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 $390 (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:

• Common Sense Economics by James D. Gwartney, Dwight R. Lee, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Joseph P. Calhoun, and Jane Shaw Stroup.
  • Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity, is a guide designed to explain essential economic principles without jargon, formulas, or complex graphs. The fourth edition focuses on practical economic reasoning, providing a framework for individuals to make better personal choices and evaluate public policy. For more information about Common Sense Economics, 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 August 1, 2026. Registration must be complete (not just started) by the UCCS deadline. Give yourself plenty of time. 
2. Coursework will be completed in the UCCS Canvas platform. Registration is required to gain access.
3. Complete the online coursework before or after your program but no later than August 1, 2026.
4. Attend your EFL program and notify the Economics Instructor in your program that you are taking the course for college credit.

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 Common Sense Economics 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.