Economics
Lam Family College of Business
Interim Dean: Dr. Yim-Yu Wong
Department of Economics
Health and Social Sciences Building, Room 142
Phone: (415) 338-1839
Website: http://cob.sfsu.edu/economics/
Chair: Dr. Anoshua Chaudhuri
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Lisa Takeyama
Vision
The Economics Department vision is to be a quality academic department that provides the best possible education to our undergraduate and graduate students, trains student scholars and fosters original intellectual growth through research.
Mission
Our mission is to prepare our students, through high-quality teaching and research, to be engaged and informed citizens, and to contribute productively in their careers using knowledge learned during their study of Economics.
Program Scope
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics provides students with a foundation in economic theory while allowing them to apply what they have learned in real-world settings. The program fully exposes students to the primary methods of economic inquiry and analysis. Courses in the program call on students to use both quantitative and qualitative reasoning to analyze and explain economic events and problems. Students also develop practical skills in collecting and statistically analyzing economic data to reach conclusions about economic issues. The undergraduate program in economics provides excellent preparation for students planning to enter careers in business, government, and non-profit organizations. It can also serve to adequately prepare students for advanced graduate and professional studies in economics, business, public policy, urban and regional planning, law, and other related fields.
The Master of Arts in Economics allows students to pursue advanced study in economics and focuses on theoretical foundations and real-world applications. The program requires students to develop skills in the mathematical modeling of economic theory and statistical analysis of economic data, as well as in the writing and communicating of economic ideas. The M.A. program provides excellent advanced training for students wishing to obtain professional positions as researchers or administrators in private businesses, governmental agencies, or non-profit organizations. The program also offers a solid foundation for students interested in continuing their graduate studies in Ph.D. programs elsewhere.
Career Outlook
Both the undergraduate and graduate programs prepare students for a wide variety of careers in business, government, and non-profit organizations. Practical orientation and a strong emphasis on quantitative reasoning allow graduates of these programs to move into interesting and promising careers in a number of fields. Undergraduate students majoring in economics, particularly those who have supplemented their program with additional coursework in accounting, finance, and computer programming, are very attractive job candidates. Graduate students in the master's program develop advanced theoretical, statistical, and data analytic skills, which allow them to compete successfully for more advanced positions. Economics majors from SF State have recently been placed in entry-level positions in business management, marketing, financial services, research consulting firms, public policy analysis, teaching, and many other fields. The undergraduate major also provides excellent preparation for advanced graduate and professional studies in economics and related disciplines. SF State graduates of the M.A. program have recently been placed in advanced positions with public utilities, economics consulting firms, the research divisions of large companies, and local and state governmental agencies, while other SF State M.A. graduates have been admitted to top Ph.D. granting institutions.
Professor
SUDIP CHATTOPADHYAY (1999), Professor of Economics; B.S. (1980), M.S. (1982), University of Calcutta; M.S. (1995), Ph.D. (1997), University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
ANOSHUA CHAUDHURI (2003), Professor of Economics; B.A. (1994), Jadavpur University; M.A. (1996), Delhi School of Economics; Ph.D. (2003), University of Washington.
Associate Professor
MICHAEL BAR (2005), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1997), University of Haifa; Ph.D. (2005) University of Minnesota.
KIRILL CHERNOMAZ (2007), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1999), University of Colorado, Denver; M.A. (2001), Central European University, Budapest, Hungary; M.A. (2002), The Ohio State University; Ph.D. (2007) The Ohio State University.
ZUZANA JANKO (2009), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1997), M.A. (2000), Ph.D. (2003), University of California, Riverside.
PHILIP G. KING (1987), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1978), Washington University; M.A. (1981), Ph.D. (1987), Cornell University.
MICHAEL J. POTEPAN (1991), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1979), California State University, San Bernardino; Ph.D. (1985), University of California, Davis.
LISA TAKEYAMA (2006), Associate Professor of Economics; B.A. (1984), San Francisco State University; Ph.D. (1992), Stanford University.
Assistant Professor
CHENGHAO HU (2018), Assistant Professor of Economics; B.A. (2008), Fudan University; M.A. (2013), University of Oklahoma; Ph.D. (2018), University of California, Davis.
VENOO KAKAR (2013), Assistant Professor of Economics; B.A. (2006), University of Delhi; M.A. (2008), Jamia Millia Islamia; M.A. (2011), Ph.D. (2013), University of California, Riverside.
SEPIDEH MODREK (2016), Assistant Professor of Economics; B.A. (2001), M.A. (2007), Ph.D. (2009), University of California, Berkeley.
VERONICA SOVERO (2018), Assistant Professor of Economics; B.S. (2005), California Institute of Technology; M.A. (2007), University of Sussex; M.A. (2008), Ph.D. (2013), University of California, Los Angeles.
ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis (Units: 3)
Basic analysis of prices and markets; consumer behavior; behavior of the firm; factor markets.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
ECON 102 Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis (Units: 3)
Basic economic methodology, analysis, and policy; economic institutions, organizations, and industrial structure; the monetary system; measurement, determination, and stability of national income; monetary, fiscal, and balance of payments problems and policies. [Formerly ECON 100]
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
ECON 301 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102, MATH 226 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102, and MATH 226 or equivalent or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 306 Economics and the Environment (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ENVS 306 and ECON 306. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 311 Statistical Methods and Interpretation (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: MATH 226 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 312 Introduction to Econometrics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 301, ECON 311, and MATH 226 or equivalent or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 400 Economic and Social History of the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 102.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 450 Health Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 474 History of Labor in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GE Area E; or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as HIST 474, ECON 474, and LABR 474. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 500 Money and Banking (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 302 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 501 Money and Capital Markets (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 302, ECON 500 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 505 Public Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 805: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 505: Upper-division standing; ECON 101, ECON 102, and ECON 301 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 805/ECON 505 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 510 Labor Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 101 or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ECON 510 and LABR 510. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 511 Collective Bargaining (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ECON 511 and LABR 511. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 512 Economics of Poverty and Discrimination (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 301, ECON 311.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 515 Economics of Crime and Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 516 Law and Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101 and ECON 102.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 520 Industrial Organization (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 820: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 520: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 820/ECON 520 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 535 Urban Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ECON 535 and USP 535. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 540 Economics of Gender (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 301.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
ECON 550 Environmental Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 850: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 550: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 850/ECON 550 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 560 Economics of Growth (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; ECON 301, ECON 302; or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 601 Applied Microeconomics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 801: ECON 301, ECON 302, ECON 731, and ECON 701.
Prerequisites for ECON 601: Upper-division standing; ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 311; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 801/ECON 601 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 605 Seminar: History of Economic Thought (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 301, ECON 302.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 611 International Trade Theory and Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 811: Graduate standing; ECON 301 and ECON 302; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 611: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 811/ECON 611 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 612 International Finance and Macroeconomics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 812: Graduate standing; ECON 301 and ECON 302.
Prerequisites for ECON 612: Upper-division standing; ECON 302; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 812/ECON 612 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Global Perspectives
ECON 616 Experimental Economics and Game Theory (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; ECON 301, MATH 226; or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 618 Economic Inference: Methods and Applications (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; ECON 101, ECON 102, and ECON 311 or equivalents.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 620 Economic Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102, or equivalents.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 635 Economics of Globalization (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102, or consent of the instructor.
(This course is offered as ECON 635 and I R 635. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 640 Health Economics Analysis and Research (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 840: Graduate standing; ECON 701 or equivalent; or Healthcare Administration Certificate students.
Prerequisites for ECON 640: Upper-division standing; ECON 301 and ECON 311; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 840/ECON 640 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
ECON 675 Natural Resource Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 301 or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 680 Applied Economics and Data Analysis with R (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ECON 880: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 680: Upper-division standing; ECON 312 or equivalent; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
ECON 600/ECON 800 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 690GW Senior Seminar: Economic Inquiry and Analysis - GWAR (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GE Area A2; ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 312; or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Graduation Writing Assessment
ECON 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor, major adviser, and department chair.
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 701 Seminar: Microeconomic Theory (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 301, ECON 302, ECON 715 (may be taken concurrently).
ECON 702 Seminar: Macroeconomic Theory (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, ECON 701, ECON 715, ECON 731, or consent of the instructor.
ECON 715 Mathematical Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: MATH 226 or equivalent; ECON 301, ECON 302 or equivalent.
ECON 731 Econometric Methods and Applications (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101, ECON 102, and ECON 312 or equivalents or consent of the instructor.
ECON 801 Applied Microeconomics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 801: ECON 301, ECON 302, ECON 731, and ECON 701.
Prerequisites for ECON 601: Upper-division standing; ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 311; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 801/ECON 601 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 805 Public Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 805: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 505: Upper-division standing; ECON 101, ECON 102, and ECON 301 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 805/ECON 505 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 811 International Trade Theory and Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 811: Graduate standing; ECON 301 and ECON 302; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 611: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 811/ECON 611 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 812 International Finance and Macroeconomics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 812: Graduate standing; ECON 301 and ECON 302.
Prerequisites for ECON 612: Upper-division standing; ECON 302; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 812/ECON 612 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Global Perspectives
ECON 820 Industrial Organization (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 820: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 520: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 820/ECON 520 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 825 Applied Time Series Econometrics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ECON 731 or equivalent or consent of the instructor.
ECON 830 Advanced Econometric Methods and Applications (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ECON 731 or consent of the instructor.
ECON 840 Health Economics Analysis and Research (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 840: Graduate standing; ECON 701 or equivalent; or Healthcare Administration Certificate students.
Prerequisites for ECON 640: Upper-division standing; ECON 301 and ECON 311; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 840/ECON 640 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
ECON 850 Environmental Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites for ECON 850: Graduate standing; ECON 301; or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 550: Upper-division standing; ECON 301; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
(ECON 850/ECON 550 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 851 Topics in Applied Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing; ECON 701, ECON 830, or consent of the instructor.
ECON 880 Applied Economics and Data Analysis with R (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for ECON 880: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ECON 680: Upper-division standing; ECON 312 or equivalent; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.
ECON 600/ECON 800 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
Course Attributes:
- Upper-Division
ECON 890 Graduate Seminar in Applied Economics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, ECON 701, ECON 702, or consent of instructor. Must be taken concurrently with ECON 825.
ECON 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)
Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
ECON 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 6)
Prerequisites: Consent of the chair of candidate's committee for the Master of Arts; consent of instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.
ECON 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Open to graduate students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition to department.