Economics
Overview
Economics is the study of how we work to get the biggest bang for our buck, or how we transform scarce resources into goods and services to satisfy the most pressing of our infinite wants, and how we distribute those goods and services amongst ourselves. Most economists spend at least some of or all of their work day in an office environment, working on projects and research and meeting with clients or coworkers. The stereotype of economists as “stodgy old professors” has undergone an evolution as clients and managers work side-by-side with economists to develop new business opportunities.
Career Options
There are a wide array of job opportunities in business, finance, government, and other sectors for an individual with an undergraduate degree in economics. Business firms of all sizes provide employment and career opportunities including jobs in banking, budget and market analysis, and in sales. Federal, state, and local government agencies require and employ individuals with training in economics to carry benefit-cost analysis and as research assistants and analysts. Job opportunities are expanding for employment for those seeking jobs with global or international focus.
Program Maps
AA-T/AS-T Transfer Degrees
Certificates
- Dean Yolanda Garcia
- Department Chair Stephanie Rowe
- Meta Major Business and Industry
- Phone (916) 558-2581
- Email RoweS@scc.losrios.edu
Associate Degree for Transfer
A.A.-T. in Economics
The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students who complete an Associate Degree for Transfer and transfer to a similar major at a CSU are guaranteed a seamless pathway to finish their baccalaureate degrees in 60 semester or 90 quarter units.
The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) student completion requirements (as stated in SB1440 law):
(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
(A) The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).
(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
ADTs also require that students must earn a “C” or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is also an acceptable grade for courses in the major if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2026
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| MATH 400 | Calculus I | 5 |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics (4) | 4 |
| or STAT C1000H | Introduction to Statistics - Honors (4) | |
| A minimum of 6 units from the following: | 6 | |
| ACCT 301 | Financial Accounting (4) | |
| ACCT 311 | Managerial Accounting (4) | |
| CISC 310 | Introduction to Computer Information Science (3) | |
| CISP 360 | Introduction to Structured Programming (4) | |
| MATH 355 | Calculus for Biology and Medicine I (4) | |
| MATH 372 | College Algebra for Calculus (4) | |
| MATH 401 | Calculus II (5) | |
| MATH 402 | Calculus III (5) | |
| MATH 410 | Introduction to Linear Algebra (3) | |
| Total Units: | 21 | |
The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- explain terms and concepts used in macroeconomics and microeconomics.
- analyze models to explore consequences of economic policy proposals on households, businesses, domestic and global economies, and the environment.
- evaluate economic models to explore the consequences of macroeconomic events and the probable consequences of macroeconomic policy proposals for the national and global economy.
- solve problems requiring the application of economics, statistics, and mathematics.
- utilize economic concepts about the nature of the firm, cost and production functions, results under different market structures.
- apply quantitative methods in economic analysis including optimization of economic goals including utility and profit maximization.
Career Information
There are a wide array of job opportunities in business, finance, government, and other sectors for an individual with an undergraduate degree in economics. Business firms of all sizes provide employment and career opportunities including jobs in banking, budget and market analysis, and in sales. Federal, state, and local government agencies require and employ individuals with training in economics to carry benefit-cost analysis and as research assistants and analysts. Job opportunities also exist in education and journalism. Economies and individual markets are dynamic, and business economists help firms understand and adapt to changes occurring in the economy and in specific markets. Individuals with economics degrees work in a broad range of fields with jobs with federal, state, and local government agencies. Job opportunities are expanding for employment for those seeking jobs with global or international focus.
Certificate of Achievement
Global Business Economics Certificate
This program provides students with the necessary knowledge to make informed business and financial decisions in a global context. Students will gain an understanding of basic economic theory about business decision making, resource allocation issues, the components of the conceptual framework for financial accounting and reporting, legal considerations, consumer behavior patterns and the impacts of globalization on different class, ethnic, and gender groups. This certificate is useful to advance a career, or to gain intuition into business and economic trends in a global context.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2026
Certificate Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 301 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| GLST 301 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| A minimum of 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| BUS 340 | Business Law (3) | |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics (3) | |
| ENTR 350 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Managing People (3) | |
| GLST 302 | Global Issues (3) | |
| Total Units: | 13 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- students will gain an understanding of how markets work to allocate resource efficiently in the context of scarcity and the major economic issues of the day: unemployment, inflation, interest rates, monetary policy, fiscal policy, the national debt, economic growth, and international trade.
- students will gain an understanding of accounting information systems, including recording and reporting of business transactions with a focus on the accounting cycle, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements, and statement analysis. The course includes issues relating to asset, liability, and equity valuation, revenue and expense recognition, cash flow, internal controls, and ethics.
- students will gain an understanding of globalization and its connection to history, economics, political science, geography, environment, and culture.
Career Information
This certificate will enhance students skills and knowledge to be competitive for jobs that include a global component in accounting, finance, sales, management, consulting, and policy analysis.
Economics (ECON) Courses
ECON 100 Introduction to Economics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course introduces the purpose, terminology, and basic concepts of economic theory, examines the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and describes how our society is organized to deal with scarcity. Core concepts in supply, demand, and markets will be presented. Coverage will include ways economic policy can mitigate problems associated with unemployment, inflation, poverty, national debt, and pollution.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- examine ways in which individuals, societies, businesses, and nations deal with the reality of scarcity, that people must make decisions and face tradeoffs, and analyze the consequences associated with choice and cost.
- interpret a market supply and demand model and identify market failures and externalities.
- describe price elasticities of demand and supply and the effects of price controls.
- define costs (fixed, variable, marginal, short-run) and their impact on the firm in various markets (competition and monopoly).
- calculate gross domestic product and its impact on the economy's business cycle, unemployment, and inflation; using gross domestic product, formulate recommendations for a government's role in achieving full employment in an economy.
ECON 299 Experimental Offering in Economics
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
ECON C2002 Principles of Macroeconomics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:Placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process or completion of a course taught at or above the level of elementary algebra.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
- C-ID:C-ID ECON 202
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course was formerly known as ECON 302 Principles of Macroeconomics.
An introductory course using models of the domestic and international economy to understand national income, unemployment, inflation, economic growth, inequality, the financial system, and monetary, fiscal, and other economic policies. Students completing this course will experience a pattern of coursework designed to help them gain an understanding and appreciation of the contributions and perspectives of individuals and groups, including but not limited to diverse genders, sexualities, races, ethnicities, classes, countries, cultures, and societies. Formally known as ECON 302. Not open to students who have successfully completed ECON 302.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- interpret and analyze domestic and international macroeconomic data. (CCN)
- apply macroeconomic models to explain economic issues and outcomes. (CCN)
- analyze the effects of macroeconomic policies. (CCN)
- relate the concepts of macroeconomics to his or her own community and personal experiences.
- predict the role of United States in the global economy given the present international economic conditions.
ECON C2001 Principles of Microeconomics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:Placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process or completion of a course taught at or above the level of elementary algebra.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
- C-ID:C-ID ECON 201
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course was formerly known as ECON 304 Principles of Microeconomics.
An introductory course using microeconomic models to understand individual decisions by consumers and firms, market outcomes including market failure, elasticity, market structures, labor markets, inequality, and the impact of government policies. This course also covers marginal utility, costs of production, natural resource economics, resource allocation under conditions of competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition. Problems and issues in these areas will be examined in their contemporary, historical, and geographical settings. Students completing this course will experience a pattern of coursework designed to help them gain an understanding and appreciation of the contributions and perspectives of individuals and groups, including but not limited to diverse genders, sexualities, races, ethnicities, classes, countries, cultures, and societies. Formally known as ECON 304. Not open to students who have successfully completed ECON 304.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- perform and interpret microeconomic calculations. (CCN)
- apply microeconomic models to analyze market outcomes, including market failures and government policies. (CCN)
- model how consumers and firms make decisions under a variety of market structures. (CCN)
- explain terms and concepts used in microeconomics.
- construct analytical economic models.
- evaluate models to explore consequences of economic proposals on households and businesses.
- relate the concepts of microeconomics to their own community and personal experiences assess the relationship between government policies and business decisions.
- list and explain examples of government intervention in the market system.
ECON 310 Statistics for Business and Economics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:Intermediate Algebra or equivalent (Integrated Math 3) with a grade of “C-” or better.
- Advisory:Students needing extra mathematical support should enroll in MATHS 10.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L2; Cal-GETC Area 2
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Statistical analysis will include central tendency, variation, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, z-tests and t-tests, confidence intervals, inference, analysis of variance, linear regression, chi-squared tests, and correlation. Statistical analysis using a computer statistics package or graphing calculator is required. This course focuses on statistical concepts commonly used in economics, business, and other behavioral sciences.
This course was formerly known as Economic Statistics.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- assess how to collect data and recognize how data collection affects what conclusions can be drawn from the data.
- identify appropriate graphs and summary statistics for variables and relationships between them and correctly interpret information from graphs and summary statistics.
- describe and apply probability concepts and distributions.
- demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to use, basic ideas of statistical processes, including the normal distribution, hypothesis tests, and confidence interval estimation.
- use linear regression and ANOVA analysis for estimation and inference, and interpret the associated statistics.
- interpret confidence intervals and the results of hypothesis testing.
- use correlation and regression to analyze relationships between two numerical variables.
- conduct and assess chi-square tests.
- apply technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings.
ECON 330 Investments and Financial Management
- Same As:BUS 325
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:BUS 320, ECON C2002, or ECON C2001 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
Fundamentals of investment management and financial markets will provide important information that individuals should know before investing their funds or managing investments. The course will be equally valuable to those who have little or no knowledge of investing and financial markets as well as those who are already investors and want to sharpen their skills. The course will provide a blend of the traditional and modern approaches to investment decision making (and financial markets). The traditional approach is largely descriptive, while the modern approach emphasizes quantitative techniques. Credit may be awarded for ECON 330 or BUS 325, but not for both.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- evaluate investment objectives, economic needs, and financial goals, and design financial models to achieve them.
- analyze the changing economic and financial environment and formulate strategies to attempt to adapt to this evolution.
- apply ethical and economic principles, concepts, and theories to individual economic and investment planning.
- assess the conceptual basis of various economic tools and models (and the terminology) available to the individual to deal with decision-making in financial markets.
- develop a theory of money, interest rate determination, and the term structure of interest rates.
ECON 495 Independent Studies in Economics
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is an independent study of an economics topic or research project. It is for students who wish to develop an in-depth understanding in fundamental topics of economics and to learn to work in a collaborative atmosphere with instructors and other students. Instructor approval is required to enroll in this course. UC transfer credit will be awarded only after the course has been evaluated by the enrolling UC campus. The units completed for this course cannot be counted towards the minimum 60 units required for admissions.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the material to be studied and presented in the course and communicate an understanding of the content matter.
- describe and explain issues related to the topics of the course.
- develop analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills as these relate to the field of economics.
- acquire and interpret data using interpretative and/or quantitative methods.
ECON 499 Experimental Offering in Economics
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
Introduces the purpose, terminology, and basic concepts of economic theory; examines the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and describes how our society is organized to deal with scarcity; considers some of the problems (unemployment, inflation, poverty) economic theory may help solve.
Faculty
Tutoring
Business and Computer Information Science Labs
Our tutoring and study labs are available to students enrolled in at least one Business or CIS Division class.
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If you're interested in a transfer degree (AA-T or AS-T), then check out Degree Planner, a tool that helps you complete your degree efficiently by mapping out what courses to take and when to take them.
Business and Industry
This program is part of the Business and Industry meta major.