Microeconomics At Rutgers: Are Classes Equivalent?

Rutgers University offers microeconomics classes at its Newark and New Brunswick campuses. The Introduction to Microeconomics class is offered at both campuses, and is a prerequisite for other economics courses. However, according to the Rutgers Economics website, students cannot use Intermediate Microeconomics courses from Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden towards the SAS Economics Major, unless the courses were taken in Spring 2011 or earlier. The two campuses also offer different electives for economics majors, such as Sports Economics at Rutgers-New Brunswick and Economics of Crime at Rutgers-Newark.

Microeconomics at Rutgers

Rutgers University offers a range of microeconomics courses across its campuses in New Brunswick and Newark. The Department of Economics at Rutgers defines economics as "the science of how things get decided, for individuals, for families, for organizations, for businesses, and for society as a whole." The study of microeconomics is a core component of the economics curriculum at Rutgers, alongside macroeconomic theory and econometrics.

The introductory microeconomics course at Rutgers (01:220:102) is offered to undergraduate students across the university's campuses. This course serves as a prerequisite for more advanced courses in the economics major and provides an overview of fundamental microeconomic concepts.

Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis

Building on the introductory course, the intermediate microeconomic analysis course (01:220:320) delves deeper into microeconomic theory and application. This course has the introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses, as well as Calculus I, as prerequisites. It is designed for students who have a solid understanding of the foundational concepts and are ready to explore more complex topics.

Microeconomic Theory

At the graduate level, Rutgers Business School offers a concentration in economics, including courses in microeconomic theory (26:220:501 and 26:220:552). This program, offered through Rutgers-Newark, prepares students for scholarly research and teaching in economics. The microeconomic theory courses cover topics such as marginal analysis, capital theory, utility, and risk analysis, and their application to areas such as demand analysis, production, and market structure.

Campus-Specific Policies

It is important to note that there are specific policies regarding the transferability of credits between the Rutgers campuses. While there have been changes in the past, the current policy states that students cannot use intermediate microeconomics courses from Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden towards the SAS Economics major at Rutgers-New Brunswick. However, introductory microeconomics classes taken at Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden may be transferable with pre-approval.

Differences between Rutgers New Brunswick and Rutgers Newark

Rutgers University has three campuses in New Jersey: Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-Camden. The microeconomics classes at Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-New Brunswick are not equivalent, as students cannot use intermediate microeconomics courses from Rutgers-Newark toward an economics major at Rutgers-New Brunswick. However, there are some similarities and overlaps between the two campuses in terms of academics and reputation.

Campus Size and Culture

Rutgers-New Brunswick is a large campus with a diverse range of programs and student activities. It offers a traditional college experience with a mix of commuters and residential students. On the other hand, Rutgers-Newark is a smaller, primarily commuter campus with a more urban setting. It is known for its strong business programs and is considered the best in the state for business education.

Academics

Both campuses offer a wide range of academic programs, but there are some differences in their areas of specialization. Rutgers-New Brunswick is known for its pharmacy, nursing, business, law, and medical programs. The pharmacy and nursing programs are specifically based at Rutgers-New Brunswick, while the business, law, and medical programs have a stronger presence at Rutgers-Newark.

Reputation and Graduation Rates

Rutgers-New Brunswick is generally considered to have a better reputation and higher graduation rates compared to Rutgers-Newark. However, when it comes to employment prospects, the difference between the two campuses may not be significant, as the top employers for graduates from both campuses overlap. The proximity of the campus to the employers also seems to play a role in job prospects.

Safety

In terms of safety, Rutgers-Newark's campus is considered safe, but the surrounding area of Newark is perceived as less safe compared to New Brunswick. However, it is important to distinguish between the campus and the city when considering safety concerns. Additionally, different areas within the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus may have varying crime rates due to its larger size.

Prerequisites for Microeconomics at Rutgers

For Undergraduate Students:

For undergraduate students, the prerequisite for Introduction to Microeconomics (01:220:102) is 01:640:111, or 115, or calculus placement. A grade of C or better is required in the prerequisite course.

For Master's Students:

For master's students, it is recommended that applicants have completed courses in single-variable and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and undergraduate statistical methods. At a minimum, applicants should have taken a single-variable calculus course and an undergraduate statistics course. While applicants need not have majored in Economics, it is strongly recommended that they have taken Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics.

For Students Taking Electives:

For students taking electives, the prerequisites will depend on the level of the elective. Lower-level electives generally only have Introductory Economics (102 and 103) as prerequisites, while upper-level electives have some combination of Intermediate Microeconomics (01:220:320), Intermediate Macroeconomics (01:220:321), and/or Econometrics (01:220:322), all with a grade of C or better, as prerequisites. Upper-level electives may also sometimes require Calculus II (01:640:136 or 152) as a prerequisite.

For Students at RU-Newark and RU-Camden:

Students at RU-Newark and RU-Camden will no longer be able to use Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, or Econometrics towards the SAS Economics Major unless these courses were taken in Spring 2011 or earlier. Intro to Micro and Macro classes taken at RU-Newark or RU-Camden need to be pre-approved.

Course equivalency at Rutgers

Rutgers University has three campuses: Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark, and Rutgers-Camden. While the microeconomics classes at these campuses may cover similar topics, they are not considered equivalent by the university.

The economics department at Rutgers University offers a range of courses across its three campuses. However, when it comes to course equivalency, there are some key differences to note, especially between the Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers-Newark campuses.

For students pursuing a Major in Economics, the specific requirements include:

• Introduction to Microeconomics (01:220:102) and Introduction to Macroeconomics (01:220:103), both with a grade of C or better.
• Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (01:220:320) and Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (01:220:321), with introductory courses and Calculus I as prerequisites.
• Econometrics (01:220:322), with introductory courses, Calculus I, and Statistics as prerequisites.

While there are similarities in course codes and topics across the Rutgers campuses, there are specific policies regarding course equivalency. For instance:

• Students pursuing the SAS Economics Major cannot use Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, or Econometrics courses from Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden. The only exception is if these courses were taken in Spring 2011 or earlier.
• Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Macroeconomics classes taken at Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden need to be pre-approved and are not automatically considered equivalent.

Differences Between Campuses

The differences in course equivalency between the Rutgers campuses can be attributed to several factors, including:

• Program Structure: Each campus may have slightly different program structures and requirements for their economics degrees. This can lead to variations in course content, prerequisites, and the overall curriculum.
• Faculty Expertise: The faculty members at each campus may have different areas of expertise and research interests, which can influence the specific topics covered in their courses.
• Student Population: The student population and their backgrounds may vary across campuses, which could result in differences in the level and pace of instruction.

Impact on Students

The lack of course equivalency between campuses can have several implications for students:

• Transfer Credits: Students who have taken economics courses at one Rutgers campus and wish to transfer to another campus may not receive full credit for their previously completed courses. This could extend their time to graduation or require them to retake certain courses.
• Course Planning: Students who plan to take courses across multiple Rutgers campuses need to carefully research and plan their course selections to ensure they meet the specific requirements of their degree program.
• Specialization: The differences in course offerings and electives across campuses may influence a student's ability to specialize in a particular area of economics, such as labor economics or international trade.

In conclusion, while the microeconomics classes at Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-New Brunswick may cover similar topics, they are not considered equivalent by the university due to differences in program structure, faculty expertise, and other factors. Students should refer to the specific policies and requirements of their intended campus and degree program to ensure they meet all necessary course equivalency standards.

Microeconomics electives at Rutgers

Rutgers University offers a wide range of microeconomics electives for its undergraduate and graduate students. The specific courses available depend on whether a student is pursuing a degree at Rutgers-New Brunswick or Rutgers-Newark, and whether they are an undergraduate or graduate student.

Rutgers-New Brunswick offers a variety of microeconomics electives for its undergraduate students. The electives are divided into two levels: lower-level and upper-level. Lower-level electives generally only require introductory economics courses as prerequisites, while upper-level electives have additional prerequisites, such as intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and/or econometrics. Here are some examples of microeconomics electives offered at the undergraduate level at Rutgers-New Brunswick:

• Labor Economics
• Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
• Global Financial Crises
• Monetary Theory and Policy
• Financial Economics
• Economics of Capital Markets
• Portfolio Theory
• Computational Methods for Research in Economics
• Economic Forecasting and Big Data
• Advanced Econometrics for Microeconomic Data
• Advanced Microeconomic Theory

Rutgers-Newark offers a Ph.D. program in Economics with a concentration in applied microeconomics. While the program does not explicitly list microeconomics electives, it does mention that students are expected to take at least three courses for degree credit each semester during their first two years. Some of the courses offered that are relevant to microeconomics include:

• Microeconomic Theory
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Econometrics
• Game Theory
• International Trade
• Development Economics

Differences between Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-New Brunswick Microeconomics Electives

It is important to note that Rutgers University has specified that students cannot count intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, or econometrics courses from Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden towards the SAS Economics Major at Rutgers-New Brunswick unless they were taken in the Spring of 2011 or earlier. This policy highlights a key difference in the microeconomics electives offered at the two campuses.

Frequently asked questions