ACE 471: Consumer Economic Policy
ACE 471 is a research course, which is part of the Ethnography of the University Initiative. Students research a policy-relevant issue that affects students at the University of Illinois. They learn how to formulate a research question, conduct focus groups, write an online survey, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
Prerequisites (Must be complete BEFORE taking this course):
ACE 100 or equivalent and Junior Standing
Instructor Teaching the Course:
This course is taught by the instructor below. You may click on their name to learn more about them. Teaching schedules vary by semester. Please check the Course Explorer for the most up-to-date information about the sections they will teach.
Mary Arends-Kuenning
View the Course Explorer:
See when the course is offered as well as section details here: https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/terms/ACE/471
Fall 2018 Restrictions
Restricted to students in Agricultural and Consumer Economics with a concentration in either Consumer Economics & Finance or Public Policy & Law. Students must have junior standing.
Additional Course Information
Read more about what Dr. Arends-Kuenning has to say about ACE 471!
Is this class discussion-based or lecture-based? How would you describe your teaching style?
I view my role as a coach who is helping students to learn how to ask a good research question and answer it. Most class sessions are work sessions, with a few lectures. Students come to class to work.
How are students evaluated (e.g. multiple choice or essay tests, papers, etc.)?
Students are evaluated through numerous group and individual assignments and through a final group paper.
What careers does this course help prepare students to pursue?
This course will help students pursue any career that requires answering a research question--for example, which group of people is a likely market for my product? It provides an excellent preparation for graduate work in economics or public policy. Also, students will develop their writing and communication skills, which are valuable in any career.
What courses can students take to prepare for this material?
The courses in Consumer Economics and Finance are good preparation--ACE 270 and ACE 474. They will help students develop good research questions. I would also recommend a course in statistics or econometrics such as ACE 261, Econ 202, and Econ 203.
In what ways does this course prepare students to move through the program and/or into the work force?
Students will get experience writing research papers that will help them in future courses that require projects and papers. Former students have told me that they have put their research experience in ACE 471 on their resumes and discussed it in interviews. Students have the opportunity to archive their papers in the IDEALS database, which is available through the University of Illinois library. The papers written in earlier classes have been downloaded thousands of times.
What is your background in Agricultural and Consumer Economics?
I have a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, focused on household economics. I am an expert in evaluating policies. As part of the Ethnography of the University Initiative, I've attended workshops about how to teach students to do research.
What is your attendance policy?
After a few years of not requiring attendance, I decided that the class learning environment would be improved with an attendance policy. Therefore, attendance is worth 10 percent of the final grade. Students do group projects, and class time is dedicated time when all the group members are available. I use class time to check on each group's progress and offer advice and encouragement. Student groups interact with each other to give feedback on projects.
