Program Learning Objectives - Undergraduate

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) articulate the learning that should be achieved by the graduates of a program. The PLOs for all our programs have the same basic structure, with the fifth representing the highest-order learning objective:

• 1. Microeconomics

  • Students will be able to use microeconomic theory to understand and explain the determinants of prices, optimal behavior in strategic situations, and welfare effects in markets, and to critique real-world policy.

    U Assessment: Performance on ECON 101/104 finals, and ECON 190/191 term papers. 
    G Assessment: Performance on Comp Exam Section 1 and ECON 205 term paper.

• 2. Macroeconomics

  • Students will be able to use macroeconomic theory to understand and explain economic growth, business cycles, and monetary policy, as well as to critique real-world macroeconomic policy.

    U Assessment: Performance on ECON 102/104 finals, and ECON 190/191 term paper.
    G Assessment: Performance on Comp Exam Section 2 and ECON 205 term paper.

• 3. Methods

  • Describe an economic study that illustrates one of the following methods of economic inquiry
    • Applied Econometrics
    • Experimental Economics
    • Other (Analytical Narrative, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Simulation, etc.)

    Assessment Example: Describe a scholarly writing (published research study, book chapter, book), focusing on the method it used. For Applied Econometric and Experimental Economic methods, describe the steps would need to take to replicate the study. For other, describe how you could use the method it employs to extend the results to other areas to generate new knowledge.

    U Assessment: Performance on ECON 100W methods assessment.
    G Assessment: Performance on Comp Exam Section 2; ECON 203A & 205 term papers.

• 4. Subfields

  • List the subfields of economics and explain the JEL system, describe the contours of economics as a scholarly discipline, and describe in detail one of the two subfields:
    • Economic History / Economic Thought
    • Econometrics

    Assessment Example: Students will be able to read and analytically review a scholarly work from an economics field of specialization, link it to economic theory that they have studied, explain the research methods used (empirical or theoretical) and the core findings of the work.

    U Assessment: Performance in ECON 100-level field course assessment.
    G Assessment: Performance on Comp Exam, Section 3; ECON 205 term paper.

• 5. Creation and Communication

  • Generate and apply new knowledge to an economics problem, using theory and methods of economic inquiry, and communicate the results through academic writing, speaking, and presentation.

    U Assessment: Analysis of student writing, term papers, and presentations from ECON 100W, 103A, 103B, 190 & 191.
    G Assessment: Analysis of student writing, term papers, and presentations from ECON 203A and 205.

    Finally, submissions to the Best Paper Competition are used to assess Grad and Undergrad PLOs every semester, with results discussed in annual assessment report.

The applied M.A. program, and the B.S. program place greater emphasis on econometric and mathematical methods (PLOs 3 and 4). The general M.A. program and the B.A. program focus on methods more generally (PLO3) and economic thought (PLO4).