MGMT 5316
SPECIAL TOPICS in ECONOMICS
Syllabus
Wayland Baptist University, Phoenix Campus, School of Business
Mission Statement: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging,
learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and
humankind.
Term: May 25th Thru June 27th, 2015
Instructor: Dr. W. M. Talboys
Dr. Bill Talboys has been with Wayland University since 1999. He is the Dean of the Phoenix Campus of Strayer
University after having retired from the Park Service where he served as a senior educational and training specialist,
senior park ranger, and chief medic. He is an instructor at large with the Maricopa County Executive Management
Institute and served as a Trustee of Everest and Corinthian Colleges for 12 years holding the position of Board Chair for 4
of those years. Dr. Talboys holds faculty positions with Strayer University, Western International University, Arizona
State University, Paradise Valley and Estrella Mountain Colleges and is a curriculum advisor to The National Fire
Academy. In his academic career he has served as Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Grand Canyon
University, Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Colorado Christian University, Business Department Chair at
Parks College and has served on the faculties of The University of Colorado, Colorado State University, Denver
University, The University of Southern California’s Marshal School of Business, Pepperdine University’s Graziadio
School of Management and Business and Aquinas College in Michigan. Prior to his education career, Dr. Talboys was a
police patrol officer, police medic with ESU, a detective, a supervisor, an FTO and an academy instructor. He also served
9 years active duty in the United States Marine Corps and 13 years in the Marine Corps Reserve (while serving as a police
officer), retiring from law enforcement and the military the same year. Dr. Talboys holds a doctorate from Colorado State
University, Masters Degrees from Regis University and the University of Phoenix, Bachelor Degrees from the University
of Wisconsin and an AAS from SUNY. He has authored numerous articles, texts and papers on research, humor,
leadership, public safety and higher education.
Office Phone and email: 480-628-5145
Office Hours, Building, and Location: By appointment only
Class Meeting Time and Location: Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm,
Downtown Campus, Room - TBA
Catalog Description: This special topics course looks at the evolution of economic thinking from the earliest
societies through modern times. The course addresses the thoughts of various economists and philosophers and their
respective impacts on the times in which they lived. Discusses and demonstrates the holistic view of economics and
economic philosophy.
Prerequisites: None
Required Textbook and Resources:
BOOK
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological
Association
AUTHOR
American
Psychological
Association
ED YEAR
PUBLISHER
ISBN#
6th
American
Psychological
Association
13:9781433805615
Optional Materials: Collegiate Dictionary – hard cover.
2009
Competencies & Objectives









Summarize issues effecting economic thought and understanding
Describe three problems all economies have tried to solve through the ages
Identify the changing attitudes of developing economies in the growth of evolving societies
Analyze the evolutionary understanding of fiscal and monetary policy
Evaluate the relationship between understanding of economics and the modernization of a society
Define the changing understanding of supply and demand
Outline the major factors that affected the growth of modern capitalism
Describe the changing perspectives of value and its effect on economic decisions
Relate the role of government in developing economies
Course Outline
•
•
•
Role of economics in modern society
Understanding the evolution of economic thought
The changing focus and understanding of economics and modern fiscal systems.
Attendance Requirements: You may miss a maximum of three (2) classes. Any work missed is your
responsibility, not mine. If you are going to miss, make sure a classmate can get information for you. Any work due
on class date is still due that day even if you are not in class. No late work is accepted under any circumstances..
Disability Statement: “In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the
policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational
program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator
of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 2913765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”
Course Outline
Meeting One
•
Introductions, coverage of syllabus and other bureaucratic stuff.
•
What’s it all about, this economics thing?
Meeting Two
•
What does economics do?
•
Discussion Question One
Meeting Three
•
The questions the economies try to answer.
Meeting Four
•
After the ice.
•
Barterism to Bullionism
•
Discussion Question Two
Meeting Five
•
The Physiocrats
•
Tableau Economique
Meeting Six
•
Classical and Neo-classical economics
•
Discussion Question Three
Meeting Seven
•
The rise of modern economies
Meetings Eight

The rise of Modern economies (con’t.)
Meetings Nine and Ten – Dead Economist Presentations
Course Evaluation – (200 points)
•
•
Assignments applying course concepts to practical research writing.
Final proposal.
Assessment and Scoring
Discussion Question 1
Discussion Question 2
Discussion Question 3
Media Assignment
Final Assignment
20 points
20 points
20 points
20 points
120 points
The University has a standard grade scale
A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F= below 60%, W = Withdrawal, WP =
withdrew passing, WF = withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last
two weeks of a long term to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination,
or other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if
the work required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the
instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate
date, the I is converted to an F. Graduate students can figure their respective grades using a weighted
factor of 1.2.