Eric Wilken
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Teaching Introduction

Teaching is the most fulfilling part of my work. Since 2019, I have taught 10 undergraduate courses as the instructor of record with class sizes ranging from 15 to 100 students. My teaching style relies heavily on connecting with and getting to know my students. For this reason, I find that I most enjoy teaching classes of less than 40 students. In this size of class, I can learn every student’s name and their strengths in the material to better support their learning. When demand necessitates larger classes, I still try to maximize individual interactions through flipped classroom days and in-class experiments. Below you will find information about the courses that I have taught and an example syllabus.

Undergraduate

Economics - University of Oregon

EC201 - Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics

This course explores microconomics and delves into the intricacies of how societies, individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources to fulfill their needs and wants. The fundamental concept at the core of economics is scarcity, or the reality that resources whether they be time, money, labor, or natural resources are finite. In light of this scarcity, individuals and societies are compelled to make choices to ensure the efficient use of these resources. Economics provides a rigorous framework in which to organize what we see in the world. We will cover several models in this course which will use simplifications of human behavior to allow us to explore the various facets of economic decision making.

Syllabus

Terms Taught: Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024

EC330 - Urban and Regional Economic Problems

In this course, we dive into the fascinating world of cities and how they work from an economic perspective. The importance of location is not hard to argue but many traditional microeconomic models do not consider space. We’ll explore why cities form, what drives their growth, and how factors like housing, transportation, and public policy shape the way they develop. Along the way, we’ll look at the key challenges cities face, such as inequality, congestion, and housing affordability, and use economic theory to better understand these issues. By the end, you’ll be equipped with tools to analyze urban problems and think critically about how policies can influence the future of our cities.

Syllabus

Terms Taught: Fall 2024, Spring 2025

EC350 - Labor Market Issues

This course will cover topics including labor supply, labor demand, education, discrimination, and unionization. Emphasis is given to the labor force participation of historically underrepresented groups, earnings, wage distributions and inequality, and analyzing government interventions. We will ask many questions… Why do people work? Why are different people willing to work the same job but get paid different wages? Why are there people who want jobs, but can’t find them? How do we identify and combat discrimination in the labor market? How valuable is education? How can government policy and unions impact labor markets? In order to investigate these questions and more, we will employ a combination of theoretical models and empirical evidence.

Syllabus

Terms Taught: Summer 2024

Mathematics - Ball State University

MATH 125 - Quantitative Reasoning

A diverse course including statistics and other topics such as mathematical modeling, problem solving, finance, geometrical concepts, growth patterns, and applications to the physical sciences, social sciences, and economics. Recommended background: three years of college preparatory mathematics in high school.

Syllabus

Terms Taught: Fall 2019, Spring 2020^, Fall 2020^, Spring 2021

^ Denotes a class which was conducted hybrid (50% in person, 50% online)

High School and Middle School

Phillips Exeter Academy

Investing in a Changing World

Are you interested in the stock market? Are you curious how stock is analyzed, how one invests? What are some of the moral or immoral practices a company might use as part of their strategy to be profitable? What is a “sustainable” practice or company? If you are interested in these and related questions then join us and learn some of the basics of investing, stock markets, forces that move markets, ethical choices business leaders make that may encourage or discourage investment and much more. While no actual money will be put at risk, through case studies, exercises like developing your own portfolio, research, discussion and presentations you will wrestle with financial, strategic, and ethical considerations that are part of investing. Join us to see how sustainable companies are examined and identified in a changing society and world.

Taught: Summer 2023, 2024, 2025

Marketing: Dignified Digital Design

This is an introductory digital marketing course that provides an overview on consumer behavior as well as the actual market. Students will learn about market targeting and segmentation; determining distribution; pricing and promotional strategies; developing a communications strategy; budgeting; analytics; as well as optimization. Ultimately, students will develop a critical eye for discerning and distinguishing between ethical and non-ethical marketing.

Taught: Summer 2023, 2024, 2025

© Copyright 2025 Eric Wilken.