Dr. Claire Donovan
Associate Professor of Economics
Instructor for ECON 490, Spring 2027
- Office
- Tidewell Hall 208
- cdonovan
@university.alkimi.ai
ECON 490 · Economics
Senior Seminar in Economic Policy
Independent capstone research analyzing pressing microeconomic or macroeconomic policy issues, culminating in an empirical senior thesis and defense.
Catalog overview
Course Essentials
- Credits
- 3
- semester credit hours
- Level
- 400
- Upper division
- Typically offered
- Spring
- Spring semester only
Prerequisites
ECON 301, ECON 302, ECON 310, and senior standing.
400-level courses: advanced capstone, senior research, and specialized seminars. This course counts toward the 36 upper-division credits every bachelor's degree requires (Undergraduate Catalog §2.3). Details: Undergraduate Catalog §9.6.
Generative AI in this course
Every syllabus must state one of three levels: Level 1 (AI not permitted for graded work), Level 2 (AI permitted with disclosure for specified tasks), Level 3 (AI permitted broadly with disclosure). Check your section's syllabus in Canvas. Unless it says otherwise, the university default applies: generative AI tools may be used for brainstorming, studying, and feedback on your own drafts, but not to produce work you submit for a grade.
Details: Student Handbook §5.7 and Student Handbook §5.8. See what each AI level allows.
Offered by
Department of Economics
Questions: Academic Advising Center
- Office
- Lovell Hall 101
- Phone
- (555) 555-0158
- advising@university.alkimi.ai
Degree planning
Where ECON 490 fits
What to take first, what this course opens up, and the requirements it can satisfy, from the Undergraduate Catalog.
Take first
- ECON 301 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory 3 credits · Fall
- ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory 3 credits · Spring
- ECON 310 Econometrics and Data Analysis 3 credits · Fall
Catalog wording: ECON 301, ECON 302, ECON 310, and senior standing.
This course
ECON 490
Senior Seminar in Economic Policy
3 credits · 400-level · Spring
Leads to
No other catalog course lists ECON 490 as a prerequisite.
Counts toward
- Required Economics (BA) Required course (Major Requirements). Undergraduate Catalog §4.8
Every course also counts toward the 120 credits needed for a bachelor's degree. Confirm your plan with your advisor or the Academic Advising Center.
AP credit
No AP exam awards credit for ECON 490. See the full AP equivalency table (Undergraduate Catalog §3.11).
2026–27 Instructors
Who teaches ECON 490
Meeting times and rooms for each term are listed in AlkimiHub when registration opens.
Department chairs make teaching assignments each year (Faculty Handbook §5.1), and every instructor posts the syllabus in Canvas by the first day of classes (Faculty Handbook §5.2).
Registration
How to enroll in ECON 490
-
Add it in AlkimiHub
ECON 490 is typically offered in the spring semester. Register through AlkimiHub self-service registration, which opens by credit standing. Until the add deadline, you don't need instructor permission as long as seats remain and you've met the prerequisites. Details: Student Handbook §3.3.
-
If the section is full, join the waitlist
When a seat opens, AlkimiHub offers it to the first student on the waitlist and emails you. You have 24 hours to claim it before it goes to the next student. Details: Student Handbook §3.10.
Spring 2027 registration opens
By credit standing, in AlkimiHub.
Spring 2027 add deadline
Last day to add a course or change sections (11:59 p.m.).
All dates: academic calendar. Registration help: Office of the Registrar.
ECON courses