There are many different types of economics courses offered at levels appropriate for all different learners. A student can often find basic economics courses offered at colleges or even lower-level schools. For people with a basic understanding of economics, more specific topics can be taught. A class might teach only strategies used to conduct research in economics or even economics relating to a certain area or topic. Depending on the school, highly unique economics courses can often be found.
The most common type of economics course is the basic economics course, because without a basic understanding of the topic it can be very hard to learn anything new. These courses are often longer than other courses because they must start with the fundamentals of economics. Different courses are taught different ways, so not all basic economics courses are equivalent.
Two major types of economics courses are macroeconomics and microeconomics. Each of these categories often has a secondary introductory level teaching theory specific to that level of analysis. The categories may be further subdivided into applied and theoretical courses. How to conduct fieldwork, how to analyze data, and how to interpret the findings of others can all be taught in these courses.
Many economics courses take the form of talking about problems out in the world. Environmental policy, poverty, and capitalism are all topics that could be explored for an entire economics course. Often, what courses are offered by an institution will relate to the expertise of the professors.
Sometimes, unique courses can also be found through colleges and other institutions. The history of economics, the philosophy of economics, or even economic writing can all be taught as economics courses. These classes are often offered only to higher-level students and may be too advanced for people just starting out. It is also sometimes possible to find courses taught for a very small number of students on a highly specific topic, such as the theories of a single economist. These are often posed as workshops or seminars rather than courses.
There are major differences between courses intended for different levels of education. Not only must different levels of knowledge be taught, but also entirely different approaches to the subject must be learned. When someone is just starting out in the field, she might primarily learn how to understand the topic on a theoretical level or even complete minor papers. Graduate studies, on the other hand, must prepare a person for working as an economist on a much more professional level.
