Economics is no game...or is it? Interested students can now take an online course from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro that is a game. Econ 201 is an introductory Microeconomics course. And if you successfully complete the game, you earn credit. Robert M. Brown, Ph.D. , Dean of the Division of Continual Learning at UNCG, explains the game at Campus Technology : The game’s premise is that an alien craft crash-lands on a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Earth. In order to survive and create a prosperous society, the extraterrestrials must learn the basic principles of economics – from scarcity, savings, and investments to trade, foreign aid, and sustainable growth. The game covers the same concepts as the face-to-face micr'economics course at UNCG, but also integrates interdisciplinary concepts from history, ethics, math, biology, and anthropology. Brown calls gaming "problem-based learning," and argues that this course, unlike other intro courses, forces students to apply "newly learned theory." Take a look at the game by clicking here . And read Brown's article in Campus Technology here (HT: Brad DeLong)