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Economics

Economics is a field of study that focuses on how people, businesses, governments and societies allocate scarce resources between competing uses. The allocation of resources is an integral part of our daily lives here in the US and around the globe. Economics provides a tool kit for analyzing and evaluating these decisions. Comparisons over time focus on the past, present and future to see how resource allocations have changed over time for households (food, children, time and money), businesses (labor, machinery and profits), government (military, Social Security, education and healthcare), and environment (pollution, green technology, biodiversity and sustainability). Economics provides a solid foundation for many career opportunities.

Degrees Offered

A.A.-T. in Economics

Dean Tyler Rollins
Department Chair Edwin Fagin
Phone (916) 691-7226
Email rollint@crc.losrios.edu

Associate Degree for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Economics

The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer degree program provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. Students interested in transferring to a CSU campus to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Economics should meet with a counselor to confirm the courses required for lower-division preparation in the major.

This program has the following completion requirements:

(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) Cal-GETC the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.
(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 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
Core:
ECON C2002	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON C2001	Principles of Microeconomics	3
ECON 310	Statistics for Business and Economics (3)	3 - 4
or PSYC 330	Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3)
or STAT C1000E	Introduction to Statistics (4)
or STAT C1000H	Introduction to Statistics - Honors (4)
MATH 341	Calculus for Business and Economics (4)	4 - 5
or MATH 400	Calculus I (5)
List A Select one course from the following (3-5 units):
ACCT 301	Financial Accounting (4)	3 - 5
or ACCT 311	Managerial Accounting (4)
or MATH 401	Calculus II (5)
or CISC 310	Introduction to Computer Information Science (3)
or CISP 360	Introduction to Structured Programming (4)
or MATH 410	Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
List B Select one course from the following (3 units):
ECON 306	Environmental Economics (3)	3¹
or AGB 321	Agriculture Economics (3)
Total Units:		19 - 23

¹or any course not used in List A

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:

Describe and apply basic economic principles and concepts to economic issues. This includes the ability to: • Analyze graphical and numerical representations of resource allocation in the presence of scarcity. • Analyze graphical and numerical representations of a microeconomic and macroeconomic equilibrium using the tools of supply and demand and aggregate supply and aggregate demand analysis.
Demonstrate the use of numerical methods to quantify common terms used in economics. This includes an ability to: • Calculate GDP and economic growth rates. • Calculate unemployment rates. • Calculate inflation rates using a price index. • Calculate profits, total cost, variable cost, and fixed cost.
Demonstrate the ability to think critically and analyze solutions to major economic questions. This includes an ability to: • Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of major macroeconomic policy tools including fiscal and monetary policy. Evaluation of Monetary and Fiscal Policy will focus on the impact on unemployment, GDP, and inflation. • Comparing perfectly competitive markets and imperfectly competitive markets and their effect on profits, prices and quantities produced. •
Discuss the global nature of economic issues. This includes an ability to: • Describe the common features of international trade as it is related to GDP. • Analyze different international trade theories and their implications for specialization.

Career Information

Career Opportunities: 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 out benefit-cost analysis and as research assistants and analysts. Job opportunities also exist in education and journalism. Economies and individual markets are dynamic, and 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.

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. It examines the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and describes how our society is organized to deal with scarcity. It considers some of the problems (unemployment, inflation, national debt, poverty, crime, pollution, etc.) that economic theory may help explain.

ECON 299 Experimental Offering in Economics

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

ECON 300 Survey of Economics

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces the purpose, terminology, and basic concepts of economic theory. It examines the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and describes how our society is organized to deal with scarcity. It considers some of the problems our economy faces (unemployment, pollution, taxes, inflation, national debt, poverty, crime, international trade, etc.) and how economic theory can be used to investigate these pressing issues.

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.

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 how consumers, businesses and societies allocate scarce resources (land, water, labor, machinery, housing and entrepreneurship) between competing uses. The allocation of resources is an integral part of our daily lives in the US and around the globe. This course will provide a foundation for analyzing and evaluating these decisions.

ECON 306 Environmental Economics

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course focuses on the application of economic principles to help understand and manage the relationship between humans and the environment. The central theme is that there are competing demands for our limited natural resources, including the waste assimilation capacity of the environment, necessitating that difficult choices be made regarding how those resources are used. The course illustrates how resources are allocated in a market economy, potential problems from a social perspective with that allocation, and alternative solutions for reallocating resources to achieve more socially desirable outcomes. Issues such as efficiency and externality, benefit-cost analysis, and alternative policy instruments for pollution control are examined. Topics related to global climate change, California water resources, and other current environmental policy issues will be discussed as time permits.

ECON 310 Statistics for Business and Economics

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:Intermediate Algebra or higher (or high school equivalent) with a C or better or eligibility for transfer-level mathematics.
Transferable:CSU; UC (UC transfer credit limitation: STAT 300, STAT 480, STAT C1000E, STAT C1000H, ECON 310 and POLS 382, PSYC 330 combined: maximum credit, 1 course)
General Education:Local GE L2; Cal-GETC Area 2
C-ID:C-ID MATH 110
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course focuses on statistical concepts commonly used in economics, business and other behavioral sciences. It covers the collection, organization, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Major topics include organizing and describing data using graphs, tables, and charts; calculating and interpreting descriptive statistics including measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-square and t-tests. Computer software and/or hand calculations will be used in this course to calculate, organize and display statistical information. Results generated either by hand calculation, the use of computer software, articles or textbook examples will be used to analyze and interpret statistical findings.

ECON 320 Concepts in Personal Finance

Same As:BUS 320
Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:BUS 105
Transferable:CSU
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L7B
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is designed to assist individuals in analyzing their financial affairs. Elements and conceptual basis of financial planning, analysis, and decision making in areas of budgeting, taxes, borrowing, money management, insurance, investments, and retirement will be examined
with an emphasis on principles to develop students’ economic decision making. Students will be using mathematical concepts as well as reading and interpreting written and oral instructions. The course provides a solid base for a career in financial planning services. This
course is the same as BUS 320, and only one may be taken for credit.

ECON 495 Independent Studies in Economics

Units:1 - 3
Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.

ECON 499 Experimental Offering in Economics

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026