UCSB Economic Courses FAQ

  • Do I need to be an UCSB econ major to take the undergraduate classes?
    • NO. All of the Ethics courses are specifically geared to a wide range of majors. Student teams are created with an eye toward assuring there is representation of econ as well as other majors.
  • Will these classes satisfy my major’s ethics requirements?
    • Past students have in fact used my courses to satisfy their ethics requirements in a variety of majors.
  • Why do the undergrad courses require student presentations?
    • Effective and persuasive public speaking can be a huge differentiator for your future career path. Plus, presentations often encourage engaging class discussions that students have felt enhances their learning experience.
  • What if I haven’t had much speaking experience or training?
    • A fair number of students are not confident speakers at the onset of each course. As instructor, I do much to help students understand how to be effective and in fact enjoy their speaking opportunities.
  • What qualifies you to instruct on public speaking?
    • During my tenure in the public speaking organization Toastmaster’s, I completed the first two awards to become an “Able Toastmaster” and successfully competed in area and district speaking contests.
  • What do these courses offer?
    • To non-econ majors, students come away with a working understanding of how our economy and investments work. Econ majors find ample opportunities to apply the theory they have been taught, to many real life applications.
  • How well do these courses help me prepare for my career?
    • I take great care to utilize real life examples and case studies, so students come away understanding how theories and concepts are applied.