College Credit for Economics for Leaders 

Information on the credit registration process will be provided to all enrolled students in their Orientation Packets – please do NOT register for credit until you have reviewed your Orientation Packet (information will be available about four weeks before the start date of your program).   

Economics 1320-701 is an undergraduate economics course for non-majors. Students who successfully complete the requirements will receive a transcript from UCCS, showing 3 semester hours of graded undergraduate credit.  (Individual university policies for accepting this type of “transfer” credit vary, and the FTE does not provide information about the acceptability of this credit at various universities. We can, however, report that we have encountered no problems in acceptance of UCCS credit granted in FTE’s teacher programs.) 

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs – Optional Credit Information: 

Course Number:  ECON 1320 (entry-level, elective, does not count toward an economics major) 

Credit Hours: 3

Fee:  Approximately $360 (fee payable through the FTE/UCCS online portal; do not send payment to the FTE) 

Transcripts: Available from UCCS after a grade is posted to your account. Order at https://www.uccs.edu/lases/programs-a-l/fte. Pull down the “Student Resources” tab in the top menu bar. 

Requirements: 

• Attend all sessions
• Read required materials
• Participate in discussions on required readings
• Actively participate in classroom activities
• Complete a 6-module online component to the course
• Complete an online exam over the assigned readings and economics content presented during program sessions

Grading: 

• 25% Participation (attend sessions, participate in group discussions, activities and presentations)
• 35% Take the EFL post-test
• 20% Read a supplemental text and take an online test via Canvas
• 20% Complete 6 online modules and corresponding assignments

Required Readings:

• The Economics of Public Issues by Miller, Benjamin and North (19th or 20th edition).
  • The Economics of Public Issues is a very accessible reader, intended for introductory level college economics courses, but also used in many high school classrooms. It includes about 30 short, 4-6 page chapters, in which basic economic reasoning is used to explain contemporary mysteries of human behavior. For more information about The Economics of Public Issues, visit the publishers website.  
  • Affordable used copies can be found on Amazon or other online book retailers. 
  • The test over the book is approximately 45 questions and is timed (90 minutes).  Students may re-attempt the test one time. 

Registration Steps: 

1. To enroll in Economics 1320, go to the FTE/UCCS portal at https://www.uccs.edu/lases/programs-a-l/fte.  Choose Economics for Leaders (Student Program) from the course listing. 
   • Download the registration directions and follow the steps listed in the downloaded document. Note that this is a several step process which may take a week to 10 days; you must first apply to and be accepted by the UCCS Extended Studies program. The pdf download gives step-by-step instructions. Follow them carefully. NOTE the registration deadline for this course is July 25, 2025. Registration must be complete (not just started) by the UCCS deadline. Give yourself plenty of time. 
2. Access the FTE Canvas course – While UCCS has their own Canvas platform for courses, EFL Students will be using an FTE Canvas course instead.  
   • You will receive self-registration instructions for the FTE Canvas course in your orientation materials.
3. Complete the online coursework before or after your program but no later than July 25, 2025.
   • The online coursework can be found in the FTE Canvas course (see self-registration instructions provided in your orientation information). 
4. Attend your EFL program and notify the Economics Instructor in your program that you are taking the course for college credit so they can submit a participation grade for you. 

Click here to view sample questions in preparation for the course exam. 

We’re excited to be able to offer high school students the chance to earn college credit at a very low cost and we look forward to your participation. We think you’ll enjoy The Economics of Public Issues and your first taste of the kind of discussion and interaction you’ll experience in college. 

If you have additional questions about the EFL college credit, contact us at admissions@fte.org.