Biology - Major in Biology Program

Foundation courses:
ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics

The course examines how individuals and firms make choices within the institution of free-market capitalism. Individuals decide how much of their time to spend working and what to buy with the earnings of their labor. Firms decide how much to produce and in some cases what price to charge for their goods. Together these choices determine what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced in our economic system. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry,Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

ECN 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variables of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry,Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

One of:
ACT 131 Fundamentals of Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis

This course will provide students with an introduction to the fundamentals of the accounting system, basic financial statements, and SEC filings. You will learn how transactions get recorded in a business' financial records and become familiar with the concept of footnote disclosures. You will evaluate and analyze how financial statements are used by stakeholders and how information contained therein in collected. Students are not permitted to take ACT 131 if they have previously completed ACT 151 with a C- or better. 3 credits.

ACT 151 Financial Accounting

Basic concepts of accounting including: accounting for business transactions, preparation and use of financial statements, and measurement of owners' equity. Restricted to Accounting, Actuarial Science, & Analytical Finance majors. 3 credits.

One of:
BUS 170 Introduction to Business Analytics

An introduction to the statistical tools used in the analysis of business and marketing data. Topics include data visualizations and descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, single variable regression, and forecasting. Students will learn how to analyze, interpret, and present data effectively using Microsoft Excel. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

MAS 170 Elementary Statistics

An introduction to elementary descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding. A student may not receive credit for MAS 170 after completing MAS 372. A student may not receive credit for more than one of HSC 170, MAS 170, and MAS 270. Fulfills requirement: Natural Science Analysis,Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

MAS 270 Statistics and Data Analysis

This course introduces the fundamentals of statistical data analysis. Topics include basic probability; common statistical models; significance testing; regression modeling and working with high dimensional datasets. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 111 or MAS 161. 3 credits.

MAS 372 Statistical Modeling

Study of various modeling techniques including regression, decision trees, unsupervised learning, and time series methods with implementation in the computer language R. The course also provides an introduction to generalized linear models and generalized additive models. MAS 372 covers the material on SOA exam SRM - Statistics for Risk Modeling. Prerequisite: MAS 270 or ASC 281. 3 credits.

One of these three mathematics sequences:
BUS 150 Math for Business and Management

This course is designed to build mathematical skills required to analyze different decision-making problems in business, accounting, and economics. Main topics covered include functions & graphs, mathematics of finance, matrices & linear programming, derivatives & optimization, and their real-world applications. 3 credits.

MAS 161 Calculus I

A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 102 at LVC, or satisfactory score on the math readiness test. This test is administered during New Student Advising Days for incoming students or can be taken by arrangement with the math department (717-867-6080). 3 credits.

Or
MAS 111 Analysis I

A calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 102 at LVC, or satisfactory score on the math readiness test. This test is administered during New Student Advising Days for incoming students or can be taken by arrangement with the math department (717-867-6080) Co-requisite: MAS 113. 4 credits.

MAS 112 Analysis II

Second semester of a calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 111; Corequisite: MAS 114. 4 credits.

Or
MAS 161 Calculus I

MAS 162 Calculus II

Second semester of a calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and infinite series. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: MAS 161. 3 credits.

Core courses:
ECN 201 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis

This course covers the major theories of mainstream neoclassical economics. There is intensive study of the models of consumer and firm behavior that permit understanding of how the prices and quantities of goods and services are determined in a free market capitalistic system. The implications for social welfare, and equity and efficiency issues that are inherent in the free-market system are emphasized. Prerequisite: ECN 101, 102 and BUS 150, MAS 111 or 161, or by permission of the instructor. Economics majors need a cumulative GPA of 2.00 in all foundation courses completed to date. 3 credits.

ECN 202 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis

In this course, students develop a model of the macroeconomy, which permits them to analyze the nature of the business cycle. The assumptions built into the model can be altered, rendering it capable of examining the macroeconomy from various theoretical viewpoints. In addition to unemployment, inflation and economic growth, the course covers real business cycles, the macroeconomic implications of free trade and emphasizes the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomics. Prerequisite: ECN 101 and 102. Economics majors need a cumulative GPA of 2.00 in all foundation courses completed to date. 3 credits.

ECN 405 Applied Econometrics

In this course students apply statistical techniques to study the quantitative measurement and analysis of actual economic phenomena, describing economic relationships, and test hypothesis about economic theory and forecasting future economic events. Applications include examining violations of the classical assumptions and testing for specification errors. Prerequisites: BUS 170, MAS 170, 270, or 372; ECN 201/202 or ASC 385; or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

Four additional elective courses in economics at the 200 level or higher (except ECN-400).