TCU Department of Economics Student Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 1 (Fall 2010)
Prepared by John T. Harvey
Howdy, Economics Majors and Minors!
I hope your fall semester is going well! Please find below various updates that you may find
helpful, particularly just before schedule advising.
Status of Senior Seminar
ECON 40013 Senior Seminar will not be offered in the spring 2011 semester. Generally
speaking, any upper-level econ will be accepted as a substitute and so those intending to
graduate in May 2011 should plan accordingly. However, be sure to contact Dr. McNertney
with your proposed replacement course so you can be absolutely sure that it will be approved
(e.mcnertney@tcu.edu).
Junior Honors (Econ 30003-615) and Junior Research (Econ 40970-015) Courses
These will be offered concurrently in the spring and only in the spring (i.e., not the fall!). This
course is designed to help students produce a research paper. We will spend the semester
developing your topic, researching the literature, and getting a solid proposal written down on
paper. Those who find this to be a rewarding experience may then spend the next semester (i.e.,
fall 2011) actually writing the paper with a thesis advisor. Others may discover that this is not
for them and simply stop at this level (with three upper-level economics elective hours under
their belt). The instructor next semester will be John Harvey (me!), and on the recommendation
of Dr. Quinn, who taught it last year, I am setting as the prerequisite at least two of our three
common upper-level foundational courses (i.e., any two of intermediate micro, intermediate
macro, and contending perspectives). I would also strongly suggest that you not try this without
a GPA of at least 3.0, and probably 3.25 or better. I have taught classes like this before, and
students who are unable to self motivate struggle terribly. As Clint Eastwood said in Magnum
Force, “A man’s gotta know his limitations.” Please let me know if you have further questions
about this class (j.harvey@tcu.edu).
Advising
Schedule advising begins November 1. You can check to see who your advisor is through
my.tcu.edu. In order to set up a meeting, please contact them early so that they can put you on
their calendar–this time of year can be very busy! Also, if Dr. Quinn is your advisor, bear in
mind that he is on sabbatical. You may contact Dr. Elliott for a temporary replacement
(d.elliott@tcu.edu). For your reference, all faculty and staff emails are listed at the end of this
document.
Student Job Resource Center
That same “Students” page also gives a link to AfterCollege.com or Job Resource Center. Be
sure to read the disclaimer, but in general it is a service that offers links to jobs and internships in
economics. In all your job searches, be careful and remember that if it sounds too good to be
true, it probably is!
Economics Department Forum
Did you know that we have an econ department bulletin board/forum? You can find it by going
here:
http://sovereignlotro.19.forumer.com/index.php
Or you can go to the econ dept web page (www.econ.tcu.edu), click on “Students,” and you’ll
find a link there. It was intended to serve the same purpose as this newsletter and I’ll post these
notes there so you can find them later.
Neeley School Summer Business Institute
For those who lean more toward the business than the liberal arts side of economics, you might
be interested the Achieve Summer Business Institute:
http://www.neeley.tcu.edu/Academics/Student_Leadership_Programs/ACHIEVE.aspx
You earn no credit for the courses, but you get a certification upon successful completion. Last
year, the cost was $5400 (although the web page indicates that discounts and scholarships may
be available).
Upper-Level Economics Classes in the Summer
To help you make set your schedule for the spring, the following pages give details on the
courses we will be offering in the summer.
May (3-week, May 9-27)
Class
Title
Instructor
Time
Prerequisites
Brief Description
Other
Econ
30223
Intermediate
Microeconomics
M Butler
9:0012:00
A 'C' or better
in any 3 hours
of econ, plus
MATH 10283
or MATH
10524.
Details of allocation and distribution
theory of market economies.
Explanations of product and factor
market activities. Elements of partial and
general equilibrium theories.
Required
foundational
course for econ
major.
Econ
30493
International
Economic
Studies
J Harvey
8:0011:00
At least three
semester
hours credit
in economics
with a grade
of 'C' or
better.
Comparison of Neoclassical, Post
Keynesian, and Marxist views of
international trade, exchange rates and
capital flows, and development.
Counts as
International
Economics course
in major, Global
Awareness in
Core.
June (5-week, May 31-June 29)
Class
Title
Instructor
Time
Prerequisites
Brief Description
Other
Econ
30243
Contending
Perspectives in
Economics
R Garnett
9:401:10
At least three
semester
hours credit
in economics
with a grade
of 'C' or
better.
A survey of major theoretical
approaches in economics today, with
emphasis on the unique insights and
applications of each approach, the
theoretical underpinnings of enduring
disagreements among professional
economists, and the process of ongoing
debate and cross-fertilization among
these contending perspectives.
Required
foundational
course for econ
major.
July (4-week, July 5-29)
Class
Title
Instructor
Time
Prerequisites
Brief Description
Other
Econ
30233
Intermediate
Macroeconomics
K Tochkov
12:102:05
A 'C' or better
in any 3 hours
of econ
Employment, monetary theory,
aggregate demand and supply theory,
economic performance and tools of
measurement.
Required
foundational
course for econ
major.
Faculty and Staff Email Addresses
Dr. Laura Bucila
laura.bucila@tcu.edu
Dr. Doug Butler, Economics Club Sponsor
d.butler@tcu.edu
Dr. Mike Butler, Associate Dean AddRan College
m.butler@tcu.edu
Dr. Dawn Elliott, Coordinator of Advising
d.elliott@tcu.edu
Dr. Rob Garnett
r.garnett@tcu.edu
Dr. John Harvey
j.harvey@tcu.edu
Dr. Xiaoli Liang
x.liang@tcu.edu
Dr. John Lovett, Economics Honor Society Coordinator
j.lovett@tcu.edu
Mrs. Linda Martinez, Administrative Assistant
l.martinez@tcu.edu
Dr. Ed McNertney, Department Chair
e.mcnertney@tcu.edu
Dr. Steve Quinn
s.quinn@tcu.edu
Dr. Charlie Sawyer, Coordinator International Economics Program
w.c.sawyer@tcu.edu
Dr. Kiril Tochkov
k.tochkov@tcu.edu