NDNU. BUS1108-01.Microeconomics.Fall 2015.Syllabus.Khatri.
Notre Dame de Namur University
BUS 1108-01: Introduction to Microeconomics
Course Syllabus-Fall 2015
T, Tr 10:50 AM – 12:05 PM
Course Start Date: 9/02/2015
Prerequisite: None
Room # 117, Saint Mary’s Hall
Instructor: Kiran Khatri
Email: kkhatri@ndnu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM, or by appointment
Catalog Course Description
This is an introductory course in Microeconomics. Gives a detailed examination of a specific component of the
national economic system (industry, firm, household) as each impacts the aggregate. Includes implications of the
pricing process and contemporary issues.
Learning Outcomes
The course has two principal goals: to introduce you to the fundamental lessons of economics and to teach you how
these lessons can be applied to the world in which you live. Students shall learn some basic concepts, which
economists use to analyze economic problems. The focus will be on studying how and why markets work, under what
conditions they fail to work, and the implications of social policies.
Upon successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:
 understand and explain the basic assumptions underlying economic models. (PLO#1)
 understand and explain how the market works.(PLO#1)
 understand the role of taxes and price controls on the functioning of the markets. (PLO#1)
 understand and identify different market structures; perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly and
monopolistic competition; in which the firms operate. (PLO#1)
 understand and explain the factor markets and the determination of wages. (PLO#1)
 understand and explain the cases where market fails to work. (PLO#1)
 understand and discuss the role of government policies including role of government in tackling poverty and
income inequality.(PLO#1,5)
Program Learning Outcomes for the Day Business Program
 PLO#1. Acquire and demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills within various disciplines of
business—accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing.
 PLO#2. Learn to describe, discuss and analyze current events in American business with attention to the
global, social and ethical dimensions of events.
 PLO#3. Acquire the communication, research and technological skills needed to analyze a business situation
(problem and/or opportunity), and prepare and present a management report
 PLO#4. Engage in at least one internship or service learning experience to demonstrate relevancy of
foundational and theoretical knowledge of their academic major and to gain career related experiences
 PLO#5. Develop critical thinking abilities and a foundation of ethical principles that allows them to work
effectively, respectfully, ethically and professionally with people of diverse ethnic, cultural, gender and other
backgrounds
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NDNU. BUS1108-01.Microeconomics.Fall 2015.Syllabus.Khatri.
Required Text:
Principles of Microeconomics, N. Gregory Mankiw, 7th edition. Cengage, 2015
ISBN-10: 128516590X
ISBN-13: 978-1285165905
Study Guide (Optional):
Study Guide Accompanying Mankiw's Principles of Microeconomics, David R. Hakes, Cengage 2015
ISBN-10: 1285864247
ISBN-13: 978-1285864242
Additional student resources can be found at:
http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/ISBN/9781285165905?cid=APL1
Coursework Details
The coursework is spread across 17 chapters. Beginning with the basics of economic theory, the course progresses to
discuss introductory concepts of how markets function and basic economic units. The course then advances to
discuss the economic behavior and decision making processes for individual economic units. Broader concepts such
as public goods and taxation are also included in this course.
There will be a total of 3 exams during the course as follows:
Midterm I: Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Midterm II: Chapters 7, 8, 10, 11, 13
Final Exam: Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Each student will be allowed to bring in a note-sheet (2 sides) for each of the three exams. No books are allowed.
Refer to attached schedule for tentative course coverage.
Home-works will be given regularly and will be primarily text based. No late submissions will be accepted. Nonsubmissions will result in zero points for the same. Besides grades, the home-works will be good practice for tests.
Home-works and tests may contain questions in the form of short answer questions, economic reasoning, analyses,
multiple choice questions, tables and graphs or a combination of these.
Students are free to work on the home-works by themselves or in groups with size not exceeding 3 in each group. A
group needs to make only one submission. Always remember to include names of team members. Points will be given
to only those students whose names are on a submission. Names will not be added after a submission is made. It is
not mandatory to have same team members for each submission. Grading of home-works will be based on
completion, accuracy and relevance.
Home works will cover all relevant chapters. Several relevant/practice exercises and work will be given in class that
will also be graded. Sometimes students may need to take the remaining work home and bring them back in the next
class for points. In essence, there will be some graded work for you to do throughout the semester. Regular
attendance and timely completion of work are key to successful completion of this course.
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NDNU. BUS1108-01.Microeconomics.Fall 2015.Syllabus.Khatri.
Grading System
The following grid will be used to grade your performance in class. Grading will be done on a continuous basis and
will be shared with you so you know how you are faring in the course. Campus portal will be used for information
sharing but continuous grade updates will not uploaded to campus portal.
Grading Description
Home-work
Class-work
Midterm I
Midterm I I
Final Exam
Attendance
Total
Weights
Approximate Points
30%
20%
15%
15%
15%
5%
100%
15 X 30 = 450 points
12 X 25 = 300 points
1 X 225 = 225 points
1 X 225 = 225 points
1 X 225 = 225 points
3 X 25 = 75 points
1500 points
Our classes will be highly interactive. I encourage every student in the class to open up and come forward with her/his
ideas and make the classes lively rather than the instructor having to lecture all the time.
Letter Grade Determination:
Percentages
93-100
90-93
88-90
83-88
80-83
78-80
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
Percentages
73-78
70-73
68-70
63-67
60-63
0-60
Grade
C
CD+
D
DF
Workload:
In addition to class attendance, every class includes an estimated workload of six or more hours per week outside of
the classroom.
Distribution of Average Weekly Hours of Instruction/Study = Total of 9 Per Week
Class Contact Hours:
3
Text Readings and Note Taking
2
Writing Assignments
2
Studying For Quizzes and Exams
2
Total Number of Hours per Course
135
Course Policies
Attendance:
Students are expected to maintain complete attendance and sign on an attendance roster each session. While students
get points for attendance that adds up to final grades, all unexcused absences will lead to loss of attendance points.
Coming in late to class will be marked as 'tardy'. Five tardies will result in one class absence. All excused absences will
have to be communicated to the instructor in advance or at the earliest possible supported by documentation and
non-documented absences will be treated as unexcused absences. Ten or more unexcused absences will result in
getting zero points for attendance. Students are responsible to cover materials missed in class due to any absence.
The use of electronic devices are restricted in the class unless used for taking notes or reviewing PowerPoint Slides.
Please bring in your own calculator. Use of cellular phones is prohibited in class.
Please access University web pages at: http://www.ndnu.edu/academics/catalog/undergraduate-policies/ for details
on University policies and procedures.
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NDNU. BUS1108-01.Microeconomics.Fall 2015.Syllabus.Khatri.
Important Dates and Other Information
Please consult the syllabus attachment for additional relevant information. Specifically, please note that if you stop
attending this course, you should officially withdraw from it as soon as possible to avoid receiving an unnecessary
failing grade. You can find the University calendar at this link: http://www.ndnu.edu/academics/academiccalendar/2015-2016/
Students are responsible for meeting requirements of the syllabus calendar. Any confusion should be immediately
discussed with the instructor. Any losses pertaining to lack of careful consideration of the calendar details will not be
made up in any way.
Academic Honesty
NDNU is committed to the maintenance of the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct of its members.
The same level of ethical behavior and integrity will be maintained in this course. Participating in a behavior that
violates academic integrity (e.g., plagiarism, cheating in examination, helping another person cheat, having
unauthorized advance access to examinations, and fraudulently altering academic records) will result in your being
sanctioned. Violations may subject you to disciplinary action including the following: receiving a failing grade on an
assignment, examination or course. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more details.
Learning and Other Disabilities:
If you have a learning disability or other circumstance that requires accommodations in this class, you must bring it to
the attention of Program for Academic Support and Services (PASS) to arrange for possible accommodations (650508-3670).
Please note that while every possible effort will be made to adhere to the course schedule, it is subject to change under
unavoidable circumstances. Should there be a need for such adjustments; students will be notified adequately ahead of
time. Also, there will be revision sessions in class prior to the mid-terms and final exam.
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NDNU. BUS1108-01.Microeconomics.Fall 2015.Syllabus.Khatri.
Tentative Class/Course Schedule BUS 1108-01, Fall 2015
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Week
1
Date
Sept 3



Topic/Session Highlights
Introduction to the course
Syllabus
Introduction to Economics and Microeconomics
Text Book
Chapter 1
2
Sept 8
Sept 10


Ten Principles of Economics
Thinking Like an Economist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 and Appendix
3
Sept 15
Sept 17


Thinking Like and Economist
The Market Forces of Demand and Supply
Chapter 2 and Appendix
Chapter 4
4
Sept 22
Sept 24


The Market Forces of Demand and Supply
Elasticity and its Application
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
5
Sept 29
Oct 1


Elasticity and its Application
Supply, Demand, and Government Policies
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
6
Oct 6
Oct 8


Supply, Demand, and Government Policies
Review & Midterm I
Chapter 6
Chapters 1,2, 2A, 4, 5, 6
7
Oct 13
Oct 15

Chapter 7
Chapter 8

Consumers, Producers and the Efficiency of
Markets
Application, The Costs of Taxation
8
Oct 20
Oct 22


Externalities
Public Goods and Common Resources
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
9
Oct 27
Oct 29


Public Goods and Common Resources
The Costs of Production
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
10
Nov 3
Nov 5


The Costs of Production
Review & Midterm II
Chapter 13
Chapters 7, 8, 10, 11, 13
11
Nov 10
Nov 12
Nov 17
Nov 19

Firms in Competitive Markets
Chapter 14


Monopoly
Monopolistic Competition
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
13
Nov 24


Oligopoly
The Markets for the Factors of Production
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
14
Dec 1
Dec 3



The Markets for the Factors of Production
Earnings and Discrimination
Income Inequality and Poverty
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
15
Dec 8
Dec 10



Income Inequality and Poverty
Course Revision
Finals Preparation
Chapter 20
All Chapters/Concepts
16
Dec 17

Final Exam 11AM – 1:30PM
Chapters 14 - 20
12
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