Rui Zhao: This course focuses on the money side of macroeconomics. Close to two thirds of the class deals with financial markets, instruments traded on financial markets, and financial intermediaries. The remaining class time is devoted to central bank behavior, exchange rate, and monetary policies. 3 undergraduate hours
Aram Grigoryan: This course focuses on the role of money in macroeconomics and the financial system. The course consists of two parts. The first part of the course will be devoted to the financial system and its components. The second part will concentrate on the role of the central bank and monetary policy. 3 undergraduate hours
Prerequisites (Must be complete BEFORE taking this course):
ECON 102 (Microeconomic Principles)
ECON 103 (Macroeconomic Principles)
MATH 220 or MATH 221 (Calculus 1)
ECON 302 (Intermediate Microeconomic Theory)
Faculty Teaching the Course:
This course is taught by the below faculty ~ you may click on their name to view their website with additional information. Please check the Course Explorer or Enterprise/Self-Service to see what section they will be teaching (teaching schedules vary by semester).
Rui Zhao
Aram Grigoryan
Past Course Syllabi:
The following syllabi are from past semesters and should only be used as a guide for the information covered in the course and general structure of the course. The instructors have the right to change the course for upcoming semesters ~ please refer to the syllabus they distribute the first day of class.
ECON 490 Monetary Economics Rui Zhao Past Syllabus
ECON 490 Monetary Economics Aram Grigoryan Past Syllabus
View the Course Explorer:
See when the course is offered in upcoming semesters and all the section details:
https://courses.cites.illinois.edu/schedule/terms/ECON/490
Restrictions:
Click Here to see our restrictions page for more information on restrictions & overrides
Course restrictions are managed by the Econ Undergraduate Studies Office. Instructors do NOT have the ability to provide overrides.
Additional Course Information (Zhao's Section):
The below is helpful information from a discussion with Professor Zhao regarding this course. Please keep in mind faculty may change the format of the course each semester, so it is important to follow the syllabus and guidelines for the semester you are taking the course (provided in class).
Is the class discussion or lecture based? How would you describe your teaching style?
This course is lecture based and follows the textbook. Outside of class there is online homework due. Zhao will go over the harder concepts in class that students typically have a more difficult time understanding. In general there are not many calculations and if there are they are simple. There are required readings and a lot of group work.
Is there a textbook? And is it required to buy?
Required text – Money, Banking, and Financial System 2nd edition. Students will also need access to MyEconLab as well, but you can buy the etext, and MyEconLab is included.
In what ways are students evaluated/graded (tests -- multiple choice or essay?, papers, etc)?
3 exams (2 midterms (25%) and 1 final (30%)). For each exam roughly 6 chapters in book covered, My Econ Lab assignments 20%. Exams – non cumulative and multiple choice, can use calculator. There are two opportunities for extra credit. Extra credit 1 – participation and attendance. Extra credit 2 - presentation about data sets
What careers will your course give students an advantage in?
Students that want to go into the financial market.
What are some classes students can take before this to help prepare them for the material?
She prefers that students have taken Econ 303, but can take concurrently and do well.
What is your background in Economics or the field you are teaching in?
Interested in Macroeconomics and went to school for 22 years in total before completing her PhD.
How would you consider the workload in comparison to other 400 Level Economics Courses?
Student evaluations – 60% say average workload, 40% say more than average
What is your attendance/participation policy?
Not mandatory but can earn extra credit (no more than 5 points by using MyEconLab) – consider harder course (less than 5 percent worth of extra credit).
