Academic Catalog - Virginia Military Institute Admissions

Virginia Military Institute
12-13 Catalogue
EC 415. POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CONFLICT 3—0—3
This course will apply the principles of economics and game theory to understanding the
nature of conflict. This understanding will be used to motivate debate about the national
security priorities of the US. Prerequisites: EC 201 and 202 with a grade of C or better.
EC 421. QUANTITATIVE APPLICATIONS IN ECON & BUSINESS 3—0—3
Quantitative decision models are an aid to decision makers in economics and in the
functional business domains of finance, operations, and marketing. Several quantitative
modeling techniques are introduced in this course, including linear programming, nonlinear
optimization, decision trees, simulation, and queuing models. Solution techniques using
spreadsheets and add-in software are emphasized. Applications to economics include
determining optimal pricing and production strategies under uncertainty for firms competing
in the market structures of monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. Prerequisite:
EC 201, EC 202, and EC 303 with a grade of C or better (or equivalent probability or statistics
course), or permission of instructor.
EC 422. INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION 3—0—3
Microeconomics-based theories of transaction costs, game theory, and information theory
to explain the structure of firms and markets and their interactions. While the traditional
Structure-Conduct-Performance analysis is used as a general framework, the analyses
include, but go beyond the idealized markets presented in introductory microeconomics
and take a closer look at why firms and markets have evolved into what we observe today.
Consider this course an “applied microeconomics” course. Prerequisites: EC 201 and EC
202 with a C or better, and EC 300 (completed or concurrent) or permission of instructor.
EC 430. FINANCIAL MODELING 3—0—3
An introduction to the concepts, methodologies, and applications of spreadsheet and
simulation models in finance. Students will be required to use Excel & Crystal Ball, and Excel
add-in software package, to design and build financial models for capital budgeting, portfolio
allocation, value at-risk, simulation of financial time series, and financial option valuation.
Prerequisites: EC 303 and BU 310 with a grade of C or better or permission of instructor.
EC 435X. institutions and economic development 3—0—3
This course will explore the determinants of institutions: how they evolve, and how they
affect economic development. Topics include: differences between common law and civil
law systems; the significance of a country's colonial origin; the effects of religious beliefs;
and the importance of trust in political institutions. Other topics include: the transplantation
of formal institutions vs. indigenous institutions; the effects of international aid on economic
and institutional development; and the origins of corruption and why it is more prevalent in
some cultures than in others. Prerequisites: EC 201-202 (basic knowledge of econometrics
and statistics is beneficial).
EC 450-451. TOPICS IN ECONOMICS 3—0—3
Selected topics in economics as suggested by members of the faculty and/or cadets.
Subject and content to be announced before the semester in which the course is to be
taught. Offered as announced. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
EC 460-461. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN ECONOMICS 0—2—1 to 0—6—3
Independent research designed for cadets who desire to pursue a research interest in
economics under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: An overall GPA of 2.7 and
permission of instructor and department head.
EC 470. HONORS RESEARCH IN ECONOMICS 0—2—1 to 0—6—3
Designed for cadets pursuing independent research under the direction of a faculty
member leading to departmental honors. Prerequisite: A 3.2 GPA overall and in all economics
courses. Permission of instructor, department honors committee, and the department head.
EC 480-481. ECONOMICS INTERNSHIP 0—0—0 to 0—0—3
Under the supervision of a department faculty adviser, cadets may earn up to three hours
of academic credit as an economics elective in a summer internship of at least 8 weeks
duration in a full-time position. Internships will normally be conducted with a private firm, a
governmental agency, or a non-profit organization. Academic credit as a free elective may
be awarded for a second internship, under the provisions specified by the department head.
Prerequisite: a 2.8 GPA overall and in all economics courses, and permission of internship
coordinator, the internship faculty adviser, and the department head.
Upon the completion of all the academic and employment requirements of the summer
internship for credit program, cadets may earn 3 hours of academic credit per summer for
either EC 480 and 481 or BU 480 and 481, although no more than three hours can count
towards graduation.
EDUCATION
DIRECTOR OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION:
LIEUTENANT ColONEl ELAINE HUMPHREY
See teacher certification, page 76.
ED 200. FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION 3—0—3
The goals of this introductory course are the following: (1) acquaint students with the
philosophical schools of thought in education and with prominent educators whose
contributions have shaped educational theory and practice; (2) provide a historical, social,
and economic perspective on the principles of education in the United States; (3) show
prospective teachers the role of educational institutions and practices in the social structure
of modern American society; (4) enhance students’ skills in reading, writing, thinking and
discussing educational issues critically and analytically. Required for teacher certification.
Open to other students with permission of the instructor.
ED 210. PRACTICUM IN EDUCATION 1—3—1
This course provides students who are contemplating teaching as a career an opportunity
to acquire early and varied experiences in the local area schools. Students may enroll in the
course several times until they have earned a total of three credits, the minimum required for
teacher licensure. Required for teacher certification. Open to other students with permission
of the Director of Teacher Certification.
ED 302. UNDERSTANDING EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS 3—0—3
This is a general survey course that addresses education for exceptional individuals by
focusing on etiology, inclusion, identification, and incidence. The course presents, as well, an
overview of the methods used by teachers, administrators, and parents to provide education
to exceptional students. Also covered are the major educational issues involved in providing
instruction for individuals served by special education services and by programs for the
gifted. Consequently, the course examines the educational, social and cultural dimensions
of life in American society for individuals with disabilities and for individuals who are gifted.
Required for teacher certification. Open to other students with permission of the instructor.
ED 303. TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE CONTENT AREAS 3—0—3
This is a course specifically for those who wish to teach on the middle or secondary level.
The course examines research on instruction in all content areas. Students will have the
opportunity to read and critique articles on reading instruction across the curriculum as well
as comprehension theory. In addition, the major learning theories of educational psychology
will be covered as they relate to the organization of instructional material. Students will design
and field test learning activities based on current theories of instruction. Required for teacher
certification. Open to other students with permission of instructor.
ED 401. SECONDARY SCHOOL METHODS AND PRATICUM 3—3—4
Those students seeking licensure to teach at the secondary level take this course to learn
how to design methods and materials for secondary education. Through the course, students
demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the following areas: setting goals and objectives;
unit and lesson planning; varying teaching techniques; managing classrooms; building reading
and study skills into the content areas; individualizing instruction; measuring and evaluating
learning; selecting teaching materials; using multimedia; developing an effective teaching
style; and developing confidence in speaking before students and peers. Observation and
participation in area schools provide students with the opportunity to integrate teaching
theory with practice. This is a prerequisite for student teaching and is required for teaching
certification. Open to other students with permission of the Director of Teacher Certification.
ED 402. STUDENT TEACHING AND SEMINAR 3—25—15
This course is open only to students who are serious candidates for teacher licensure.
Students must be accepted in VMI’s teacher certification program and have met the
prerequisites for student teaching as delineated in the requirements for teacher licensure.
This course requires 12 weeks of full-time teaching. Students who are interested in pursuing
this option should consult with the Director of Teacher Certification well before the spring
semester of their senior year.
ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT Head: ColONEl ADDINGTON
Requirements for a major in electrical and computer engineering are specified on pages 52-54.
EE 111-115 INTRODUCTORY MODULES IN ELECTRICAL &
COMPUTER ENGINEERING 1—0—1
A series of five 1.0 credit-hour modules, each taught by a different ECE faculty member,
designed to introduce students to the breadth of the electrical and computer engineering
discipline. Modules will stress the expectations and opportunities within the ECE profession,
will utilize demonstrations of familiar ECE systems to illustrate fundamental ECE concepts,
and will provide ample hands-on training with ECE equipment, including computer hardware
and software packages. Through careful course design and progression, ECE topics and
training will be reinforced across multiple modules in order to emphasize intra-disciplinary
connections and prepare students for future ECE coursework.
EE 122. DC CIRCUITS 3—0—3
Electrical Circuit Analysis I, introduces DC resistive circuit analysis with dependent and
independent current and voltage sources. Analysis methods include node voltage, mesh
current, Thevenin and Norton equivalents, and superposition. Other topics include maximum
power transfer, ideal op-amp behavior, and design with opamp building blocks. Familiarity
with Matlab and PSpice is assumed. In-class laboratory techniques are introduced with a
guided design projects. Prerequisites: EE 111-115 or permission of the instructor. MA 123
must be taken before or concurrently with EE 122. ECE majors must complete this course
with a grade of C or better.
87