STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
School of Public Service and Health
PADM 301
Public Economics
3 Credit Hours
8-Weeks
Prerequisite(s): None
Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Evaluation Procedures
Course Description
Grading Scale
Course Scope
Course Outline
Course Objectives
Policies
Course Delivery Method
Academic Services
Course Materials
PADM 301 E-book Links
Please see the student handbook to reference the University’s grading scale and University policies.
Instructor Information
Instructor:
Email:
Office Hours:
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Course Description (Catalog)
PADM 301 – Public Economics (3 hours)
This course will examine the basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics and their
applications are studied. It includes supply and demand, operation of markets, consumer and enterprise
behavior, competition and monopoly, income distribution, discrimination and alternate approached to
economics. Additionally, the basic principles of national income, national security planning and
objectives, unemployment, inflation, economic growth, depression, prosperity, international economics,
economic development, alternative approaches to economics and current issues and controversies are
examined.
(Note to students: The course materials, assignments, learning outcomes, and expectations in this
upper level undergraduate course assume that the student has completed all lower level general
education and career planning course work necessary to develop research, writing, and critical thinking
skills. Students who have not fulfilled all general education requirements through courses or awarded
transfer credit should strongly consider completing these requirements prior to registering for this
course.).
Table of Contents
Course Scope
This course focuses on interdependent variables of economic theory, economic situations, and policies
both nationally and globally. Students will analyze various issues using current references. Current
policies will be evaluated against possible alternatives. Economic choices will be stressed and students
are encouraged to generate their personal economic philosophy.
Table of Contents
Course Objectives
CO-1 Describe the similarities and differences of the economics of poverty in the United States and
the world.
CO-2 Apply key variables in making economic policy.
CO-3 Develop the ability to identify key actors and players when evaluating economic policy.
CO-4 Analyze key components of economic policy.
CO-5 Appraise economic philosophy and its application to current issues within government and
industry.
Table of Contents
Course Delivery Method
This course will offer the student a highly interactive virtual classroom. Each week’s lesson will have a
course announcement, assigned readings and assignments based on either course readings or an
Internet-based project, and lecture notes provided by the instructor. The course will provide the
student with the necessary knowledge of the economics system to better appreciate and comprehend
world events and motivations of the numerous key players involved with shifts in economic
environments.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Since the student is expected to fully participate in discussions and interact with the instructor and other
students, reading assignments and assigned projects should be completed in a timely manner.
This course delivered via distance learning will enable students to complete academic work in a flexible
manner, completely online. Course materials and access to an online learning management system will
be made available to each student. Online assignments are due Sundays at midnight (EST) and include
Discussion Board questions (accomplished in groups through a threaded discussion board), one quiz
(graded electronically), and individual assignments. Assigned faculty will support the students
throughout this course.
Table of Contents
Course Materials
1. Textbooks: Economic Issues and Policy, (2011). Jacqueline Murray Brux, Janna Cowen, 5th edition.
Cengage Learning. ISBN 0538750871 . This book is available as an e-Book. Instructions how to access
the book are located at the end of this syllabus and course announcements.
2. Course Materials: Lecture Notes
Table of Contents
Evaluation Procedures
Grades for this course will be based upon five grading instruments. There are eight Discussion Board
Questions, four homework assignments, two Topical Papers, and two exams. The grade scale and due
dates for each of the evaluation are provided below:
Grade Instruments:
Percent of Final Grade
Weekly Discussion Forum (8, due wks 1-8)
30
Homework Assignments (4, due wks 1,2, 5, and 6).
20
Mid-term Exam (wk 4)
15
Final Exam (wk 8)
15
Topic Papers (2, due wks 3 and 7)
20
TOTAL
100%
1. Weekly Discussion Forum
The discussion forum is a weekly assignment that will allow all students to engage with others in the
course in an academic and scholarly dialogue of the week’s topic. Students will post one well developed
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
response to the instructor’s prompt by midnight, Thursday of the week and respond to at least two
student’s initial post by Sunday.
Keep in mind these tips for success:
1) Merely posting the minimum requirements will not earn full credit. Students are expected
to be engaged in the discussion throughout the week. Posting all in one sitting does not
show engagement, nor does posting at the end of the week. Every student should submit a
substantial initial post each Thursday, supported with academic journal references, and two
replies to your classmate’s initial post by midnight, Sunday.
2) Quality and content will also be taken into consideration. Engaging in an active dialogue
with other students means NOT just an exchange of words, but rather posting conversations
that further the debate for all sides. Postings that give peer review, praise or add a simple
agreement without explanation are not counted towards the assignment minimum.
3) Students should always follow up to posts asking for clarification or more information
regarding their original posts.
4) Always include the resources used and use correct APA style citation rules. This includes in
text documentation as well as a listing of sources used.
5) Posting opinions and antidotal evidence is not prohibited and may add an interesting
dimension to the discussion, but it does not offer any substantive or scholarly evidential
support. Also double check your supporting facts with a second source. Wikipedia and other
encyclopedia sources do not serve as academic sources.
6) Posts are insightful, well-thought out, considerate of other points-of-view, reflective of high
levels of critical thinking
2. Homework Questions:
Selected questions will be assigned from chapters. Assigned questions are found in the Assignments link.
To earn full-credit, substantial responses, supported with academic journals and other appropriate
references are required.
3. Mid-term Examination:
The mid-tem examination in Week 4 is 15% of your final grade. The two-hour untimed exam will include
twenty: true-false and multiple-choice questions, covering the materials in lectures, in the text, and in
the required readings.
4. Final Examination:
The final examination in Week 8 is 15% of your final grade. The two-hour untimed exam will include
twenty: true-false and multiple-choice questions, covering the materials in lectures, in the text, and in
the required readings.
5. Topic Papers
The Topic Paper is a paper that is a detailed, specific, factual paper which extends the readings and of
your choosing. Length of the text is a minimum of seven pages, not counting the title page, abstract, and
reference section. Use double-spacing, and reference at least five sources, including the text and
academic journal articles. Students are required to use the format as prescribed in the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition.
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Course Outline
Week
Topic(s)
Course
Reading(s)
Objective(s)
Introduction to
Economics
1
Market Power
CO-4,
CO-5
2
Education
1. Submit “Introduction: and “Efficiency/Equity” to the
Discussion Forum. Be sure to respond to 2 students.
2. Submit Homework Questions to Assignments link.
The Economic Outlook and Macroeconomic Policy:
Government
Macroeconomics
Policy
Crime and Drugs
Text:
Chapters
1, 13 and
15.
Assignment(s)
Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke
CO-2,
CO-3
Text:
3. Submit “Crime Prevention” to the Discussion Forum.
Chapters 2
Be sure to respond to 2 fellow students.
and 4.
4. Submit Homework Questions to Assignments link.
A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher
Education:
http://www2.ed.gov/
Environment
3
Agriculture
CO-4,
CO-5
Text:
5. Submit “Goods” to the Discussion Forum. Be sure to
Chapters 3 respond to 2 fellow students.
and 11.
6. Submit Topical Paper #1 to the Assignments link.
Rural America at a Glance:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB40/EIB40.pdf
CO-2,
CO-3
Discrimination
4
Housing
5. Submit “Discrimination” to the Discussion Forum. Be
Text:
sure to respond to 2 fellow students.
Chapters 5
6. Take Mid-term exam in the Tests and Quizzes link.
and 7.
The Crisis in America’s Housing:
http://www.nmhc.org/Content/ServeFile.cfm?FileID=4542
U.S. Poverty
5
World Poverty
CO-1,
CO4
Text:
7. Submit “Poverty” to the Discussion Forum. Be sure to
Chapters 6 respond to 2 fellow students.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
and 10.
8. Submit Homework Questions to Assignments link.
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the
United States: 2010. Issued September 2011.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf
Healthcare
6
Social Security
CO-2,
CO-3
Text:
9. Submit “Choice” to the Discussion Forum. Be sure to
Chapters 8 respond to 2 fellow students.
and 9.
10. Submit Homework Questions to Assignments link.
CBO Report: Social Security Policy Options:
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/
Unemployment
and Inflation
7
CO-3
Taxes,
Borrowing, and
the National
Debt
International
Trade
Underemployment in the “Great Recession” of 2007 –
2009:
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2010/11/art1full.pdf
CO-2, CO3,
CO-4,
8
Globally Free
Markets for the
Twenty-First
Century?
Text:
11. Submit “Tax Terms” to the Discussion Forum. Be sure
Chapters
to respond to 2 fellow students.
14 and 16.
12. Submit Topical Paper #2 to the Assignments link.
CO-5
13. Submit “Country” to the Discussion Forum. Be sure to
respond to 2 fellow students.
Text:
Chapters 14. Take the Final Exam in the Tests and Quizzes link.
12 and 17.
Table of Contents
Polices
ACADENIC DISHONESTY: PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
The University System supports and promotes academic honesty and personal integrity. Cheating can
take the following forms:



Submitting another person's work
Writing a paper for someone else
Working in a group effort without faculty consent
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.



Buying a paper from a research service
Getting outside help or giving outside help without a teacher's expressed permission
Submitting the same work for credit without approval (e.g. submitting the same assignment
twice for different courses)
The Web & Plagiarism Note: The Web has made it quite easy to copy and insert materials into a paper.
Students must be careful to properly attribute materials found on the Web. In a collegiate setting,
attribution typically relies on a formal academic style manual for its citation models (See Citation and
Reference Style). Such models describe how to append footnotes and endnotes, when:


Quoting another’s exact words, you are obviously expected to name the author and place the
words in quotation marks or in indented text blocks. The citation number is placed immediately
at the end of the quotation.
Acknowledging background sources to your own descriptions--. The citation number is
normally placed at the end of the paragraph.
Note: The University offers tools in its Online Library Research Center to help you analyze your
papers for possible plagiarism violations and for instructors to uncover such activities.
WRITING EXPECTATIONS
All written submissions should be submitted in a font and page set-up that is readable and neat. It is
recommended that students try to adhere to a consistent format, which is described below.



Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style and font and submitted inside the
electronic classroom (unless classroom access is not possible and other arrangements have
been approved by the professor).
Arial, 12-point font.
Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1 inch, with reasonable accommodation
being made for special situations and online submission variances.
CITATION AND REFERENCE STYLE
Assignments completed in a narrative essay or composition format must follow the Publication Manual
of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition.
The following link may help: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
To access the manual using the APUS course site click on: http://www.apus.edu/OnlineLibrary/tutorials/apa.htm
COURSE EXTENSIONS
Students must determine the need for their first Course Extension and submit their "Request Course
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Extension" form before the end of the session. Courses may be extended in 30-day intervals for a
maximum of 60 days. If the request form is unavailable and the student is within the extension request
period the student may email the professor and carbon copy (cc) registrar@apus.edu to request an
extension. You must submit your plan (specific dates) of completion and have 50% of all course work to
be complete.
Extension requests made AFTER the last day of the course will be denied.
Students who will be prevented from participating in a course due to extenuating circumstances may
be eligible for a Deployment and/or Special Circumstance extension.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
For each day that an assignment is late, five points will be deducted from your grade each day it is late
unless the student contacts the instructor ahead of time about an extenuating situation.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
This institution complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
and the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Universal Access Guidelines. Students with special needs
should inform their individual instructors and the University’s student services staff.
NETIQUETTE
Online universities promote the advance of knowledge through positive and constructive debate--both
inside and outside the classroom. Discussions on the Internet, however, can occasionally degenerate
into needless insults and “flaming.” Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in a
university setting--basic academic rules of good behavior and proper “Netiquette” must persist.
Remember that you are in a place for the fun and excitement of learning that does not include descent
to personal attacks, or student attempts to stifle the discussion of others.


Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative
composition in your formal papers, keep e-mail layouts simple. The Educator classroom may
not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics,
underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not translate in your e-mail
messages.
Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and--especially--satire can easily get lost or
taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add “emoticons” to help alert
your readers: ;-)
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular group.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Table of Contents
Academic Services
ONLINE LIBRARY RESEARCH CENTER & LEARNING RESOURCES
The Online Library Resource Center is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the
electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and
Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search
engines on the open Web. In addition, the Center provides access to special learning resources, which
the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to orc@apus.edu.





Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library with a
limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors’ publication, and services to
search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries.
Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000 titles,
which have been scanned and made available in electronic format.
Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available
in electronic form and only through limited subscription services.
Turnitin.com: Turnitin.com is a tool to improve student research skills that also detect
plagiarism. Turnitin.com provides resources on developing topics and assignments that
encourage and guide students in producing papers that are intellectually honest, original in
thought, and clear in expression. This tool helps ensure a culture of adherence to the
University's standards for intellectual honesty. Turnitin.com also reviews students' papers for
matches with Internet materials and with thousands of student papers in its database, and
returns an Originality Report to instructors and/or students. Typically the course professor will
establish a Turnitin.com access code for his/her classes. If the code has not been established,
those who wish to use Turnitin.com may ask their professor to establish the code.
Special Note to Faculty: Please be certain to provide accurate directions and to set up the
functionality appropriately.
Tutor.com: Students have access to ten free hours of tutoring service per year through
Tutor.com. Tutoring is available in the following subjects: math (basic math through advanced
calculus), science (biology, chemistry, and physics), accounting, statistics, economics, Spanish,
writing, grammar, and more. Additional information is located in the Online Library. From the
Online Library home page, click on either the “Writing Center” or “Tutoring Center.” All login
information is available.

Request a Library Guide for your course: (http://apus.libguides.com/index.php)

The AMU/APU Library Guides provide access to collections of trusted sites on the Open Web
and licensed resources on the Deep Web. The following are specially tailored for academic
research at APUS:
 Program Portals contain topical and methodological resources to help launch general
research in the degree program. To locate, search by department name, or navigate by
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
school.
 Course Lib-Guides narrow the focus to relevant resources for the corresponding
course. To locate, search by class code (e.g., SOCI111), or class name.
 If a guide you need is not available yet, please email the APUS Library:
librarian@apus.edu.
Table of Contents
PADM 301 E-book Links
Adobe Reader is required to view these files. If you do not have this software, please log onto
www.adobe.com to download the free reader.
You will need to log-in to each link with your student/faculty ID and password. You must be logged in
to your campus page before you can access the links. Troubleshooting tips are available in the Online
Library in the Course Materials & Bookstore section, and also in the HELP/FAQs section.
Multiple troubleshooting tips are available in the following links:
http://apus.libanswers.com/a.php?qid=10718 and http://apus.libanswers.com/a.php?qid=9349 Please
report any issues to ECM@apus.edu.
Copyright Alert
Electronic Materials are provided under licensing or in keeping with Fair Use exemptions for your
educational use only. You may quote and utilize this material for this, other APUS courses, and related
scholarly pursuits. Unless the materials are in the Public Domain or specific written arrangements are
made with the Copyright holders, you may not sell, share or otherwise distribute these documents for
personal or other use without the likelihood of violating Copyright Law.
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STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
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