Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: ECON 102-01
Spring 2013
Course Title: Principles of Macroeconomics
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets:
MW 8:00-9:15
ICN 2302
Introduction:
ECON 102 is an introductory course in macroeconomic theory. The objective of the course is to help
you understand the U.S. economy functioning as a whole. I hope at the end of the class you will agree that
the concepts covered are relevant to you as citizens and participants in the U.S. economy. Your life and
the choices you make are affected by U.S. fiscal and monetary policies and even by the policies of foreign
countries.
Over the years, macroeconomists have attempted to model the U.S. economy in order to explain and
understand its operations. Therefore, much of this class will be devoted to developing and learning what
is known as the macroeconomic model.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ECON 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
Introduction to the American economic system with emphasis on macroeconomics including national
income accounting, employment theory, and fiscal and monetary policies.
Instructor Information:
Instructor Name: Hal Wendling
Phone number to contact instructor: 268-8577
Instructor e-mail address: HAL.WENDLING@heartland.edu
Location of instructor’s office: ICN 2013
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours:
MW 9:20-10:50
12:30-1:30
Textbook:
Required: Edwin Dolan, ECONOMICS, 4th ed., Redding, CA, BVT Textbooks
Other readings will be provided.
I urge you to use the website associated with this textbook. It provides practice exams and other useful
tools that can assist with your understanding of the material. (bvtpublishing.com) In addition, the website
khanacademy.org contains many videos that can assist you in understanding course material. I suggest
you use these, or any other supplemental material that helps you prepare for exams.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
(Indicate if course is General Education/IAI)
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.
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):
Outcomes
Demonstrate a knowledge of the concepts of
scarcity, choice, and efficiency
Demonstrate a knowledge of the role of the
government in the U.S. economy
Demonstrate an understanding of the
measurements of inflation and unemployment
Demonstrate a knowledge of the economic
consequences of unemployment and inflation
Demonstrate a knowledge of aggregate demand
and aggregate supply, as well as U.S. fiscal policy
Demonstrate a knowledge of fiscal policy and how
it affects national employment and output. Explain
some shortcomings associated with fiscal policy,
and describe how fiscal policy impacts the federal
deficit and international trade
Demonstrate a knowledge of the U.S. banking
system and monetary policy
General
Education
Outcomes
CT2
PS2
DI1
DI3
CT1
PS3
CO2
DI1
DI3
CT3
Range of Assessment
Methods
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
Writing Assignments, Exams,
Quizzes, Discussion
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
The following topics are to be covered during the instructional process:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
Introduction to Economics
A. The economizing problem
B. The production possibilities curve
C. Economic systems and planning
D. The simple circular flow model
Demand and Supply
Economic
Functions
of
the
Government
Measurement
of
Economic
Performance
A. Determinants of GDP
Macro Economic Instabilities
A. Unemployment and inflation
Equilibrium Income and Employment
(household, business and international
sectors)
Aggregate Demand and Supply
Fiscal Policy
US Money and Banking System
Money Creation
US Monetary Policy
Exchange Rates and Balance of
Payments
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.
Methods of Instruction:
The class will primarily operate with a lecture/discussion format. These 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 orally during
class is up to you. Whether you participate mentally will play a significant part in your learning the
material and thus, your grade.
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3
Exam #4
Final
Paper
TOTAL
100 points
90-100%
=A
200 points
80-89%
=B
200 points
70-79%
=C
200 points
60-69%
=D
250 points
Below 60% = F
50 points
1000 points
Part of some or all of the exams may be a written assignment.
Participation and Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes and participate meaningfully in the activities each class
day. Absences will be penalized at the rate of 10 points each (after the first two absences). Tardies
will be penalized at the rate of 5 points each (after the first tardy). (Remember: Class begins at 8:00,
not 8:01.)
Incompletes:
Only given under extraordinary circumstances. This is solely at the discretion of the instructor
according to Heartland Community College Guidelines.
Cancelled classes:
Cancelled class sessions, for all HCC classes, will be listed under Cancelled Class Meetings in the AZ Index in the Current Student page on the HCC website. See www.heartland.edu/classCancellations
Make-up of tests and assignments:
If you are excused from an exam, you have three options for make-up. Your choice of the options
will be made as soon as possible once you are excused from the exam. Whatever your decision, it
cannot be changed once made. It is solely the instructor’s decision whether your exam absence is
excused, it is not simply an option. I will follow the student absence policies of the college in making
my determination concerning the validity of your absence.
1) You may take your exam with my other section of 102. The test will be different, but it covers
the same material and will be no more difficult (or easier) than the exam for this section.
2) You can take a comparable exam as soon as possible after you have been excused. Meet with
me to make arrangements.
3) You can have the points for the excused exam added to the final exam.
Required Writing and Reading:
All written assignments are designed to enhance the student’s writing skills and critical
thinking skills by analyzing concepts discussed in class. Students should read the required
chapters, articles and reference material as indicated by the course calendar and assigned in class.
Students are responsible for any and all material covered in class or in the readings.
Student Conduct:
 Any form of cheating will not be tolerated.
 Lectures and class discussions may not be recorded.
 No eating or sleeping in class.
 Students are responsible for all readings and information presented in class.
* Turn off your cell phone. Cell phones cannot be used as calculators for exams.
* No lap top computers or other electronic devices (other than calculators) are allowed in class.
* Each exam will have a time limit. If you’re late, you won’t be given extra time
Penalties for violations will range from a verbal or written warning to dismissal from a class
session or the course.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College and is
essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because grading may be
competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of their fellow students. The
College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious offense requiring disciplinary
measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act
of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
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.
Date
Chapters Covered
Exam #1
W
1/30
1-3
(Review of basic economics)
Exam #2
W 2/27
17-19
Exam #3
W 4/3
20-22
Exam #4
M 4/29
23-25
Paper
M 5/6
(Due by the end of class, late not accepted)
FINAL
M 5/13 8:30am
All of the above plus + class lecture
What follows is the required weekly schedule (subject to change) The numbers on the right correspond to
the text chapter being covered. Typically, there will be a fair amount of additional material presented in
class that may not be fully covered in the book.
Week 1 - Intro, 1
2 - 1,2 – econ problem, production possibilities, systems, circular flow, sup/dem
3 - 2,3 exam #1
4 - 17 – gov’t economic function, econ performance measurements
5 - 17,18 – GDP
6 - 18,19 - unemployment, inflation
7 - exam #2 – macro instabilities
8 - 20 – Income and employment
9 - Spring Break
10 - 20,21 – income and emp. continues
11 - 21,22 – AD/AS
12 - 22, exam #3
13 - 23 – fiscal policy
14 - 23,24 – money and banking
15 - 24,25 – money creation and policy
16 - exam #4, int’l trade, wrap-up, review
17 - paper due, review
18 - Final
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
This course requires approximately 30-40 pages of reading per week or 500 per semester.
A minimum of 15 pages of college level writing is required in this course. Writing assignments includes
a paper of approximately 7-8 pages, essay exams and various projects as deemed appropriate by the
instructor.