I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
X
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab 
w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
ECNS 101
Dept/Program Department of Economics
Course #
Economics Ways of Thinking
Course Title
3
Prerequisite
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Derek Kellenberg, Chair
Instructor
(on behalf of the department)
Phone / Email
Program Chair Derek Kellenberg
Chris Comer
Dean
Date
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. systematically study individuals, groups, or
social institutions;
2. analyze individuals, groups, or social problems
and structures; and/or
The market system is a key U.S. social
institution.
The course addresses successes and failures of
the market system and the social problems
and structures inherent in the U.S. marketbased economy.
3. give considerable attention to ways in which
conclusions and generalizations are developed
and justified as well as the methods of data
collection and analysis.
The course pays considerable attention to the
ways economic models are used to draw
conclusions and generalizations. It also
illustrates the role of data in economic models.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Students taking courses in the Social Sciences
Perspective will be able to: Describe the nature,
structure, and historical development of human
behavior, organizations, social phenomena, and/or
relationships;
2. use theory in explaining these individual, group,
or social phenomena; and/or
3. understand, assess, and evaluate how
conclusions and generalizations are justified based
on data
The student will gain enough insight to
demonstrate how economic theory gives
insights into important issues in the world
today.
Students, using the issues approach, should
master the basic economic theory necessary
to explore a variety of real world issues.
Students understand and evaluate how data
from the financial press is consistent with or
contradictory to the predictions of economic
models.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Attached
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
University of Montana
College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Economics
ECNS 101: Economic Way of Thinking, Spring 2012
TR: 9:40 AM – 11 AM, NULH 101
Professor:
Dr. Sakib Mahmud
Office:
LA 410
Email:
Sakib.Mahmud@mso.umt.edu (best way to contact me)
Office Hours: MW – 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and by appointment
TA for the course: Holly Cullen, Office LA 414, Office hours:
E-mail: holly.cullen@umontana.edu
Course Description:
Economics is the study of the decisions of individuals, firms, and governments and the interaction of
those decisions in markets. It is the study of how scarce resources are allocated by society and the
implications of these allocations on different stakeholders of the society. This course is designed to
provide exposure to basic economic theories and their applications to non-economic majors. It will follow
an “issues-based approach” where the students should be able to master the basic economic theories
necessary to explore a variety of real world issues. In the first part of the course, students will be
introduced to some basic economic theories in micro-and-macroeconomics. Once the basic theories of
economic analysis are covered, students will then see how these theories can be applied on multifarious
issues such as market power, government spending and taxation, international trade, crime, race and sex
discrimination, poverty and welfare, farm policy, education, health care, social security, energy prices, the
cost of war, etc.
Besides theories and their applications, this course will also familiarize students on current economic
issues being debated at the local, state, or national level. Hence, we will explore articles on current events
that have both social and economic implications as reported in popular magazines and newspapers such as
The Economist, The New York Times, The Nation, Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. In addition, we will
check on numerous online resources time to time. Materials on the current events will be included on
exams. It is expected that the students will read all materials before the class and come ready to
participate in class discussion on the assigned topic.
Course Objectives:
After finishing this course, students should be able to:
 Grasp the economic theories of supply and demand, firm behavior, comparative advantage and
international trade, aggregate demand and supply, fiscal and monetary policy.
 Apply economic theory to economic problems
 Intelligently discuss current economic issues using appropriate economic theory
 Understand the impact of various economic policies and how they affect different segments of
society
Course Prerequisites:
None, students are expected to be comfortable with numbers, graphs and simple mathematical equations.
Required Textbook:
Issues in Economics Today (Sixth edition), by Robert C. Guell (McGraw-Hill, 2011).
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Method:
The goal of the course will be implemented and accomplished through the use of study time, lectures,
discussion, occasional handouts, quizzes and examination. The professor will use the following procedure
when lecturing. The student is advised to take notes based upon the sequence in this procedure.
 The concept is described in simple English.
 The concept is illustrated with simple numerical (or other quantifiable) examples, which the
student can quickly recognize and easily relate to.
 The concept is quantified by carefully rendered, data graphs, charts, tables and diagrams.
 The concept is reinforced with applications of the concept to current real world situations.
Grading Policy and Requirements: Final letter grade you will receive will be based on the following
scale: A = 91-100%; A- = 89-90%; B+ = 87-88%; B = 81-86%; B- = 79-80%; C+ =78-79%; C = 72-77%;
C = 70-71%; D+= 68-69%; D = 60-67%; F = 0-59% using the grading scheme outlined below. At the
very end of the semester, the scale may be adjusted based on the overall performance of the class.
Your grade will be determined as follows:
Task
Quizzes (seven quizzes – the lowest score will be dropped)
Exam 1 (Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, during class time)
Exam 2 (Thursday, March 22nd, 2012, during class time)
Exam 3 (Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, during class time)
Final exam (Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, 8:00 AM– 10:00 AM)
Percentage of final grade (%)
15%
20%
20%
20%
25%
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADE DETERMINATION:
The following summarizes the requirements you must fulfill in the class:
1.Examinations and Exam Policies:
There will be four semester exams, one of which will be the FINAL EXAM which will be taken during
Finals Week. Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and analytical problems and/or essay
questions. The FINAL EXAM is required for students (carries 25% of the total grade) and will take
place on Tuesday, May 8th, 8:00-10:00 AM in our classroom. The final will be a comprehensive
exam.
Except for documented emergencies, there will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS or Quizzes given in this
course. Make-up exam may be considered if credible and authenticated evidence is provided that does not
violate the academic conduct as stipulated in the University of Montana Student Conduct Code.
2. Problem sets and Reading Assignments:
Problem sets will be uploaded on the Moodle during the course of the semester. Although they
will not be graded, doing well on the exams will be difficult without completing them. Students
are also expected to complete end-of-chapter questions for better clarity of the concepts. Feel
free to consult with the instructor and the course TA if you have any difficulty in solving the
problem sets.
All reading assignments are to be completed before the lecture. It is your responsibility to adjust
accordingly.
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3.Quiz Policies:
There will be seven (7) classroom quizzes. I will make announcements and also send e-mails regarding
the quiz dates. Only the lowest quiz score will be dropped. Each quiz will take 15 minutes of our regular
class time.
4. Attendance policies:
Regular attendance is strongly encouraged as we will carefully cover assigned reading material and
information that is NOT INCLUDED IN THE TEXT that you will be responsible for knowing. If you
must miss class due to unforeseen circumstances, it is your responsibility to obtain, on your own, class
notes, information on assignments and anything else that you may have missed.
CLASSROOM DECORUM:
Every effort will be made to create an open atmosphere in the classroom, so that the greatest participation
in the discussion will occur. Everyone should constantly bear in mind the needs of others, the diversity of
views and the needs of the professor to complete the review of materials included in the content of the
course. We will have a classroom where each person is treated with respect and where there is open,
tolerant discussion of thoughts. The University of Montana Student Conduct Code, Page 5 -17, states that
the student has obligations as well as rights in the classroom. Your obligations in this classroom include
acting in a mature manner conducive to enhancing the learning atmosphere. You are also expected to not
interrupt the professor or other students in any way if they are asking questions or making comments to
the professor and class. Every person is in this class is expected to show respect for the professor, for
the teaching assistants, and certainly not least for each other. If you must leave class at any time
for emergencies, please leave quietly.
Regarding electronic devices, cell phones must be turned off during class and programmable devices
(e.g. personal laptop, net book, advanced calculator) are not allowed to assist the student while taking
exams or quizzes. A regular calculator could be allowed based on faculty’s approval during the exams.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course, and violators will be disciplined to the fullest
extent of University Regulations. Academic dishonesty includes copying the work of another student and
turning it in as your own work, allowing another student to copy your work and giving or receiving
assistance without authorization on an examination. You may work together on your assignments, but
you must turn in your own work in your own words. Any case of academic dishonesty will be prosecuted
in accordance with the University of Montana Student Conduct Code. Academic dishonesty can result
in a permanent “F” in this course, a permanent notice of academic dishonesty in your student citizenship
file, or suspension from the University.
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Tentative Course Schedule:
Part One: Theory
Week
Date
Tentative Topic Schedule
1
Jan 24-26
2
3
Jan 31- Feb 2
Feb 7- 9
4
5
Feb 14- 16
Feb 21-23
6
7
Feb 28 – Mar 1
Mar 6 – 8
Economics: The Study of
Opportunity Cost
Supply and Demand
The Concept of Elasticity, and
Consumer, and Producer Surplus
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Aggregate demand and Aggregate
supply
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy
Assigned
Reading
Chapter 1
Test
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Quiz 1 (Jan 31)
Chapter 6
Chapter 8
Quiz 2 (Feb 14)
Quiz 3 (Feb 21)
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Exam 1 (Feb 28 )
Part Two: Issues and Applications
8
Mar 13 – 15
9
10
Mar 20-22
Mar 27-29
April 3-5
April 10-12
April 17-19
Housing Market Bubble & the
Recession of 2007-2009
International Trade
Farm Policy and Minimum Wage
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 17
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
No Classes
Chapter 36
Chapter 22
Quiz 4 (Mar 13)
Exam 2 (Mar 22)
Spring Break
Social Security
Quiz 5 (April 10)
Natural Resources, the
Quiz 6 (April 19)
Environment, and Climate Change
13
April 24-26
Economics of Crime
Chapter 28 Exam 3 (April 24)
Economics of Sex and Race
Chapter 29
Discrimination
14
May 1-3
Energy Prices
Chapter 38
Quiz 7 (May 1)
th
Final Exam Tuesday, May 8 , 8 AM -10 AM.
This is a COMPREHENSIVE FINAL and MUST be taken at the time and place specified.
11
12
* Time permitting
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to any part of this syllabus. Should such instances
arise; students will be notified in advance.
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