Students interested in Social and Political Thought should consider ECON 412 and 413 . All students should recognize the importance of being able to write clear and effective memos, briefs, reports, and papers. I've decided what Economics courses I'd like to take this semester, but according to the course offering directory , some of them aren't being offered. It is unfortunate but true that we are sometimes unable to offer an elective during the year, even when it is listed in the course directory as a yearly course. The problem is usually staffing.
Faculty sometimes go on research leave, or resign to take a job elsewhere.
Graduate instructors are sometimes lured away by lucrative offers from consulting firms, etc. Resignations and enrollment fluctuations are unpredictable, often making it impossible to find someone qualified to step in immediately and fill the void. To some extent, this problem exists in all academic departments. The great demand for economists, however, makes it a bigger problem for us than for some other departments. If you understand the situation, you can partially overcome it.