Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences Division
Student Syllabus and Assignment Calendar – Summer 2013
ECON 101-91 Principles of Microeconomics
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
To access Blackboard you will need to log into myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Prerequisite: Completion of Math through Intermediate Algebra Level 1 or assessment.
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.
Professor Information:
Ms. Heather R. Chapman
Instructor of Economics and Business
Office: ICN 2011
Office phone: (309) 268-8569
Heather.Chapman@heartland.edu
Office Hours:
Through email & by appointment
Textbook:
Edwin G. Dolan (2010) Economics, Redding, CA BVT Textbooks 4th ed.
ISBN: 9781602299634
*Please make sure that you get the correct textbook; Dolan has previously written an econ book titled Economics – but it is a different publisher!
bvtpublishing.com offers practice exams for each chapter and other information which
may help you with your exam performance.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transferability:
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
1
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.
Student’s Role:
Learning and retaining the information in this course is your responsibility. You are expected to:
read the material prior to the class notes becoming available to you and submit assignments on
time. You will benefit if you pay attention to national and international news that pertains to
economics, business, political science and foreign policy. The responsibility of student learning
is shared with the instructor. It is important that you do not fall behind.
Instructor’s Role:
My role is to help you in the educational process. I am available to talk with you about this
course or anything else that directly or indirectly concerns your education at HCC. If you need
help or have concerns please email me or make an appointment to visit my office.
*Additional information regarding the College learning outcomes can be found on the HCC
website: http://www.heartland.edu/committees/assessment/genedoutcomes.html
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Demonstrate a knowledge of the concepts of scarcity, choice, and efficiency. (CT2, PS2)
Demonstrate a knowledge of supply and demand theory, functioning of markets, and price,
cross-price, and income elasticites. (CO2)
Demonstrate a knowledge of consumer choice/utility theory. (DI2)
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 and revenues. (CT2)
Demonstrate a knowledge of price and output determination for firms under four different
market structures—perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly—
including antitrust regulations. (CT3, PS3)
Demonstrate a knowledge of the functioning of labor markets
Demonstrate a knowledge of income distribution and income equality/inequality.
Demonstrate a knowledge of data and graph interpretation.
*Additional information regarding the College learning outcomes can be found on the HCC
website: http://www.heartland.edu/committees/assessment/genedoutcomes.html
COURSE OUTLINE:
The following topics are (tentatively) to be covered during the instructional process:
The Nature of Economics
2
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
Forms of Business and Stocks and Bonds
Antitrust Legislation
Labor Demand and Supply
Labor Legislation
Rent, Interest and Profits
Study Suggestions
a.
Log into Blackboard several times each week.
b.
Keep abreast of assignment due dates.
c.
Develop a weekly study plan.
d.
Read and study the required textbook pages each week.
e.
Review online chapter notes and supplementary materials.
f.
Complete assignments ahead of due dates.
g.
Follow the assignment instructions closely.
h.
Ask for clarifications when needed.
i.
Contact Ms. Chapman with any questions or comments throughout the term.
HCC Portal:
Just a reminder that to access Blackboard, IRIS, and your Heartland Student Email, you will
need to log into myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu.
Class Conduct:
All students will treat each other with RESPECT at all times. Please do not be disrespectful
when interacting with other students in class. No chitchat during lecture! Students are
responsible for all readings and material covered in class.
Any form of cheating, including on exams, will not be tolerated. Consequences for cheating
will include receiving a zero for the assignment, quiz or test, and notification to the HCC
Academic Integrity Committee.
Sorry, but hats may not be worn on test days in the testing center. If you have a complaint, an
informal conference may be scheduled; if the problem is not resolved you are encouraged to
follow the student academic appeal process.
3
NOTE: These rules mentioned above apply all the time. In the unlikely event that any of the
class conduct issues are violated, the following actions will be taken quickly:
The student will receive one verbal warning to let them know their conduct is
unacceptable. If the issue(s) reoccur(s), there will be a conference scheduled in Ms.
Chapman’s office to discuss the ramifications (ICN 2011). Behavior which is deemed
extremely inappropriate may result in immediate withdrawal from the course and
possible suspension/ expulsion from the college.
Class Cancellations:
You will be notified in advance of class cancellations, when possible. All HCC class
cancellations are listed on the HCC website. Go to http://heartland.edu/classCancellations .
Communication:
Regularly check your myHeartland email account and Blackboard for updates. Please only
email me from your BlackBoard email account. Include a Subject in your email
correspondence. Emailing me through BlackBoard will insure that your section number is on the
email and I know who you are. When you email through BlackBoard a copy email also gets sent
to your myHeartland email account.
FERPA laws prohibit grade or attendance information from being supplied to anyone, including
parents or spouses if you are 18 or older.
Makeup Work:
You are allowed to make up 1 assignment paper or test, for full credit. You are granted one late
coupon. If you do not use your late coupon by the end of the semester, you receive an additional
6 points.
No Questions Asked
Submit this coupon with your late assignment for full credit. Limit 1
per student. If you do not use your coupon – you may receive 6 bonus
points at the end of the semester. You must email me and tell me that
you would like to use the coupon. If you simply submit late work
without telling me that you would like to use your coupon, you will not
receive credit.
*Only if you have written documentation may you submit late work without using your coupon.
Student Participants or Students involved in HCC Sanctioned Activities:
If you are a student athlete, or are involved in other college sanctioned events that may conflict
with this class, you are required to abide by the following HCC policy:
4
1. Inform instructors at the beginning of the semester of their affiliation with a student
organization and of scheduled absences through a formal letter from the organization
they will be representing.
2. Inform instructors of specific classroom absences two weeks in advance, or if that is
not possible, as soon as the absence is known.
3. Request from their instructor the opportunity to complete evaluated coursework and
exams prior to the College-sanctioned event which will cause their absence, and take
responsibility to make up any work that has been missed by adhering to the
instructor’s policies regarding making up missed coursework. In the event of a
disagreement regarding the Instructor’s policy, the student will discuss it first with the
instructor, and if no resolution can be achieved, the student will proceed through the
Student Appeals process as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Disability Support Services:
Heartland Community College offers Disability Support Services (DSS) with offices located in the
Academic Support Center. DSS ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to the college’s
programs, services and activities through the provision of reasonable accommodations as outlined in
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DSS offers a wide range of services to support students with disabilities, including: assistive technology,
document conversion services, personnel, classroom and testing accommodations. Students with a
documented disability who wish to discuss academic accommodations can contact disability support
services at (309) 268-8259.
METHOD OF EVALUATION: This course has a total of 220 Points.
Grading Scale:
Quantity
Chapter Outline/Assignments 8
Paper
1
Paper 2
1
Tests
2
Final Exam
1
Points (each)
10
15
25
25
50
Percent of Total Grade
36%
6%
11%
23%
23%
A minimum of 15 pages of college level writing is required in this course. Writing assignments
include papers and outlines. All outlines will be a minimum of 2 pages with proper spelling and
grammar in outline format. Papers 1 & 2 will be written in APA format with proper spelling and
grammar. Paper 1’s page length requirement is 4 pages. Paper 2’s page length requirement is 6
pages. Your Papers’ Final Draft must be submitted through BlackBoard to SafeAssign to be
considered for credit.
Examinations will consist of Multiple Choice, Short Answer and Essay Questions.
5
Letter grades will be based on the percentage of points earned in the course in accordance with
the following scale:
Percentage:
A = 100%-90%
B = 89%-80%
C = 79%-70%
D = 69%-60%
F = Below 60%
Points Needed:
198-220 points
176-197 points
154-175 points
120-153 points
119 & below
Important Dates:
May 20 ................ Classes Begin
May 21 ................ Final Day for Refund for
May 27 ................ Memorial Day (College Closed)
June 7 ................. Final Day to Withdraw
June 14 ............... Classes End for
June 17 ............... Final Grades Due by Midnight. Students can start viewing midterm and final
grades online once submitted by Instructors
Library:
http://www.heartland.edu/library/
Library Hours:
http://www.heartland.edu/library/hours.do
Changes in this Syllabus, or course Assignment Calendar, will be communicated to
students in advance.
Due Dates:
All Assignments are Due through BlackBoard By 11:59 pm Thursday Night!
May 20
Class Begins
May 23
Outline 1 & Outline 2
May 30
Outline 3, Outline 4 & Paper 1
May 29 – June 2
Test 1. May 29 at 8:00 am – June 2 at 11:59 pm
June 6
Outline 5, Outline 6 & Paper 2
June 2 – June 9
Test 2. June 2 at 8:00 am – June 9 at 11:59 pm
June 13
Outline 7 & 8
June 9 – June 14 Final Exam! (Available on Campus in the HCC Testing Center ONLY!)
6
Tentative Week – Content
1 – Ch. 1 Economics Intro, Coordinating Economic Choices, Economic Method - The Nature of
Economics, Scarcity and Trade Offs
1 – Ch. 2 Supply & Demand - Policies Affecting Supply and Demand
1 – Ch. 2 Equilibrium, Disequilibrium
2 – Ch. 3 Elasticity - Demand and Supply Elasticity
2 – Ch. 4 & Ch. 5 Theory, Market Failure, Utility, Consumer & Producer Surplus – Consumer
Choice Theory
3 – Ch. 6 Environmental Economics
3 – Ch. 7 Comparative Advantage, Trade Policy
3 – Ch. 8 Production & Cost, Short Run & Long Run - Producer Theory
3 – Ch. 9 Perfect Competition, Supply in the Short Run, Long Run Equilibrium - Pricing and
Output under Perfect Competition
4 – Ch. 10 Simple Monopoly, Profit Maximization - Pricing and Output for Monopolies
4 – Ch. 11 Oligopoly, Monopolistic Competition - Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly
4 – Ch. 12 Antitrust, Regulation of Natural Monopoly - Antitrust Legislation
4 – Ch. 13 The Labor Market, Wages, market for Natural Resources - Labor Demand and
Supply, Labor Legislation
4 – Ch. 14 Insurance and Risk Pooling - Rent, Interest and Profits
4 – Ch. 15 Unions, Minorities & Women
4 – Ch. 16 Measuring Inequality and Poverty
7