Fall 2019 First Year Program Options

Investigating Consumerism RAP Fall 2019

The Investigating Consumerism RAP offers students a chance to explore the complexity and dynamics of the marketplace. With a strong focus in resource economics, the RAP encourages a critical investigation of how society produces, distributes and consumes goods and resources. Topics could include the various social, industrial, environmental, business, and political contexts of consumerism in the modern world.

Students will benefit from the broad perspectives and new opinions on the consumer culture in our society, building a foundation for discussion both with and outside the classroom. The critical social and economic issues explored in class can be developed further with programs in the residence halls and across campus. 

Investigating Consumerism is offered in two locations - see below for details.

Gen Ed Course and Residential Location Options: Choose One

"Consumer in Society":  Resource Economics 162 (GenEd SB) Fall 2019

Students living together in Thoreau Hall in the Southwest residential area.

Read what Fall 2019 instructor Jose Garces Ceballos has to say about the course: 

This course provides an analysis of the crucial role that consumers play in society including their consumption activities as well as their decision-making. An interdisciplinary perspective will be used - research findings from a variety of disciplines will be applied to better understand consumers’ economic decisions. Critical thinking skills will be used to examine a variety of contemporary consumer economic issues in addition to topics such as consumer rights and responsibilities, the impact of advertising, use of consumer credit, product safety, consumer fraud, and legal protections available to consumers.

During the course we will:

  • Identify how you and your classmates behave as consumers over time and how interactions influence tastes, preferences and behavior
  • Learn and develop skills to work collaboratively in a group ​
  • Analyze a market from a consumer perspective as well as a multidisciplinary perspective
  • Read and discuss many current and relevant issues that affect you as a consumer

 …and we will play some games, eat some treats, watch documentaries and talks that are directly related to the course and show how some concepts we will see in the class impact your everyday life!

"Introduction to Resource Economics": Res Econ 102 (GenEd SB)  Fall 2019

Students will live together in Gorman Hall in the Central residential area.  

Read what Fall 2019 instructor Alvaro Callejas Montero has to say: 

Intro to Recourse Economics is a course taught to engage students with the economic sciences. Here we will study the fundamentals of microeconomics theory and relate these concepts to day-to-day situations, with the goal of becoming more familiar  some familiar with foundational theories. Throughout this course we will go over theory and examples on how consumers and firms make decisions, how those decisions affect others within a market framework, and how those externalities sometime lead to market failures. Further, this class will provide you with the necessary skills to understand economic theory which help you asses the roll you play in society as an individual.

Completing the course means meeting the pre-requisite for many of the core courses needed for Resource Economics, Economics, and Business majors and minors.

Note: Although there is no restriction on this course, it is recommended that students score at least a 16 on Part A of the Math Placement Test.

Investigating Consumerism RAP