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Economics

Economics is the study of how individuals and societies choose to use limited resources for production of goods and services and how they distribute them for current and future consumption. Economics is divided into two major areas: macroeconomics and microeconomics. Macroeconomics studies decision-making at the national level. Macroeconomics topics include gross domestic product, unemployment, inflation, and money and banking. Microeconomics studies decision-making at the individual household, business firm, and industry levels. Microeconomics topics include theories of the firm and consumer behaviors.

Courses offered by the Economics Department are designed to satisfy general education requirements at American River College, and they are transferable to the CSU system, the UC system, and other fine institutions of higher learning in the United States. Furthermore, these economics courses will provide students with essential tools to analyze contemporary national and international economic issues.

Degrees Offered

A.A.-T. in Economics

Division Dean Kirsten Corbin
Department Chair Brian Rosario
Phone (916) 484-8361
Email ARCBUSClerk@arc.losrios.edu

Associate Degree for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Economics

The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer (AA-T) provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements for transfer to a California State University. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. Students should work closely with their American River College counselor to ensure that they are taking the appropriate coursework to prepare for majoring in Economics the institution they wish to transfer to because major and general education requirements may vary for each CSU and the degree may only transfer to specific institutions.

Students must complete the following Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) requirements (pursuant to SB1440, §66746):
• 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units
• the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern
• a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district
• obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0

All 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
Required 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 C1000	Introduction to Statistics (4)
or STAT C1000H	Introduction to Statistics - Honors (4)
MATH 340	Calculus for Business and Economics (3)	3 - 5
or MATH 341	Calculus for Business and Economics (4)
or MATH 400	Calculus I (5)
List A:
A minimum of 6 units from the following:		6
ACCT 301	Financial Accounting (4)
ACCT 311	Managerial Accounting (4)
BUS 300	Introduction to Business (3)
BUS 310	Business Communications (3)
CISC 310	Introduction to Computer Information Science (3)
CISP 360	Introduction to Structured Programming (4)
CISP 400	Object Oriented Programming with C++ (4)
CISP 440	Discrete Structures for Computer Science (3)
MATH 355	Calculus for Biology and Medicine I (4)
MATH 375	Pre-Calculus (6)
MATH 401	Calculus II (5)
MATH 402	Calculus III (5)
MATH 410	Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
Total Units:		18 - 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.
evaluate models to explore consequences of economic policy proposals for households and businesses.
evaluate economic models to explore the consequences of macroeconomic events and the probable consequences of macroeconomic policy proposals for the whole economy.
solve problems requiring the application of economics, statistics, and mathematics.
apply accounting and economic concepts and principles in making decisions about firm operations.

Economics (ECON) Courses

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. Problems and issues in these areas will be examined in their contemporary, historical, and geographical settings. This course was formerly known as ECON 302 and is not open to students who have successfully completed ECON 302.

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.

This course was formerly known as ECON 304 and is not open to students who have successfully completed ECON 304.

ECON 305 Introduction to Economies of Africa

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces various topics on Africa's economies, such as indigenous economic systems, why Africa remains poor, pre- and post-colonial development strategies, the cold war factor, development finance, and new theories on development. Additionally, the politics of international development including China's expanding role in Africa are examined.

ECON 310 Statistics for Business and Economics

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:Through the Los Rios Placement Process or successful completion of Algebra II/Integrated Math 3 or Intermediate Algebra.
Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: ECON 310, PSYC 330, STAT C1000/300, STAT C1000H/480, and STAT 305 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:Eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4; Local GE L7B
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course covers how to analyze financial affairs for lifelong decision making. It examines the basics of financial planning, analysis, and decision making in areas of budgeting, taxes, credit, money management, insurance, investments, and retirement with an emphasis on principles to develop economic decision-making skills. This course is not open to students who have completed BUS 320.

ECON 495 Independent Studies in Economics

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

Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College (ARC). They must also discuss the study with a professor from the Department of Economics at ARC in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.

ECON 499 Experimental Offering in Economics

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

This is the experimental courses description.