The Business of Economics
What happens to businesses when markets fluctuate? Why is it essential for industries to know how economics relates to business? In this course, you’ll hear from experts in the field. You’ll learn why firms must be able to anticipate production disruptions, consider energy and labor markets, and understand policy changes that come from the government. If you see yourself pursuing a career in business, knowledge of economics is a great place to start.
Program Dates
Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Eligibility
For students ages 13 and up
Fees
$1495
Explore The Relationship Between Economics and Business
Get an Overview of Markets, Prices and Costs in Economics
Study economics and its importance to business. Learn how supply and demand impact prices. And uncover the many career paths related to economics.
Study Inflation’s Impact on our Economy
Delve into the Federal Reserve’s role in shaping economic conditions. Hear engaging discussions among experts, and review real-world case studies to see how money influences business decisions.
Consider the Labor Market’s Influence on Business
How does business measure the health of the labor market? See how businesses make hiring decisions, and discover the government’s effect on the labor market.
Learn About the World of Loanable Funds
How do businesses invest in growth during an economic downturn? The answer is loanable funds. Learn how businesses make fixed investment decisions that consider taxes, interest rates, and regulations.
See How Energy Supply & Demand Impact Businesses
Examine the importance of reliable energy sources and the diverse types that power our world. Consider the positives and negatives of each, and the challenges going forward.
Explore Careers That Combine Business and Economics
Topics in this course provide insights on potential careers, such as financial planner, research analyst, pricing analyst, account executive, and CFO.
How You Will Benefit
- Be able to identify basic concepts of economics and how they relate to business.
- Understand the ways in which economics is related to different business-related career paths.
- Know how to assess the practical applications of economic theories in real-world business situations.
- Be able to describe the role and impacts of economic policy on business decisions and outcomes.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from Rice University.
Three Learning Advantages Designed for You
Capstone Project
Use what you learned in each module to create a presentation covering the economic situation known as stagflation. You will create policies that could help improve economic welfare in a failing economy. Address issues such as:
- High unemployment and high inflation.
- Inequality among groups of people in spite of social welfare programs.
Mentoring
You’ll receive guidance from a mentor who can support you and deepen your learning experience. You can expect:
- Encouragement and direction on all assignments.
- Inspiration, motivation, and confidence to help you excel in your studies.
- Brainstorming and ideation to help you prepare for your capstone project.
Flexible Learning
- 100% online learning that works with your schedule.
- Flexible format: you’ll learn through video lectures that allow you to tune in anytime that works for you.
- 20-30 hours of total instruction and course work,
- Tech-forward interactions, including engaging multimedia, real-life simulations, and curated assignments.
- Guidance and support from mentors.
Apply Now for the Next Available Course
All course options have the same educational content, learning materials, and number of assignments. We are offering a condensed version of the course in order to accommodate students’ individual schedules.
Hear from Rice University
Hear From Our Students
What distinguishes this course from other basic economics courses offered at your high school is that it also has a strong focus on the way businesses use economics, energy markets, and it also has videos and advice from professionals and current students. There’s also challenging assignments that require you to be a little creative and put some thought in order to fulfill the criteria. - Ayush, economics student from IL.
I would definitely recommend this program as I learned many new things along the way and found each module topic very interesting in its own way. The flexibility also helped me create the best schedule for my personal responsibilities. - Alejandro, economics student from TX.
The course was interactive in the sense that it contained real-life applications of econ in business, consisted of lectures, guiding notes, discussions, and module assignments to apply the knowledge learned. - Rhythm, economics student from China.
Course Designed by Rice University Faculty
James DeNicco, Ph.D.
Director of the Principles of Economics Program and a Senior Lecturer
James DeNicco, Ph.D., is the director of the principles of economics program and a senior lecturer at Rice University. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from Drexel University, where his primary concentration was in macroeconomics and secondary in industrial organization.
DeNicco has a real passion for teaching economics going back to his first time in the classroom in 2010 during graduate school when he was awarded the “Outstanding Ph.D. Instructor” for the Lebow College of Business.
Want to Know More?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here.
Scholarships
We offer need-based scholarships for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition.
- If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
- If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.