ECONOMICS 101: PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
San Diego State University
Spring 2013
Instructor: Tim Haag, Teaching Associate
Lectures: MWF 10:00 – 10:50pm, AH-3110 (Adams Humanities)
Office Hours: TTH 2:00 – 3:30pm, or by appointment
Office: AH-4202
Email: haag@rohan.sdsu.edu
Course Description:
This course is designed as an introduction to macroeconomic theory and thought. We will discuss
economic models and processes that relate to the economy as a whole. This includes short-term and
long-term impacts of policy choices, macroeconomic changes, and business cycles. Some of the topics
covered include GDP, inflation, unemployment, business cycles, exchange rates, savings, investment,
international trade, and monetary and fiscal policies.
Class Conduct:
 Questions are encouraged:
Participation will not directly affect your grade, but it will help your understanding of
the subject matter and make the learning process more rewarding for you and your
fellow students.
 Cell Phones:
Please silence or turn off your cell phones before the start of class.
Please do not disturb your fellow students by texting, internet browsing, etc.
 If you arrive after class has already begun, please find a seat quickly and quietly.
 Please do not have personal conversations during class.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students should leave with a much better general understanding
of international and domestic economic issues and events, be able to understand economic news
reports, and engage in discussions in the following areas:
 The main ideas and principles of macroeconomics
 The different components of aggregate output, namely consumption, investment, government
spending, and net exports
 The supply and demand model and market equilibrium
 Labor force participation and unemployment
 International trade and exchange rates
 The functions of central banks
 The implications of Fiscal and Monetary Policy
 The financial crisis of 2007-2008
Required Text:
Modern Principles: Macroeconomics, Second Ed. Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok with EconPortal.
Grading:
Exams: 75% (25% each)
Homework Assignments: 25%
Students’ overall letter grades will be contingent upon three exams and homework assigned throughout
the semester.
Course letter grades will be assigned using the following scale:
A: 100-93%
A-: 92-90
B+: 89-87
B: 86-83
B-: 82-80
C+: 79-77
C: 76-73
C-: 72-70
D+: 69-67
D: 66-63
D-: 62-60
F: 59-0
Homework Assignments:
Homework assignments and respective due dates will be announced in class and posted on EconPortal
throughout the course of the semester. Homework assignments are designed to test students’
knowledge of the material in preparation for the exams. All homework assignments will be completed
using EconPortal unless otherwise stated. It is important that students complete the homework
assignments by the scheduled due date and time as it will not only account for 25% of their grade, but
also help in better preparing students for the application of their knowledge of the material for exams.
Failure to submit a homework assignment by the scheduled due date and time will result in a zero for
that assignment.
Exams:
There will be a total of three exams throughout the semester: two midterm exams and a cumulative final
exam. All exams are closed book/note, and each student must take the exam at the scheduled date and
time. There will be no make-up exams. If a student is unable to sit for an exam, he/she should contact me
prior to the exam date. Each exam will cover topics and material presented and discussed in class.
Attending class regularly, taking detailed notes, and completing the assignments on EconPortal are
highly recommended, as the majority of exam questions will be based on lecture discussions. If you are
late to an exam, you may only be allowed to take the exam if no other student has finished and left at the
time you arrive to the classroom. If you arrive to the classroom after the first person to finish his/her
exam has left the classroom, you will not be allowed to take the exam and your grade for that exam will
result in a zero.
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty and cheating is a serious offense. San Diego State University expects the highest
standards of academic honesty from all students. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not
limited to, unauthorized assistance on an examination, falsification or fabrication of data, unauthorized
collaboration on an academic exercise, plagiarism, misappropriation of research materials, and
unauthorized access of an instructor's files or computer account. If your academic integrity is not
maintained on an exam or assignment, you will automatically receive an "F" for the class and may face
further disciplinary action from the university. Please familiarize yourself with the SDSU Standard for
Student Conduct.
Attendance:
Attendance is not mandatory but it is highly recommended, as exams will be based primarily on what is
discussed in lecture. It is important that students take extensive notes during class, and should there be
any reason that students miss class it is their responsibility to find out what they missed from a fellow
classmate.
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability please contact Student Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite
3101). The web site for Student Disability Services is: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sds/index.html. Students
who need accommodation for their disabilities are welcome to contact me privately to discuss specific
accommodations for which they have received authorization or with any other questions or concerns.
Email Correspondence:
If you email me with questions or concerns regarding course material, assignments, etc., please follow
these guidelines and I will respond at my earliest convenience:
(1) Please be sure to type ECON 101 in the subject field, otherwise your email may be overlooked.
(2) Please refer to the syllabus to see if your questions might already be addressed before writing an
email.
(3) Please be professional - refrain from using "texting language" and/or excessive abbreviations.