hours. Employment opportunities in International Business are likely to be enhanced with foreign language skills. Students who have high school credits in a foreign language or who have otherwise developed a foreign language proficiency are encouraged to participate in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Acceptable scores on the CLEP examinations will allow students to earn up to 14 hours of foreign language credits in French, German, or Spanish.
BAN 232 Business Analysis. An introduction to the use of quantitative business techniques. Topics include: organizing and presenting data, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete and continuous distributions, systems of equations, modeling, optimization procedures, and statistical inference. Prerequisite: MTH 199. Credit 3. (Taught each semester.)
BAN 363 Intermediate Business Analysis. A continuation of BAN 232 and is designed to introduce the use of statistics as a business tool in the face of incomplete knowledge. Topics include: estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, goodness-of-fit measures, correlation, simple and multiple regression. Prerequisite: BAN 232. Credit 3. (Taught each semester.)
BAN 364 Operations Research. Quantitative methods used in the analysis of business problems. Topics include decision theory, linear programming, transportation and inventory models, Bayesian probability, and queuing theory. Prerequisite: BAN 232. Credit 3.
BAN 465* Introduction to Business Forecasting and Econometrics. The application of statistical methods for business and economic forecasting and for hypothesis testing, estimation, and analyzing economic data Prerequisite: ECO 233 and 234, BAN 363. Credit 3
ECO 230 Introduction to Economics. [ECON 1301] A combination of micro-economic and macro-economic principles. Designed for those who are neither majors nor minors in economics, but who would benefit from a one semester introduction to economic principles. No credit given for ECO 230 if ECO 233 or ECO 234 previously completed. Credit 3. (Taught each semester.)
ECO 233 Principles of Microeconomics. [ECON 2302] Basic economic principles including individual decision making, price theory, analysis of the firm, competition and monopoly, and the distribution of income. Credit 3. (Taught each semester.)
ECO 234 Principles of Macroeconomics. [ECON 2301] The economic role of government, public finance and taxation, unemployment and inflation, national income theory, money and banking, economic fluctuations and growth, and international trade and finance. Credit 3. (Taught each semester.)
ECO 335 Comparative Economics Systems. Market oriented, free enterprise capitalism, and its development, compared with alternative economic systems. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught every third long semester.)
ECO 361 Labor Economics. Problems of unemployment, wage theory, collective bargaining, labor legislation, and proposals for the solution of labor problems. The recent problems of labor are given special consideration. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught only in the spring.)
ECO 362 Intermediate Macroeconomics. National income concepts and measurements; analysis of the factors influencing the level of national income, employment, price, and production; and application to current problems. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 234. Credit 3. (Taught in fall, spring, and SI.)
ECO 364 Public Finance. The function of government in the marketplace with emphasis on public goods, externalities, taxation, fiscal federalism, and cost-benefit analysis. Prerequisites: ECO 230 or 233 and 234. Credit 3
ECO 367 Intermediate Microeconomics. Pricing and output policies of firms, resource pricing, and distribution under condition of perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught in fall, spring, and SI.)
ECO 370 Economics of Business and Government. A study of the complex relationship between the business sector and the public sector in the United States and in the global marketplace. Topics will include the regulation of business in its various formats and the promotion of business nationally and internationally. Prerequisite: ECO 230, 233, or 234. Credit 3. (Taught only in the spring semester).
ECO 374 Contemporary International Issues in Economics. Examination of current literature dealing with international trade and financial issues. Preparation, presentation and discussion of descriptive and analytical papers. Prerequisite: ECO 230, 233, or 234. Credit 3. (Taught every third long semester.)
ECO 430 Readings in Economics. Individual study arranged with a member of the Economics and Business Analysis faculty. Conferences and written reports are typically required. A carefully prepared research paper concludes the course. This course may be taken for Academic Distinction Program Credit and can be used for Internship credit. This course may be repeated. Prerequisite: Consent of the Chair of the Department of Economics and International Business. Credit 1, 2, or 3.
ECO 463 Monetary Economics. The role of money in a market economy with special attention given to national and international monetary and banking systems, and to their influence on the levels of income, employment, and , and international capital movements. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 234. Credit 3. (Taught only in the fall.)
ECO 464 Urban and Regional Economics. Economic problems of metropolitan and rural areas, location theory, regional resources, transportation problems, crime, and poverty. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught only in the fall.)
ECO 465 Introduction to Business Forecasting and Econometrics. The application of statistical methods for business and economic forecasting and for hypothesis testing, estimation, and analyzing economic data Prerequisites: ECO 233 and 234, BAN 363. Credit 3
ECO 467 Managerial Economics. An integration of economic tools of analysis with optimization techniques such as calculus, LaGrangian multipliers and linear programming. Additional topics include risk analysis and decision-making under uncertainty, inventory control, profitability analysis, and capital budgeting. Prerequisites: ECO 230 or 233, BAN 232, FIN 367. Credit 3. (Taught in fall, spring, and SII.)
ECO 468 Economic Development. Theoretical explanations and historical factors of economic development and underdevelopment. Policies for accelerating development in third world countries are analyzed. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught every third long semester.)
ECO 473* Economics of Sports. Application of economic principles to sport. Economic aspects of sports include: demand and supply, advertising, team output decisions, league/conference organization role of government. Prerequisite ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3
ECO 480 International Economics. Economic concepts and analytical tools relating to international economics; examine foreign exchange markets and the theory of balance-of-payments adjustment; examine commercial policy as it relates to international trade; examine the role of international financial institutions. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233. Credit 3. (Taught only in the spring).
ECO 490 Environmental Economics. An examination of how human values, activities, and institutions affect the environment and how the tools of economics can be used to evaluate public policy alternatives designed to improve the quality of the environment. Prerequisite: ECO 230 or 233 or 234. Credit 3. (Taught only in the fall semester).
ECO 499 Internship. This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to apply academic skills in a practical work environment under the supervision and guidance of a working professional. Prerequisites: ECO 233 and 234, ACC 231 and 232, junior standing, overall GPA of 2.5 or greater, and permission of the Departmental Chair.