University Curriculum Committee
Proposal for New Course
1. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, route completed form to Liberal Studies.
Yes
No X
2. New course effective beginning what term and year? (ex. Spring 2009,
Summer 2009)
3. College
Fall 2011
See effective dates schedule.
The W. A. Franke
College of Business
5. Course subject/catalog number
7. Long course title
4. Academic Unit /Department
ECO 424
Economics
6. Units/Credit Hours
3
Natural Resources and Climate Change
(max 100 characters including spaces)
8. Short course title (max. 30 characters including
Natural Res & Climate Change
spaces)
9. Catalog course description (max. 30 words, excluding requisites).
Theory and public policy of natural resource economics; techniques for measurement and
valuation, cultural, social and ethical issues surrounding natural resources; regulation of
economic activity regarding natural resources.
10. Grading option:
Letter grade
X
Pass/Fail
or Both
(If both, the course may only be offered one way for each respective section.)
11. Co-convened with
11a. Date approved by UGC
(Must be approved by UGC prior to bringing to UCC. Both course syllabi must be presented)
12. Cross-listed with
(Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.)
13. May course be repeated for additional units? yes
no
a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
yes
no
(ex. PES 100)
14. Prerequisites (must be completed before
proposed course)
ECO 324 and (ECO 201 or STA 270 or STA
275)
15. Corequisites (must be completed with
proposed course)
16. Is the course needed for a new or existing plan of study
(major, minor, certificate)?
yes
no
Name of plan?
BSBA in Business Economics
Note: If required, a new plan or plan change form must be submitted with this request.
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17. Is a potential equivalent course offered at a community college (lower division only)
If yes, does it require listing in the Course Equivalency Guide?
Please list, if known, the institution and subject/catalog number of the course
18. Names of current faculty qualified to teach this course:
yes
yes
no
no
X
Dean Smith, Xiaobing Zhao, Julie Mueller
19. Justification for new course, including unique features if applicable. (Attach proposed
syllabus in the approved university format).
This course will be part of the requirements for the restructured Economics degree
program that emerged in response to the Economic Team’s proposal funded under the
NAU globalization initiative to enhance global, sustainable and diversity encounters in
our courses.
For Official AIO Use Only:
Component Type
Consent
Topics Course
35. Approvals
Department Chair (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committees use only
For University Curriculum Committee
Date
Action taken:
Approved as submitted
revised 8/08
Approved as
modified
2
Approved by the Economics area on November 29, 2010
Accepted by the curriculum committee on ___11/3/10_______
MASTER SYLLABUS
ECO 424 Natural Resources and Climate Change
I.
Catalog Description:
Theory and public policy of natural resource economics; techniques for measurement and
valuation, cultural, social and ethical issues surrounding natural resources; regulation of
economic activity regarding natural resources.
.
II.
Prerequisites:
Courses: ECO 324 and (ECO 201 or STA 270 or STA 275)
Justification: This course requires knowledge of the elements of environmental
economics and statistical applications.
III.
Course Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, students should be able to:
A. Develop an understanding of the environmental and social issues resulting
from economic activity concerning natural resources: exhaustible and
renewable. (Global, sustainability and diversity)
B. Understand how these issues are relatively new to the human experience and
to appreciate the normative aspects of the issues. (Global, sustainability and
diversity)
C. Develop an understanding of the theories of measurement and valuation in
non-market scenarios. (Global and sustainability)
D. Demonstrate optimal extraction processes and sustainable harvesting methods.
(Global and sustainability)
E. Demonstrate an understanding of the environmental justice issues of natural
resource use across time and space. (Global, sustainability and diversity)
F. Each student will produce a “poster” presentation for the W.A. Franke
Research Symposium.
IV.
V.
Course Materials:
Text materials and additional readings and online resources may be assigned by
the instructor for various topics.
Teaching Methods:
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3
The lecture periods will be used to develop, analyze and openly discuss the
theories and policies presented in the assigned readings. The class discussion will
clarify and extend the material presented in the readings; as such preparation and
attendance are essential. Given the normative nature of the material, it is
expected that lively class discussions will take place
VI.
Mechanisms for Feedback:
The professor provides written comments and evaluations on all assignments for
this course.
VII. Evaluation Tools:
Grading scale to be specified by instructor of record.
Final grades are based upon performances on a minimum of 3 exams along with
additional discussion and research papers. At least one evaluation is returned to
students prior to the last day to drop with a W. Each exam will be written in
format. The questions will include analytical models and policy analysis. Each
assignment will include a percentage of the grade devoted toward writing style.
At least 50% of the course grade must be based on individual assessments.
VIII. Statement Regarding Academic Dishonesty:
A zero tolerance on cheating is upheld in this course. Plagiarism is a form of
cheating. Penalties for materials that are turned in that have resulted from cheating
and/or plagiarism will receive a failing grade for the course and student names are
reported to the FCB and the University. The syllabus must contain the FCB Code
of Conduct and the University policy on Scholastic Dishonesty.
IX.
Course Content:
A.
Course Topics:
1. Externalities and Public Goods – review
a. Command and control
b. Cap and Trade mechanisms
2. Measurement Issues and Methods
a. Validity issues
b. Statistical inference
c. Carbon equivalents
d. Life cycle accounting
3. Valuation Methods
a. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
b. Use, option and non-use
c. Contingent valuation
d. Hedonic pricing
4. Time Value of Money
a. Net present value
b. Internal rate of return
c. Discount rate issues (Intergenerational justice)
5. Damage and Benefit Estimation
a. Adaptation issues of climate change
b. Cost Benefit Analysis
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6. Optimal Extraction
a. oil
b. iron ore
7. Measuring Sustainable Harvests
a. water
b. fishes
c. forests
8. Sustainability and Environmental Justice
a. Measuring emissions – what is just?
b. Technology transfer mechanisms
9. Intertemporal Decisions
10. Interspatial Decisions
B.
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General Knowledge and Management Skills*
The General Knowledge and Management Skills appear in the chart on the
following page.
*The chart should not be included on the individual course syllabus.
However, the minimum requirements as defined in this chart should be
reflected in the course syllabus. The descriptions of graded work represent
options for delivering the minimum requirement. However, a skill area
may be included in the course, but not have a graded component (e.g.
Students may work on an assignment in class as part of a team which may
develop their understanding of group dynamics or analytical skills. But,
they may be graded only on their understanding of the assignment topic—
not on their group dynamic or analytical skills even though those skills
may be developed).
5
Note: Definitions
provided on next page.
Included In
This class:
Y/N
Describe Required
Graded Work If
Applicable (Include
Both Exam And NonExam Work)
Indicate the extent to
which the knowledge or
skill area is represented
in the course grade **
Oral Communication
N
Written Communication
Y
All Exams and Projects
No specific grade
Analytic Skills
Y
All Exams and Projects
100%
Reflective Thinking
Y
No specific grade
Ethics and Social
Responsibility
Y
No specific grade
Global and
Environmental
Awareness
Y
No specific grade
Multicultural and
Diversity Understanding
Y
No specific grade
Financial Theories,
Analysis and Reporting
Y
N/A
N/A
Integrated production
and distribution of
goods, services and
information
N
N/A
N/A
Group and Individual
dynamics in
Organizations
N
N/A
N/A
No specific grade
** Minimal 2-5%....6-10%.....11-25%.....26-50%....51+% Extensive.
Note: Some areas may have 0% and the column total does not necessarily equal 100%.
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