ECON 2302
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
SECTION 40227
FALL 2009
Wed 6-8:40 PM
INSTRUCTOR:
James Hill
E-Mail: jthill1@yahoo.com (note the 1 after jthill)
Phone: 512-396-9244
ACC Web site: www.austincc.edu/jhill
Office hours:
Conferences: By appointment
TEXT:
Mankiw, PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS,
5th Edition, 2010
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
Principles of Microeconomics deals with the
interactions between
individual households and business
firms. The concepts of supply and
demand will be studied; students will learn
what these concepts mean,
how they operate, and how prices are
determined. Market structure,
market failure and income distribution will
also be considered.
COURSE
RATIONALE:
This course is meant to give students insight
into the dynamics of a
market based economy and how through its
mechanism scarce resources are
allocated.
The theoretical and actual role of the government in this
market system will also be addressed. The knowledge gained in the
course will make students better informed
citizens and allow them to
follow the debated over various economic
events and policies reported in
the news media. This course is also a foundation course that
will
prepare students to be successful in upper
division finance, marketing,
business administration, economics,
government, and social work courses.
COMMON
COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT OUTCOMES
Students who complete this course will be
able to understand:
-the basic concepts of scarcity and
opportunity cost;
-the forces of demand and supply and how
they interact to determine an
equilibrium price;
-how and why equilibrium prices might
change and their impact on resource allocation;
-the theory of consumer behavior;
-the theory of the firm;
-the
theoretical market structures of perfect competition and monopoly
INSTRUCTIONAL
METHODOLOGY:
Lecture and class participation with
discussion of text material, text
end-of-chapter questions, instructor’s
handouts, and current events. It
is essential that the student read the
assigned reading material PRIOR
to attending class in order to be
academically prepared for both the
lectures and the class discussions.
GRADE
DETERMINATIONS:
90-100 = A 80-89
= B 70-79 = C
60-69 = D < 60 = F
Final grade will be determined as follows, based on
a total possible 400 points:
1. 4 multiple-choice exams,
each worth 100 points for a total of 400 pts.
A max of 25 extra credit points will be
possible during the semester.
10
points will be taken off exam score if students write on exams. All exam grades
will be posted on ACC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to know
what the grades are. A green scantron is necessary for the exams.
All
exams will be multiple choice with a max of 4 possible answers. A student can
take a makeup exam if (s)he earns less than a 50% on the regular scheduled
exam. After successfully passing the make-up exam the final recorded grade for
that exam will not exceed 60%. Students who miss scheduled exams will not be
given make-up exams unless PRIOR arrangements are made or the instructor is
informed of the missed exam IMMEDIATELY.
Exams
are not given at the student’s convenience. A student is expected to take the
exam as scheduled with the class. Makeup exams are given in the SMC testing
center after the professor OK’s the makeup exam.
Attendance
will be taken. Students are expected to attend and participate in class. After 2
unexcused absences the student will be expected to withdraw from the class or
receive an F.
COURSE/CLASS
POLICIES:
All
ACC guidelines and policies as outlined in the student handbook and the college
catalog will be followed (scholastic dishonesty, withdrawals, incomplete
grades, etc.) Concerning freedom of expression, each student is strongly
encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes
discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing
viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an
atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and
learn. On sensitive and volatile topics,
students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the
instructor. It is expected that faculty
and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom
discussions.
There
will be no electronic devices to be used in class except for calculators. There
will be no laptops, cellphones, ipods, or whatever used in class. Cellphones
will NOT be used as calculators. There will be no sleeping, talking or other
disruptive behavior during class.
Scholastic
Dishonesty
Concerning
scholastic dishonesty, acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may
be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to
cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with
another in preparing outside work.
Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their
thought, research or self-expression.
Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether
taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom
presentations, and homework. If a
student participates in scholastic dishonesty, the student will be dropped and
a grade of F will be recorded.
Students
With Disabilities
Concerning
students with disabilities, each ACC campus offers support services for
students with documented physical or psychological. Students with disabilities must request
reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on
the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks
before the start of the semester.
CLASS SCHEDULE: (NOTE: THIS CLASS SCHEDULE IS A GUIDELINE. IT WILL BE
CHANGED AS NEEDED AS
THE SEMESTER PROGRESSES.
Date Chapter / Exams
Aug 26 Intro / 1 & 2
Sep 2 2 & 3
9 4
16 Exam
#1 (Ch’s 1-4)
23 5
30 6
& 7
Oct 7
8
14 Exam
#2 (Ch’s 5-8) Ch. 10
24 11
& 12
28 13
Nov 4
Exam #3 (Ch’s 10-13) (in testing center)
11 14
18 15
25 16
Dec 2
21
9 Exam #4 (Ch’s 14-16,21)