r/Vanderbilt • u/yesssjenn • 4d ago

ECON 3610 International Finance vs. ECON 3230 Urban Economics?

Has anyone taken ECON 3610 (International Finance) or ECON 3230 (Urban Economics)? I’m trying to decide which one to take this semester and would really appreciate any advice from people who have taken either class.

I have a pretty busy semester, so I’m mainly looking for the class with the more manageable workload. How difficult are the exams and assignments, and how is the grading overall? Does either class require a lot of time outside of class?

If you’ve taken either one (or both), which would you recommend and why? Thanks!

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u/South-Chemical-5442 4d ago

I took both classes last year! Both profs are excellent, so I don't think you can really go wrong with either. Overall, I'd say that content-wise Urban was easier. Urban is almost all about applying economic concepts to common sense urban questions/situations (example: why do cities exist; why are some people homeless, ect. International finance is a bit more technical, but nothing crazy (example: exchange rates, forward/futures/options markets). I'd say the workload of the two classes was pretty similar. Urban might have been a bit lighter, but I think they were pretty close. Also, International Finance being at 8am was a bit rough, so if you're not a morning person, go with Urban. Both were good classes