Courses
Please note that not every course listed is offered each year and students should consult STU Self Service for current course offerings.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
1. Economics Courses
ECON-1006. the Economy
In addition to a critical study of how an economy works, the course will examine issues of economic justice such as the equitable distribution of power, resources and income by class, race, gender and geography; ecological sustainability; and economic relations in a peaceful world. (Credit will not be given for both ECON 1006 and ECON 1013 and/or Econ 1023).
ECON-1013. Introduction to Economics (Micro)
This course examines the behaviour of consumers and producers in a market economy. Among the issues discussed will be environmental protection, wealth and poverty, and the extent of corporate power.
ECON-1023. Introduction to Economics (Macro)
This course analyzes the Canadian economy and how it works. It includes a discussion of output, unemployment, growth, money, international trade, and finance.
ECON-2003. The Art and Science of Happiness
This course explores happiness/well-being as a multi-dimensional concept that includes both economic factors such as income and wealth, as well as many non-economic factors such as family and social relations, physical and mental health, individual personality, political freedoms, ethical values, and spirituality. An emphasis is placed on the interactions and some dynamic links among these factors in determining total happiness. (The course does not require any prerequisite.)
ECON-2103. Microeconomic Theory I
A theory course which develops the basic techniques of microeconomic analysis. Topics will include theories of consumer demand, production costs, the behaviour of producers under different market conditions, and the functioning of commodity markets.
ECON-2113. Macroeconomic Theory I
A theory course which develops an understanding of the basic techniques of macroeconomic analysis. Elements of the course include aggregate supply, aggregate demand, and the role of money, interest rates, and the price level. The nature of economic growth, business cycles, and the conditions for economic stability are examined.
ECON-2123. Quantitative Methods I
An introduction to basic statistical techniques of estimation and inference. The topics covered include: collection, organization and presentation of data, frequency distributions, parameter estimation, probability, probability distributions, tests of hypotheses, confidence intervals, analysis of variance, and index numbers.(This course may not be taken for credit by students who already have received credit for an introductory statistics course in another discipline at St. Thomas University or have received credit for an introductory statistics course taken in any discipline from another university.)
ECON-2153. Political Economy I
A theory course analyzing economic activities in their political and social context. Topics include: class and economic power, the labour process and the generation of surplus, economic instability, capitalism on a world scale, and the nature and role of government.
ECON-2173. Economic Geography
The course examines the spatial organization of global economic activity and the social processes which have contributed to and continue to alter that landscape.
ECON-2203. Community Economic Development (ENVS 2203)
A course which explores the theory and practice of community economic development. It will include the examination of case studies of successful community economic development. The focus will be on the appropriateness and applicability of the model to the Maritimes.
ECON-2213. Contemporary Issues
This is a course in economic policy analysis. The course will examine selected economic issues and analyze a range of policy responses.
ECON-2223. Political Economy of Women (SOCI 2643) (WSGS)
This is a seminar course examining, in depth, selected topics on the political economy of women. Potential topics include women as paid workers, domestic labour, and women and poverty.
ECON-2303. Gender in the Global South: A Political Economy Perspective (HMRT 2233) (SOCI 2623) (WSGS)
This course will critically examine the role of women in the global South. It will concentrate largely on the changes in these roles and their correspondence with the transition from traditional to new forms of economic organization, production, and power.
ECON-2313. Multinational Corporations and Trade
This course deals with the strategies of multinational corporations, the scope and impact of international trade, and the structure of international trade agreements.
ECON-2333. Ecological Economics (ENVS 2333)
Starting from the understanding that the economy is a subsystem of the ecological life-support system, the course utilizes a transdisciplinary approach (ecological, social and economic) to examine the problems of scale, equity, and efficiency in contemporary human social formations. The course will also discuss the distinctive policy implications of ecological economics. No prerequisite required.
ECON-2403. Economics of Poverty
This course examines the extent of economic inequality in Canada and around the world, and analyzes how affluence and poverty are generated in a market economy. Important social programmes are investigated and evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in reducing poverty in Canada.
ECON-2423. Political Economy of Crime
This course provides an overview of two theoretical perspectives on crime: the individualistic neoclassical tradition and the more systemic framework of political economy. The first part of the course introduces the two main conceptual frameworks and is followed by an examination of various case studies using these approaches. Case studies may include the illegal drug trade, money laundering, the tobacco industry, and environmental crimes.
ECON-3006. Justice and Peace
The course will explore the contribution that heterodox economic analysis, including political economy, ecological economics, the moral economy framework and feminist economics, can make to the study of issues of justice and peace.
ECON-3033. Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining
The course examines collective bargaining in its historical and institutional context. Topics include the history of the labour movement, the attainment of bargaining rights, the collective bargaining process, the grievance and arbitration process, and the legal environment.
ECON-3133. Microeconomic Theory II
A continuation of the study of microeconomic theory. Topics will include an analysis of factor markets, technological change, partial and general equilibrium, and an analysis of the limitations of neoclassical microeconomic theory. Prerequisite: ECON 2103. It is strongly recommended that MATH 1013 & 1023 be taken prior to this course or concurrently.
ECON-3143. Macroeconomic Theory II
A continuation of the study of macroeconomic theory. This course examines the causes of economic instability and considers appropriate economic policies to deal with inflation and unemployment. Prerequisite: Econ 2113. It is strongly recommended that Math 1013 & 1023 be taken prior to this course or concurrently.
ECON-3153. Political Economy II
The course will examine the political economy of the state in capitalist society, focusing on the theory and practice of individual, organizational, and class power. Prerequisite: Economics 2153 or permission of the instructor.
ECON-3163. Quantitative Methods II
A continuation of Quantitative Methods I. The topics covered include: simple regression analysis, multiple regression analysis, residual analysis, time-series analysis, decision making under uncertainty. Prerequisite: 2123. This course may not be taken for credit by students who already have received credit for a comparable statistics course in another discipline at STU or from another university.
ECON-3173. History of Economic Thought
An introduction to the history of economic thought from the period of Adam Smith to the present. The course will emphasize some of the great economic thinkers, and concentrate on reading parts of their original works rather than textbook summaries. The works of Adam Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, Say, Marx, Jevons, Walras, and Keynes will be included.
ECON-3233. Marxian Economics
An introduction to the theory and method of Marxian economics with the reading and study of Marx's Capital, Volume I. The course will examine the basic elements of Marx's economic theories.
ECON-3323. Environmental Economics (ENVS 3333)
An examination of the relationship between the ecological system, economics, and institutions. Topics covered may include such issues as technological choice, steady state economics, limits to growth, the adequacy of the market mechanism, world food supplies, the economics of conservation, and alternative futures.
ECON-3333. Perspectives on Underdevelopment
An examination of the economic problems facing underdeveloped countries using a Political Economy approach. Theories of dependence, colonization, unequal exchange, and their Marxist critiques will be examined as well as the limitations of traditional economic development theory.
ECON-3343. Banking and International Finance
This course examines the nature and role of money, prices, interest rates, and international financial flows. It also includes an examination of the structure and activities of financial institutions in Canada and other countries.
ECON-3433. Economics of Government
This course focuses on the nature of public sector choices and decision-making processes. Topics include government expenditure choices, cost-benefit analysis, tax policy issues, and federal-provincial relations.
ECON-3443. New Brunswick Economy
This course will examine the structure of the New Brunswick economy, analyze some of its major problems, and discuss various approaches to economic development.
ECON-3453. Labour Economics
This course examines the organization and function of labour markets in Canada. Topics include the nature of employment relations, factors affecting the supply of labour, the demand for labour, wage determination, the role of unions, and the impact of public policy on employment,wages, and working conditions.
ECON-4013. Mathematical Economics I
A study of mathematical techniques for economic analysis. This course emphasizes the study of fundamental methods of mathematical economics. The topics covered include a detailed study of the techniques of differentiation in the context of single and multiple variables, optimization techniques with and without constraints, a simple treatment of difference and differential equations, matrix algebra, and linear programming. Prerequisites: MATH 1013, MATH 1023, ECON 2103, ECON 2113.
ECON-4113. Mathematical Economics II
This course emphasizes applications of mathematical techniques to selected topics in economic analysis, including topics from microeconomics, macroeconomics and growth theory. Prerequisites: ECON 3133, ECON 3143, and ECON 4103.
ECON-4183. Econometrics I
This course deals with the elementary problems of estimation and inference in single equation models. The topics covered include model specification, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and dummy variables. An emphasis is placed on applications. Prerequisite: ECON. 3163.
ECON-4193. Econometrics II
This course deals with some advanced problems of estimation and inference in single equation models, problems of identification, estimation and inference in simultaneous equation models, and the models of time series analysis. Prerequisite: MATH 1013-1023 and ECON 4183.
ECON-4323. Social Policy: Current Issues and Global Contexts
This course will provide an opportunity for students to develop a political economy analysis of the scope and impact of global or international issues on the lives of people in other parts of the world and our own lives, as well as on social policies at all levels. Also, the course explores the efforts of organizations (at the local, national, and international levels) which address international concerns.
ECON-4506. Work Study Project
This course, which is open to economics students in their final year, is designed to provide an opportunity to apply knowledge of economics in a workplace setting. Placements may be in the public sector, the private sector, or with non-profit organizations. Enrolment subject to Department approval.
ECON-4513. Independent Study
A programme of independent study under the direction of a member of the faculty selected by the student. It is designed for students who wish to pursue an area of special interest through reading, research, and writing.
ECON-4523. Independent Study
A programme of independent study under the direction of a member of the faculty selected by the student. It is designed for students who wish to pursue an area of special interest through reading, research, and writing.
ECON-4533. Honours Research Project
This course, open to Honours students, is a directed research project under the supervision of a faculty member. The course involves a major essay or report on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the faculty member.
ECON-4546. Honours Thesis
The Honours thesis is a scholarly essay or research paper on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty member who agrees to serve as thesis advisor. When completed, the thesis is read and graded by the thesis adviser and two other members of the Department. A minimum grade of B is required on the thesis for an Honours degree.
2. UNB Courses
ADM-1015. Introduction to Business
Introduces business topics to students from other disciplines who do not intend to Major in business. Topics include business history, forms of organizations, sources and use of business information. Introduces the functional areas of business including accounting, financial management, marketing, production control, human resources management, and special topics.
ADM-2213. Financial Accounting
Examines the identification, measurement, recording, and communication of financial information for managerial decision-making. Reviews basic principles and concepts to convey the conceptual framework of the accounting discipline. Prerequisite: ADM 1015.
ADM-2223. Managerial Accounting
Emphasizes the role of the accounting function in managerial decision-making. Traditional job costing and activity-based costing stressed. Appraises the use of standard costing and variance analysis as tools for management control. Examines flexible budgets, break- even analysis and contribution costing in decision-making.
ADM-2313. Principles of Marketing
Provides a foundation of marketing theory and analysis necessary to approach the decisionmaking process and issues related to the marketing function.
ADM-2413. Principles of Finance
Analyses the basic tools and concepts of finance and illustrates their application to practical problems faced by managers. Topics include: the time value of money, term structure of interest rates, valuation of financial securities, financial statement analysis, financial planning, working capital management and short-term and long-term sources of financing. Provides an introduction to the techniques of capital budgeting and the concepts of risk and return on options.
ADM-2513. Organizational Behaviour
Introduces the contributions of the applied behavioural sciences to the study of work in organizations. Covers the fundamentals of individual and group behaviour, as well as selected topics in motivation, leadership, communication, conflict, and organizational change.
ADM-3123. Business Law I
Examines the impact of law on business decisions and activities. Includes an introduction to the Canadian legal system, the law of contract and the law of torts. Emphasis given to the identification, evaluation, and management of legal risks in a business context.
ADM-3155. International Business
Examines issues and problems which arise when business operations transcend national boundaries. Topics include the dimensions of the contemporary international economy, theories of trade and foreign direct investment, the strategic and operational characher of international firms and the controls adopted to achieve these goals. Prerequisites: ADM 2313, 2413, and 2513.
ADM-3415. Corporate Finance
Examines portfolio theory and valuation capital, capital expenditure decisions, long-term financing decisions, cost of capital, financial structure, dividend policy, and external expansion. Prerequisites: ADM 2413, and either ADM 2623 or ECON 2123.
ADM-3445. Personal Financial Planning
Based upon the theory of financial decision-making applied to personal finance, covers the financial planning techniques used in professional practice. Topics include: financial goal setting, the life cycle model of financial planning, budgeting, tax planning, cash management, personal credit, investment choices, risk management, and retirement planning.
ADM-3875. Labour Relations
Introduces industrial relations with particular reference to unionized workplaces. Topics include: industrial relations theory; the development, structure, and functions of organized labour in Canada; collective bargaining; strikes and industrial conflict; the grievance and arbitration process.