| Course | Format | Instructors | Cost | Students | Requirements (and share of grade) | Tests | Course philosophy | Take the course if | |
| George Washington U.: Math, more math, and tough tests | Principles of Microeconomics 1011 | Lectures twice weekly for 50 minutes, plus weekly discussion section |  Steven M. Suranovic, an associate professor of economics and international affairs, and four teaching assistants | $3,928 | 232 | Final exam (40%); midterm (30%); 4 quizzes (students’ top 3 scores count for 15%); 6 problem sets for homework (students’ top 4 count for 10%); algebra assessment (5%) | Consist of short-answer questions and calculations; each exam graded on a curve of about 20 points | If you’re not learning models, Mr. Suranovic says, “you’re not learning what the entire foundation of the discipline is. | You might want to major in economics or see yourself eventually pursuing a doctorate in the discipline. |
| George Mason U.: Lectures with zing and multiple-choice exams | Contemporary Microeconomic Principles 103 | Lecture Wednesday evenings for three hours; no homework, discussion section, or required reading, though a textbook is recommended |  Donald J. Boudreaux, an economics professor | $1,373 for Virginia residents, $3,558 for out-of-state students | 308 | Final exam (40%); first midterm (30%); second midterm (30%) | Consist of only multiple-choice questions, including a number of true/false; first midterm graded on 2-point curve, second midterm graded on 1-point curve. | We don’t do math in this class, Mr. Boudreaux says. “I want to instill a little bit of the gestalt, the deeper worldview of how an economist views microeconomics. | You plan to take only one course in economics, enjoy lectures, and want to be exposed to the foundational concepts of the discipline. |
| U. of Phoenix: Everyday applications and online discussions | Principles of Microeconomics 365 | Students read four to five chapters each week to learn the material, then meet for five weeks asynchronously, working with each other online and over the phone on their own schedules; no lectures |  Peggy V. Douglas, an online adjunct instructor | $1,805 | 18 | 3 papers (45%); students also work in learning teams of 3 to 5 students whose task is to collaborate on a 3,500- to 4,200-word paper on an industry or company (35%); class participation in the form of two substantive messages, usually in response to other students, posted in an online forum twice daily on four different days each week (16%), and two 150- to 250-word responses, with citations, to Ms. Douglas’s questions posted each week in an online forum (4%). | None | I want students to know and remember how to apply the principles to their lives and work environments, Ms. Douglas says. | You need to see the relevance of economics to the world outside class, and you want to take shorter courses on your own schedule. |
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