Online Graduate Courses
Economic Education for Teachers
Location: Online via the Internet
Times: No specific time of day requirements
Partial Tuition Reimbursement for Wisconsin Teachers!
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Register for all, or pick and choose the ones that meet your needs.
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Target Audience
These courses are designed for high school teachers who are interested in becoming certified to teach economics as well as middle and high school teachers who would like to initiate or expand coverage of economic content and issues in their classes. To participate in an online class, you much have access to the internet and have an email address that you use on a regular basis.
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Why Take These Economics Courses?
There are two driving forces behind these graduate-level course offerings. The first is an urgent need to replace well-trained economics teachers who are retiring with qualified teachers available in their own schools. Given the tight budgets in many Wisconsin school districts, some administrators have chosen to drop well-established economics courses after the instructor retires. One way to attack this problem is to provide training for teachers from other disciplines, such as Social Studies and Business Education, who wish to get certified to teach economics. The second factor is the new emphasis on personal finance education in Wisconsin . Here again, some teachers will need additional training and coursework.
EconomicsWisconsin and the directors at the eight affiliated centers across the state have the resources and academic background to provide Wisconsin teachers with the necessary tools to prepare them to meet this challenge. These on-line courses can be used as part of an educator's Professional Development Plan (PI 34) or simply to expand the teacher's knowledge of economic issues and financial concepts.
If you have very little formal economics training, we recommend that you start with the 3-credit Basic Economic Concepts and Issues course. However, this is not a prerequisite for taking any of the 1-credit special topics courses. Over the five-semester sequence, teachers should be able to complete 6-12 credits toward their certification requirements for teaching economics or personal finance. For a list of requirements for economic certification from various Wisconsin universities and colleges, please click here. Curriculum in these courses will be coordinated with the Wisconsin Academic Standards in Economics at grades 4, 8, and 12, and will emphasize instructional resources available via the Internet.
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Cost
Courses are offered for graduate credit through Extension Departments at UW institutions, therefore you will be charged the current UW graduate student rate. Regardless of the course that you are enrolled in, you may choose which University you would like to earn credit from (Choose from
UW-Oshkosh or UW-River Falls).
Fall 2008 Tuition Rates:
$357.02 per one graduate credit (without
segregated fees)
$207.02 pre credit if awarded a James A. Taylor Scholarship (see below)
Scholarships - Tuition Reimbursement for Wisconsin Teachers
In conjunction with our sponsoring organizations, Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and Proctor & Gamble Paper Products Company, EconomicsWisconsin offers partial tuition reimbursement to Wisconsin teachers through James A. Taylor Scholarships.
These scholarships are intended
for current Wisconsin teachers who have enrolled in an online graduate course offered through our Centers for Economic Education at UW Parkside, UW Oshkosh, and/or UW River Falls.
Scholarship Availability:
- You must currently be teaching in Wisconsin
- Scholarships are limited to $150 per credit with a maximum of $300 per student, per semester
- Scholarships are subject to the availability of funds and will be awarded to those who qualify on a first-come, first-served basis determined by the date the application is received by Economics Wisconsin
You must submit a scholarship application* in order to be considered. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to those who meet the above criteria. James A. Taylor Scholarships will be dispersed upon successful completion of the course.
*If you are not able to open the application, please make sure you are using the most recent version of Acrobat Reader. Download the newest version.
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Ten Fall 2008
(see course catalog below for course descriptions)
The Global Economy
Inst:
Dr. Tracy Hofer
(1cr., 6 week course: 9/22-10/31)
Basic Economic Concepts and Issues
Inst: Dr.
Jim Grunloh
(3 credits, 12 week course: 9/22-12/12)
Roaring 20s Through The Great Depression
Inst: Prof.
Bill Duddleston
(1cr., 6 week course: 10/13 - 11/21)
FREE!
Stock Market Game Primer
Non-credit
Available year round. Start any time you wish.
Spring 2009 - Tentative
(see course catalog below for course descriptions)
Economics And Government Decision Making (1 credit, 6 week course)
Environmental Economics (1 credit, 6 week course)
Personal Finance Economics (1 credit, 6 week course)
FREE! Stock Market Game Primer - Non-credit, Available year round. Start any time you wish.
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Face-To-Face Courses
No classes scheduled at this time. Please check back as the fall semester approaches.
by calling 920-424-2440.
Registration
Courses are offered through our Centers for Economic Education at UW Oshkosh, UW Parkside, and UW RIver Falls. To register, please contact the university that you would like to award your credits. You may elect to earn credit from any of these three universities for any class we offer.
Please contact the university of your choice (contact info below) and provide them with the following information: 1. Name
2. Mailing address
3. An email address that you have access to year round
4. The name(s) of the course(s) that you would like to register for
Additional paperwork may be required and will be distributed via the university.
General inquires should be directed to UW Oshkosh Center for Economic Education .
UW Oshkosh
Deirdre Watts , Director
Center for Economic Education
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Department of Economics
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh , WI 54901 Phone: (920) 424-2440
E-mail: wattsd@uwosh.edu |
UW Parkside
Dr. Norm Cloutier, Director
Center for Economic Education
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
900 Wood Road
Kenosha , WI 53141
Phone: (262) 595-2572
E-Mail: cloutier@uwp.edu |
UW River Falls
Dr. Brian Schultz, Director
Center for Economic Education
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
410 S. Third St.
River Falls , WI 54022
Phone: (715) 425-3269
E-Mail: brian.l.schultz@uwrf.edu
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Course Catalog
Basic Economic Concepts and Issues (3 credits)
This course is designed for teachers who are interested in initiating or expanding coverage of economic concepts and issues in their classes. It also provides a good starting point for teachers who want to expand their certification to include economics. Emphasis will be on instructional resources available on the Internet. Curriculum will be coordinated with the Wisconsin Academic Standards in Economics at grades 4, 8, and 12.
Economics and Children's Literature, (1 credit)
Elementary level teachers will learn how to introduce their students to economics in a fun and interesting way, by using popular children's stories. This course gives teachers ideas on how to educate their students about basic economic concepts, such as scarcity, opportunity cost, costs and benefits, trade, and decision-making. Popular children's stories will provide the foundation for developing an “economic way of thinking”. Participants will receive sample lesson plans and be able to develop their own materials to accompany books they are already using in their classrooms.
Economics of Government Decision Making, (1 credit)
This class will focus on the role of government in a market economy and participants will use basic economic principles to evaluate the efficiency of government decision-making. Participants will receive a package of active-learning lesson plans that are designed to simulate government decision-making and also identify electronic resources on the Web available for teachers teaching about government and its role in our economy.
Economics of Sports (1 credit)
Sports examples are an excellent way to illustrate economic principles to students. Some of the topics covered in this course include the economics of player salaries, ticket prices and ticket scalping; pricing in the memorabilia market; and public financing of stadiums. The course will cover a number of practical ways you can apply basic economic principles you already know to major league sports. In addition, you will learn economic concepts that may be new to you and your students.
Energy and the Economy (1 credit)
Energy demand and supply are important concerns for the United States . This course will focus on the availability of both traditional and alternative energy sources. It will also examine the impact of energy policy decisions on the U.S. and global economies. Teaching and learning resources are appropriate for middle and high school students and some are available via the Internet. Course material and activities are correlated with the Wisconsin Academics Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
Environmental Economics Pedagogy (1 credit)
This one-credit online graduate course will provide middle and high school teachers with an economic conceptual framework for analyzing environmental issues in their classroom. National and state economic and environmental education standards explicitly recognize the connection between economics and the environment. Economic content standards emphasize the importance of developing decision-making skills and the understanding of economic approaches to improving the environment. This course will help teachers move beyond the starting point of a general concern for the environment, to an appreciation of how economics can be used to gain insight into the causes of environmental problems and how economic analysis can help in the development of effective and efficient environmental policy.
The Global Economy (1 credit)
Students will examine the contemporary international economy and discuss international economic relations including exports, imports, foreign investment, currency markets, immigration, government policies, international organizations, and anti-trade protest movements. The course emphasizes who wins and who loses as the world economy becomes more integrated. This course includes teaching and learning resources appropriate for middle and high school students and available via the Internet. Course material and activities are related to the Wisconsin Academic Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
Great Economists of the Past and Present (1 credit)
An examination of the ideas of leading economists from different historical periods, and the way economic theories influenced events and shaped public opinion. Analysis of the major ideas of Adam Smith, Thomas Robert Malthus, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes. Introduction to the lives and work of recent Nobel Prize winners in economics.
Economics for the Elementary Classroom (1 credit)
An overview of basic economic concepts, including scarcity, opportunity cost, production, consumption, and financial decision making. Emphasis will be placed on lessons that incorporate these topics into elementary subjects, such as mathematics and reading. Teaching materials will be reviewed and lessons plans will be developed.
Health Care Economics (1credit)
This course will examine the supply and demand for health care, including the impacts of health insurance. Efficiency in the health care market will be analyzed, including physician behavior, hospital performance and new modes of health care delivery. Teaching and learning resources are appropriate for middle school and high school students and some are available via the Internet. Course material and activities are correlated with the Wisconsin Academic Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
History of Financial Innovations, Panics, and Speculative Bubbles ( 1 credit)
An examination of the history of turbulent financial markets with emphasis on unusual episodes described as panics, bubbles, and crazes. Discussion of the relevance of these fascinating historical cases to the contemporary financial world. Consideration of the role of government in regulating these markets.
How “Public is Public Finance?” (1 credit)
This course covers issues relating to public policy-making, including government spending, entitlement programs, and revenue sources (taxes, fees, etc.). Teaching and learning resources are appropriate for middle school and high school students and some are available via the Internet. Course material and activities are correlated with the Wisconsin Academic Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
Introduction to Financial Markets (1 credit)
This class will prepare participants to introduce students to the world of investing, its benefits and risks, and the critical role it plays in fostering capital formation and job creation in our market economy. The class will use Learning, Earning and Investing as a source of lessons on the language of the financial markets and the role of financial institutions. There are active learning lessons on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This class will be particularly helpful for teachers participating in EconomicsWisconsin's Stock Market Game.
Mathematics and Economics (1 credit)
This course is designed for middle school and high school teachers who are interested in lessons that apply mathematical concepts and processes to the study of economics and personal finance. Topics to be covered include: Ratios & Percentages, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Problem Solving, and Data Analysis & Probability. No previous economics training is required . Course material and activities are correlated with the Wisconsin Academic Standards in mathematics and economics for grades 8 and 12.
Money and Banking (1 credit)
This course will examine the role of money and banking in the economy. Topics will include financial markets, banking, the Federal Reserve System, monetary policy and interest rates. These topics will be linked to the economics standards and National Council on Economic Education curricular materials for teaching this information to K-12 students will be discussed.
Personal Finance Economics (1 credit)
A recent national poll indicated that an alarmingly high percentage of high school graduates and adults are simply not prepared for making sound decisions on a whole range of personal finance issues. Participants in this course will study the most important things to know on twenty personal finance topics ranging from the basics of banking and saving, investing, controlling debt, hiring financial help, and dealing with insurance issues. They will also have the opportunity to examine teaching materials on personal decision-making developed by the National Council on Economic Education.
Personal Investing and Financial Markets (1 credit)
An examination of the principles, strategies, and pitfalls of personal investing. Analyzing the risk vs. reward tradeoff. Discussion of the role of banks and financial markets in our economy. Consideration of the impact of government regulations on investors, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions.
The Roaring 20s through the Great Depression (1 credit)
Students will review the transformation of the American economy in the post-World War I era; discuss the investment boom in the 1920's, which was followed by the collapse of the American economy in the 1930's; and explore the role of the Federal Reserve, the collapse of world trade, and Roosevelt's New Deal. This course includes teaching and learning resources appropriate for middle school and high school students and available via the Internet. Course material and activities are related to the Wisconsin Academic Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
Transition to Market Economies (1 credit)
The course will look at the path that former Communist nations are following as they make the transition to market economies. Case studies of Russia , Ukraine , Poland and others as they struggle with issues such as inflation, unemployment, declining standard of living, currency depreciation, private ownership, price deregulation, bank failures, and the appropriate role of government are reviewed. This course includes teaching and learning resources appropriate for middle school and high school students and available via the Internet. Course material and activities are related to the Wisconsin Academic Standards in economics for grades 8 and 12.
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EconomicsWisconsin
Wisconsin Council on Economic Education
7635 W. Bluemound Road, Suite 106
Milwaukee, WI 53213
(414) 221-9400
Fax (414) 221-9790
EconEd@EconomicsWisconsin.org
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