Heartland Community College
SOCIAL AND BUSINESS SCIENCES
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number:
Course Title:
ECON 101-06
FALL 2009
Principles of Microeconomics
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets:
MW 2:00-3:15
ICB 2806
Introduction:
This is an introductory class to microeconomic theory. The essence of microeconomics is to
explain the decision making of individuals as they are faced with the reality of resource scarcity.
More specifically, it studies the decision making of individuals in a household or business
environment.
Catalog Description:
Microeconomics, including utility, supply and demand, and product and resource pricing with
specific emphasis on associated problems of American economy. This course is a prerequisite for
ECON 102.
Instructor Information:
Instructor Name: Hal Wendling
Phone number to contact instructor: (309) 268-8577
Instructor e-mail address: HAL.WENDLING@heartland.edu
Location of instructors office: ICB 2117
Hours and days of instructors office hours:
MTWR
11:00-12:15
(also by appt. and after each class)
Textbook:
Required:
Edwin G. Dolan (2007) Economics, Best Value Textbooks
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or
A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum
described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities
participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for
more information.
HCC Portal
Just a reminder that to access WebCT, IRIS, and your Heartland Student Email, you will need to log into
myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu.
Beliefs:
Academic Discipline:
Economics.
Student Learning:
Responsibility shared with instructor.
Instructor’s Role:
My full-time job is helping you in the educational process. That means I am available to
talk to you about this course or anything else that directly or indirectly concerns your
education at Heartland. If you need help or have concerns that can’t be handled in class,
then see me after class, during my office hours, or make an appointment. Don’t let
yourself fall behind.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrate a knowledge of supply and demand theory and price, cross-price,
and income elasticities.
Demonstrate a knowledge of consumer theory.
Demonstrate a knowledge of producer theory, the relationship between a firm’s
inputs and outputs, and a firm’s short-run and long-run costs.
Demonstrate a knowledge of price and output determination for firms under four
different market structures -- perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly and
monopolistic competition.
Course/Lab Outline:
Topic Outline for this Course:
The Nature of Economics
Scarcity and Trade Offs
Supply and Demand
Policies Affecting Supply and Demand
Demand and Supply Elasticity
Consumer Choice Theory
Producer Theory
Pricing and Output under Perfect Competition
Pricing and Output for Monopolies
Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly
Regulation and Antitrust Policy
Productive Factors, Poverty, the Environment and Interest Groups
Methods of Instruction: The class will primarily operate with a lecture/discussion format.
There will be relatively heavy use of overheads and possibly some videos. Although class
participation is not graded, student participation in questions and discussions is designed to
prepare you for the exams. Whether you participate mentally will play a significant part in your
learning the material and thus, your grade.
Course Policies:
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Exam #1
#2
#3
#4
Final
150 pts
200 pts
200 pts
200 pts
250 pts *
A- 880-1000
B- 775-879
C- 670-774
D- 550-669
F- 549 or below
(There will be a 10 pt. extra credit assignment for each hourly exam)
*The final exam is mandatory and comprehensive.
Attendance:
Students are expected to be at every class and on time. Class begins at 2:00. You will be
allowed two (2) absences without penalty. Your third, fourth, and fifth absence will cost you
five (5) points. After that, you will be penalized ten (10) points per absence. You will be
allowed one (1) tardy without penalty. Every tardy after the first, you will be penalized 5
points. Students with no absences or tardies will earn bonus points. You don’t need to notify
me of any upcoming absences. I don’t distinguish between excused and unexcused absences
Incompletes:
Only given under extraordinary circumstances. This is solely at the discretion of the
instructor according to the Heartland Community College guidelines.
Make-up of tests and assignments:
NO MAKEUP EXAMS. You will receive a zero on any exam you miss unless you have an
excused absence. If you are excused from an exam, the weight of the final exam will be
increased by the point value of the exam you missed. This is not your choice! I will decide
the validity of your excuse. Should you be excused from an exam, you will be required to
complete a short writing assignment satisfactorily or lose all points for that exam.
Student Conduct:
- Any form of cheating will not be tolerated
- Lectures and class discussions may not be recorded
- No eating or sleeping in class (Severe penalties will apply)
- Students are responsible for all readings and material covered in class
- Turn off your cell phone/cell phones not allowed as calculators for exams
- No lap-top computers
- No hats worn on test days
- Exams will have a time limit. Should you arrive late you will not receive additional time
Class Cancellations: Usually the instructor will be able to notify you if any future classes are
to be cancelled. All HCC class cancellations should be listed on the HCC website. Go to
http://heartland.edu/classCancellations if in doubt.
Syllabi disclaimer:
You will be notified of any changes to this syllabus. If an exam or assignment is due during a
class period when class is cancelled, the new exam or due date is the next scheduled class period.
Course Calendar:
(Chapters will be covered in order)
Date
Chapters Covered
Exam #1
W
9/9
1-4
Exam #2
W
10/7
5-8
Exam #3
W
11/4
9-12
Exam #4
T
11/30
13-15
FINAL*
W
12/9 2:00pm
All of the above + class lecture