Undergraduate Course: Economics of Education (ECNM10092)
Course Outline
| School | School of Economics |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is an Honours option course for undergraduate students reading for single and joint Honours degrees offered by the School of Economics.
This course introduces students to the key concepts and major issues of economics of education, placing emphasis on current empirical research in the field. The course has an applied focus, but it covers both theoretical frameworks and empirical findings. |
| Course description |
Recent advances and empirical evidence in the subject will be used to cover topics such as: the human capital vs signalling theories of education; the returns to education; the role of class size, peer effects and school expenditure; the impact of school choice on educational outcomes; financial issues in higher education.
The course is primarily taught through lectures, focusing on academic research papers. Learning-by-doing, through problem sets and presentations is an important ingredient of the course. Students are expected to read, understand and discuss current research in economics of education, as well as conduct empirical analysis with existing education datasets using STATA.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have an equivalent of at least 4 semester-long Economics courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. This MUST INCLUDE courses in Intermediate Macroeconomics (with calculus); Intermediate Microeconomics (with calculus); Probability and Statistics; and Introductory Econometrics. If macroeconomics and microeconomics courses are not calculus-based, then, in addition, Calculus (or Mathematics for Economics) is required. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
168 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
30% Coursework
70% Final Examination
Coursework will comprise of:
Written problem sets: 20% (2 problem sets, each worth 10% for a total of 20%)
Group presentation: 10% (students will work in groups to prepare presentation; these will be presented during tutorials) |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided on the problem sets within three weeks of the submission deadline.
Group presentation feedback received after all groups have presented. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Economics of Education | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A knowledge and understanding of key concepts, issues, theories and models relating to economics of education, along with empirical evidence on and policy implications of those theories and models and a deeper understanding of recent research activity.
- Research and investigative skills such as problem framing and solving and the ability to assemble and evaluate complex evidence and arguments.
- Communication skills in order to critique, create and communicate understanding and to collaborate with and relate to others.
- Personal effectiveness through task-management, time-management, teamwork and group interaction, dealing with uncertainty and adapting to new situations, personal and intellectual autonomy through independent learning.
- Practical/technical skills such as, modelling skills (abstraction, logic, succinctness), qualitative and quantitative analysis and general IT literacy.
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Reading List
| There is no single textbook for this course. Throughout the course, we will also examine a variety of academic articles, working papers, and surveys with specific required reading prescribed for each topic. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and Inquiry
B1. The ability to identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied economic problems and identify or devise approaches to investigate and solve these problems.
B3. The ability to critically assess existing understanding of economic and social issues, the limitations of that understanding and the limitations of their own knowledge and understanding of those issues.
B4. The ability to question the principles, methods, standards and boundaries of economic knowledge
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
C1. The ability to be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to continuous reflection, self-evaluation and self-improvement.
C4. The ability to collaborate and debate effectively to test, modify and strengthen their own views.
Communication
D1. The ability to make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, create and communicate understanding.
D2. The ability to further their own learning through effective use of feedback.
D3. The ability to use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others.
Personal Effectiveness
E1. The ability to manage tasks and also skills in time-management.
E4. The ability to work effectively with others, capitalising on their different thinking. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
10 two hour lectures, plus 6 hours of tutorials in addition. |
| Keywords | EconEd |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stefania Simion
Tel: (0131 6)51 3993
Email: Stefania.Simion@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Anna Domagala
Tel: (0131 6)51 5305
Email: Anna.Domagala@ed.ac.uk |
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