Economics

Chair: Buhong Zheng
Program Assistant: Christine Lukvec
Office: Lawrence Street Center, LW-470
Telephone: 303-315-2030
Fax: 303-315-2048

Faculty

Professors:
Laura M. Argys, PhD, University of Colorado
Brian J. Duncan, PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara
Steven G. Medema, PhD, Michigan State University
Daniel I. Rees, PhD, Cornell University
W. James Smith, PhD, University of Colorado
Buhong Zheng, PhD, West Virginia University

Associate Professors:
Steven R. Beckman, PhD, University of California Davis
Hani Mansour, PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara

Assistant Professors:
Ryan Brown, PhD, Duke University
Andrew I. Friedson, PhD, Syracuse University
Andrea Velasquez, PhD, Duke University

Instructors:
Alpna Bhatia, PhD, University of Colorado
Enoch Cheng, PhD, University of California-Los Angeles
Nicholas Golding, MA, Ohio State University
Kyle J. Hurst, MA, Baylor University
Russell S. Kellogg, MA, University of Colorado
George K. Quansah, MA, University of Colorado

Economics is the science of human behavior in market and non-market contexts. The rigorous and general scientific approach that characterizes economics lends itself to a remarkably wide field of practical application. Economists regularly apply their methods of analysis in fields such as government policy, international trade and finance, economic development, portfolio management and banking. But economics is increasingly seen as providing important insight into an enormous variety of social issues, including health care provision and health-related behaviors, law, criminal activity, environmental and natural resource problems, political activity, education, marketing and sports. The broad and rigorous training of economics majors accounts for the significant demand for their services in virtually every industry and government agency. Economics provides excellent preparation for advanced graduate study as well. Recent studies indicate that economics is a preferred undergraduate degree for those wishing to move on to prestigious business graduate programs and law schools.

Undergraduate Information

Economics Major

Click here to learn about the requirements for an Economics Major.

Click here to learn about the requirements for an Economics BA and Mathematics BS dual degree.

Economics Minor

Click here to learn about the requirements for an Economics Minor.

Honors in Economics

Students wishing to earn departmental honors in economics should consult with their advisor no later than the beginning of their senior year.

Cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.5 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver, with a minimum of eight such courses, and either two additional electives in economics beyond those required for the major, taken at the 4000 or higher level, or an acceptable honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee of department faculty and will include a presentation of the results to that committee. Students should register for the thesis, using ECON 4850 as the course number, as a 3-semester hour independent study, in addition to the regular requirements for the major.

Magna cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.7 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver, with a minimum of eight courses, and who complete an honors thesis designated as “acceptable” by their thesis committee.

Summa cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.88 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver, with a minimum of eight courses, and who complete an honors thesis designated as “outstanding” by their thesis committee.

In order to be recognized in the graduation program as “Honors Pending,” a draft of the thesis must be submitted to the chair of the committee four weeks prior to the end of the semester. The oral presentation and other requirements must be completed one week before graduation.

In order to be recognized in the graduation program with the specific honors degree being conferred, e.g., summa, magna, etc., students must turn in the completed final copy of the honors thesis four weeks prior to the end of the semester, along with meeting other requirements by the week before graduation. Otherwise, recognition will come with the diploma after graduation.

Students who do not have an advisor should contact the department for assignment to an advisor. Students should meet with their advisor at least twice a year.

Graduate Information

Please go to the Graduate catalog to read about our graduate programs.