COURSE SYLLABUS
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
ECON 2302
SUMMER 2009
ECON 2302 36849
Lec 007
PROFESSOR: John U. Miller, Ph.D.
OFFICE HOURS: 30 minutes before and after each class
HOME PHONE: (830) 981-8675
(Recorder available)
E-MAIL: johnmillerut@aol.com
(personal email)
jmiller3@austincc.edu
(ACC email)
CLASS TIME Tuesday, Thursday 6:00-9:40 p.m.
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 debates 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.
Course Requirements:
The instructional methodology will be
lecture and class discussion.
The quality and quantity of each
student’s work will determine her or his final grade. To gain the most benefit from this course,
you must be prepared for class participation and tests. Plan to devote as many
hours as is necessary to insure your ability to accomplish this goal. Assignments for reading/study are to be
completed prior to each class meeting.
Students are expected to actively contribute to the instructor-guided discussions.
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.
Course Objectives:
This course will provide the student
with an exploration of topics in microeconomics at a general level. The outcomes of this course are for the
student to:
a.
Gain an understanding of microeconomics.
b.
Understand how decisions are made by
individual consumers and corporations using an economic perspective which
considers elements such as the objectives of the decision-maker, the
constraints to decision-making, and how choices are made.
c.
Identify and analytically evaluate the
elements of economic decision-making including marginal utility analysis and
elasticity.
d.
Enhance communication skills by
providing opportunities for the exercise of both oral and written communication
in the discussion of microeconomics.
Course Policies:
Attendance:
“A student at ACC is expected to
attend classes in order to progress satisfactorily toward completion of course
objectives. The instructor shall inform
students of specific course objectives at the first class meeting. A student who is not meeting course
objectives may be WITHDRAWN from the course at the discretion of the
instructor.”
General Information:
Each student is expected to attend all
classes. Please inform the instructor in
advance if you are unable to attend. Students who are discovered cheating,
committing plagiarism, or violating ACC’s policies covering academic dishonesty
will be awarded a failing grade for the course and may be subject to dismissal
or further discipline. Academic
integrity is expected.
Required Text:
Principles
of Microeconomics. Roger A. Arnold
Eighth
Edition, 2007.
Supplemental
Additional
materials may be handed out in class to supplement the
discussion of certain
topics.
Course Grading: % of
Grade
Examinations
(3) 75%
Answers
to Topical Questions 15%
Class
Participation 10%
100%
*NOTE: All elements (3 exams
and answers to topical questions) are to be completed and turned in, or a grade
of Incomplete (I) will be given until every item is turned in.
Grading Standards:
The final letter grade will be based
on the final average earned on all above criteria. A(90%-100%); B(80%-89%); C(70%-79%);
D(60%-69%);
F(Below 60%). Incompletes will only be granted with the
instructor’s approval and subject to the requirements of
Class Participation:
Student participation includes
demonstrating interest and preparation for class by asking questions and
volunteering answers to questions posed during class discussions. This is an opportunity to speak out and try
new ideas in a supportive environment. The
success of this course depends on you and your preparation.
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.
Students with Disabilities:
Each ACC campus offers support
services for students with documented physical or psychological
disabilities. 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.
MICROECONOMICS
ECON 2302
SUMMER 2009
CLASS SCHEDULE
Class Date Topic
1 July 9th Course
Introduction and Overview
Chapter
1. What Economics is About
Appendix
A: Working with Diagrams
2
July 14th Chapter 2
Chapter
3
3 July 16th Chapter 5
Chapter
6
4 July 21st Chapter
7
Chapter
21
5 July 23rd Exam
I (Chapters 1,2,3,5,6)
Chapter
8
6
July 28th Chapter 9
Chapter 10
7
July
30th Chapter 12
Chapter 13
8 August 4th Exam
II (Chapters 7,21,8,9,10)
Chapter 14
9 August 5th Chapter 15
10
August 11th Chapter 16
Chapter 17
11 August
13th Exam III
(Chapters 12,13,14,15,16,17)
NOTE:
This syllabus may be altered in the event of extenuating circumstances.