Economics 312
Money and Banking
Professor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Rob Blackstock, Ph.D.
CAB 329
257-2311
rblackst@latech.edu
In order to help the University save money during these times of financial
hardship, I will not return a long distance phone call. The very best way to
communicate with me is through email.
My schedule (including office hours) are posted on Moodle.
Office hours are also available by appointment.
Textbook: We will be using the online Textbook, “M & B” (3nd Ed.) by Dean
Croushore, which is an online text / study / homework service provided by
the textbook manufacturer titled Aplia Online. You may purchase the online
text and service directly from the website or through the bookstore (slightly
cheaper if you buy direct). Registration instructions will be provided on the
first day of class.
Financial Calculator:
You must have a financial calculator for this class. The TI BAII meets the
criteria (or the HP 10BII) and is affordable (you can get either at Wal-Mart
for $28.96). However, if you plan to take upper level math, economics,
finance or statistics classes or plan to attend graduate school, then I suggest
investing in a more powerful calculator which would also perform graphing
functions (such as the HP 49G+ or the TI0-84+, each for about $90).
Tech’s bookstore offers a “cheap” financial calculator produced by a company
no one has ever heard of. Be warned; my students who have attempted to
use that calculator have never had success with it.
Calculators Supported in this class are:
Texas Instruments BAII+
HP 10BII
HP 48G, 49G, 50G (any in this series)
TI 84
HP 30b Business Professional
Course Objectives: This course will explain the interactions of financial
markets and financial institutions from the point of view of both the Chicago
and the Austrian schools of economics.
Grading:
2 exams
100 points each
Final exam 100 points
Daily Online Homework
Daily quizzes
Your final grade will be the total points you’ve earned divided by the total
number of possible points. For example, there are 2 tests at 100 points each
and a final at 100 points for the class total of 300 points. If you have earned
a total of (say) 214 points, then your grade would be 214 / 300 = 71.3%.
Ten percent of your grade will come from written communication.
Be forewarned: I do not round up grades at the end of the quarter. If your
final grade is 89.9%, then you will receive a B. No exceptions. (And don’t
come to me after the grades are in and say, “But I was present at every,
single class!” You’re supposed to be at every, single class!)
Grading will be based on the ubiquitous 10 point grading scale.
Missing an exam / quiz / homework / etc. will result in a zero grade unless
the student presents a valid, University approved excuse. The excuse must
be presented in writing and be signed by the appropriate figurehead (for
example, athletes must bring excuses signed by coaches or other official
athletic personnel… all excuses will be verified by the professor. Yes, I
actually call and verify). All excuses must be presented on the day you
return to the class.
If you walk into the classroom late (and late is defined as: I’ve already called
your name on the roll) you must present a valid, university approved excuse
for being late in order to receive your attendance points for that day.
If you miss an assignment / exam and have presented a valid,
university approved excuse, then your final exam grade will be reweighted to count for the missing work. I do not give make-ups.
Note: Oversleeping is NOT an excuse. You will not receive special
consideration because your alarm didn’t sound.
Here's an example: Let's say you miss test 1 but present to me a valid,
University approved excuse. You take your final exam and earn a 75%.
Your test 1 grade is now a 75%. As you can see, missing an exam / quiz
makes your comprehensive final much more important!
I return exams during the class period after testing. If you miss that class,
you must present a valid, university approved excuse to receive your test.
Your grade will be on blackboard, but I will not dig through files looking for
your exam because you decided to sleep-in.
All grades will be posted on Moodle. Note: for your grade to be
posted, your Moodle email address must be your LaTech email
address. This is because the computer posts the grades according to
email.
Other Things:
Everything (everything) that you turn in to me must have your Student ID
number and name PRINTED (not signed) in the top, right-hand corner.
Failure to do so will cost you points.
Everything which is turned in to me must have been written with black or
blue ink or in pencil. Red ink is reserved for grading. Most other colors are
hard for old teachers to read clearly.
Cell Phones
If your cell phone rings during class, you will lose 5 points from your overall
grade. If your cell phone rings during a test, you will lose a letter grade on
that exam.
You may not use your cell phone as a calculator or as a clock during tests
because of text messaging. If you are seen even looking at your cell phone
during a test, the exam will be removed and you will receive a zero.
There will be no texting or other cell phone use during class. If something is
so important that it needs to be updated to Facebook immediately, you can
do so elsewhere. Anyone seen using their cell phone for any purpose during
class will be asked to leave. That person must then meet with Dr. Gilley,
Head of Economics and Finance before being allowed back into the class.
“Technology”
I do not permit the recording of my lecture unless you have special
permission from the office of Students with Special Needs.
Users of computers must sit on the front row. It has been my experience
that 1% of computer users actually use the machine to take notes while the
other 99% distract themselves and others around them by surfing, checking
email, playing games, following twitter, reddit and etc.
Disturbing Others
If you have a habit of talking to your neighbors (even to ask “what did he
say?”) I may evict you from the class. Should this occur you will need Dr.
Gilley’s (head of the Econ / Finance Dept.) permission to return the next
class period.
Academic Integrity:
The Honor Code Statement
Being a student of higher standard, I pledge to embody the principles of
academic integrity.
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty
may result in a grade of zero on the assignment(s) and / or dismissal from
the class with a grade of “F”.
Students with Special Needs:
If you need special accommodations or arrangements, please contact the
Coordinator of Services for Students with Special Needs at 257-3036.
Attendance:
Attendance will be kept during every class meeting. We will follow the rules
of attendance as printed in the current academic catalog.
In case of Disaster
(such as another hurricane)
If we are unable to meet on campus, it is your responsibility to check
Blackboard in order to follow along with class work.
Syllabi Changes
The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus throughout the
course. However, if that occurs the new syllabus will be distributed to the
class before the change is made, will be posted on blackboard and will be
posted on the COB website.
NOTE
"All students should enroll in the Louisiana Tech Emergency Notification
System and keep their contacts current on BOSS.
http://www.latech.edu/administration/ens.shtml
In the event of an emergency closing the Tech campus, students are directed
to the off-campus Louisiana Tech Moodle site for all course communication
and for the continuation of course work. Information on class continuation
will be available within three days of the closure."
See Moodle on the first day of class for Aplia registration instructions.
Louisiana Tech University adheres to the equal opportunity provisions of federal and civil rights laws, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.