NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE
BA 2313 MACROECONOMICS (3 credit hours)
Course Syllabus – Fall 2012
Instructor
Division
Office
Telephone
Office Hours
E-mail
Lana Fowler
Business and Technology
B212
Cell 870-704-9331
posted on door
Others as needed by appointment
lanaf@northark.edu
Please allow a 24-hour response time to all emails.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is a study of the principles and processes of economics with an emphasis on
macroeconomics. Topics covered include supply and demand, public goods, inflation,
unemployment, gross domestic product, fiscal policy, money and banking and monetary
policy.
RATIONALE
This course should begin to fulfill the needs of college students who are planning careers
in economics as well as those studying business administration, liberal arts, law or other
disciplines.
AUDIENCE
This course is a requirement for the Associate of Applied Science in Information
Technology – Graphic Design, Software Support and Web Technology Emphasis, the
Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration; the Accounting and
Administrative Support Certificates.
COURSE GOALS
The student will:
•  demonstrate a basic understanding of macroeconomics to include demand
and supply, pure capitalism, market system, national income accounting,
employment and fiscal policy, concepts of money, banking and monetary policy
by completing problems, assignments and tests.
•  utilize terminology related to economics through written and verbal
communication with the instructor.
•  prepare weekly summaries of economic articles from the media to show
knowledge of current economic events.
•  participate in classroom discussions to indicate comprehension of material
presented to the instructor.
Resources Needed
•  Textbook – MacroEconomics by Arnold
•  Aplia
•  Notebook
•  Pen, pencil and highlighter.
•  Solar or battery powered calculator (highly recommended)
COURSE RESOURCES
• Personal computer - The student is expected to have access to a computer with these
system requirements. If you have any problems with your computer, ie, computer
crashes, internet goes down, or etc., it is your responsibility to have a backup plan.
• Email Account—A Northark email account was issued to you automatically when
you enrolled in your classes. To access your email, navigate to Northark’s Web site
at www.northark.edu. On the Students tab, you should see a link Student Email. You
may also access your email from web.mail.northark.edu. Your email address will be
your username@mail.northark.edu
• Textbook- MacroEconomics by Arnold
• (Aplia) (came with book)
• Calculator
ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES
• Computers:
(i.) JPH Business building – Computers are available in rooms B206, 207, 208,
209, & 302. (See schedule on the wall beside Mary Bausch’s office on the 2nd
floor)
(ii.) Libraries – There are computers available for all Northark students on the
north and south campuses.
North Campus: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
South Campus: Monday – Thursday, 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8 am – 5 pm
•
o
Writing Lab – South Campus room Resources on the north and south
campus including the library, computer labs, and the Learning Assistance Center
(math & science tutors, writing lab, testing center)
ASSISTANCE FOR COURSE
If you are having any issues in your online course, the first person you should contact is
your instructor by email. If you need technical assistance for logon issues, contact Brenda
Freitas (Northark IT department) at bfreitas@northark.edu or 870.391.3275.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
This course is an online course. You are responsible for the material and if there are
any questions, You are responsible for informing your instructor as soon as possible. On
the course site, you will find the course is organized by weeks. One week will be open at
a time. This is structured for your benefit and successful progression in learning
Macroeconomics. Week 1 will be open for one week (M-S) to complete all the
requirements for that week. The assignments in Aplia are due on Sunday evenings at
11:55 p.m. No exceptions! On Monday morning, 9:00 a.m., week 2 will open and so on.
This will be the structure all semester. Each week you will find: a PowerPoint, suggested
textbook exercises/problems, answers to those suggested textbook exercises/problems,
and Aplia chapter exercises/problems. The suggested exercises/problems are for your
benefit. They will also count as part of your overall grade. You will have chapter tests
over two chapters at a time. These will also be completed on Aplia. These assignments
are required. This course will require strict discipline on your part, because the
responsibility is on You. You should check the course site daily to make sure there
are no new announcements or changes. Keep in touch with the instructor through
email, mail or on-campus visits. There is a schedule on the course site as well as on the
course calendar for you to follow with specific due dates! This is a resource for your
advantage!
How do I proceed? Let me tell you: On our course site on the portal, click the
Assignments tab then look for:
Week 1-Assignments-August 27.: You have three assignments this week.
Your first assignment: Complete the Syllabus Acknowledgement and return to your
instructor via file exchange (not emailed, not dropped off at the office…file exchange).
The due date for this assignment is August 31, 2012, at 11:55 p.m.! No exceptions!
Your second assignment is to introduce yourself to the class. Click on the
Collaboration tab and tell the class a little about yourself, your goals this semester, your
interest and so on.
Your third assignmnent: Read Chapte r1. For each chapter, you have the following
resources available: powerpoints, Aplia assignments, suggested textbook
exercises/problems, and lectures.
Course Evaluation
Students will be evaluated in this course and given grades: A, B, C, D, F or other “grade
symbols” as explained in the current college catalog. Your grade will be based on 5 tests
worth 100 points each, attendance/class participation, discussion board participation,
homework and a final collaborative presentation. Late work will be accepted; however,
it will only be worth 50% of the original grade. The class is set up to evaluate if
student is learning and applying the information and concepts presented in the
class.
Discussion posts
A portion of your grade in this course will be determined from your discussion board
posts and replies. The discussion board will have many different topics and activities
each week that are based on economic or business issues. The grade will also be based
on the quality (thoughtfulness and uniqueness) of the student’s replies to other students’
posts. This portion of your grade will be worth 50 points. This discussion board is an
excellent way to help or improve your grade.
CHAPTER TESTS
There will be five (5) chapter tests in this course. They will most likely consist of
multiple choice, application problems, and short answer. This test will be weighted
equally.
FINAL PRESENTATION
The final presentation will be worth 100 points and will be turned in to the instructor
during the first week of December. Details for the final paper are listed in the course
materials of Northark Portal. The purpose of the final paper is to give students an
opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the course’s concepts in an area that interests the
student and work with other students collaboratively in the class.
GRADING SCALE
A
90% - 100%
B
80% - 89%
C
70% - 79%
D
60% - 69%
F
Below 60%
Students in online courses must take a proctored final/major exam. If you are unable to
be on Northark’s campus for the proctored final/major exam then it is your responsibility
to find your own test proctor and complete the Proctor Nomination form which can be
obtained from your instructor. Arrangements must be approved by your instructor at
least 2 weeks before the exam.
ATTENDANCE Policy
Students are expected to attend all class meetings and officially withdraw from courses
they are no longer attending.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic fraud and dishonesty are defined as follows:
Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information,
or study aids in any academic exercise.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to
help another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Test tampering: Intentionally gaining access to restricted test booklets, banks,
questions, or answers before a test is given; or tampering with questions or answers after
a test is taken.
Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words and ideas of another as
one's own in any academic exercise.
Academic dishonesty will not be permitted. It shall be at the instructor’s discretion to
fail the student for that assignment, remove the student from the class, reduce the
student’s grade, or petition to have the student suspended from the college.
PROVISION FOR CHANGES
The instructor will notify students of any updates/changes in the course syllabus.
ADA STATEMENT
North Arkansas College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations should make their requests in the following way:
•
•

Talk to your instructor during office hours about your disability or special
need related to your classroom work; and/or

Contact Special Services and ask to speak to Kim Brecklein.
Course Schedule
Week 1
Introduction to the Course
Weeks 2-4
Unit 1
Weeks 5-7
Unit 2
Weeks 8-10
Unit 3
Weeks 11-13
Unit 4
Weeks 12-14
Unit 5
Week 15
Final and Group Presentation Due