Instructor Information
Professor:
Email:
Office hours:
Online section:
ECON 201: Principles of Microeconomics
Online Summer 2017
Syllabus
John Stavick
[email protected] (this is the preferred method of communication)
Virtual office hours conducted via Collaborate according to schedule posted on D2L
U820T
Course Information
Catalog Description:
Principles of Microeconomics studies basic economic concepts as they relate to consumer, worker, and business
decisions. Emphasis is given to satisfaction maximizing behavior by individuals and profit maximization by firms.
Market structures are thoroughly analyzed regarding their effect on price, output, and competitiveness.
Prerequisites:
None
Required Textbook and Courseware:
The textbook we’ll be using is Principles of Microeconomics by N. Gregory Mankiw, 7th Edition. ISBN: 978-1-28516590-5. Please note the title of the book. The required courseware we’ll be using is Aplia
(http://www.aplia.com/). Directions for accessing Aplia, including the Course Key, are in a separate document
on the main D2L course page. Please note that access to Aplia is required for this course. Aplia access includes
an e-textbook in the price. You are not required to have a physical textbook for this course although some
students prefer having the book to read instead of reading on the computer.
Learning Objectives
General Eduction:
This class fulfills the following Goal of the South Dakota System General Education Requirements:
GOAL #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community
through study of economics.
As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to:
1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology, methodology and theories of microeconomics. Special
emphasis is placed on the economic way of thinking and the application of this mode of thinking to
analyzing real world problems and issues.
2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues
3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.
4. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the allocations of human or natural resources within societies
Learning objectives will be assessed through problem sets, examinations, and class discussions.
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Course Schedule and Reading List (All times are Central)
Section 1 – First two weeks
Week
Start date Date and time
1
1
2
2
5/15/2017
5/18/2017
5/22/2017
5/25/2017
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
Section 2 – Second two weeks
Week
Start date Date and time
3
3
4
4
5/29/2017
6/1/2017
6/5/2017
6/8/2017
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
Section 3 – Third two weeks
Week
Start date Date and time
5
5
6
6
6/12/2017
6/15/2017
6/19/2017
6/22/2017
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
Monday 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM
End date
Date and time
5/17/2017
5/21/2017
5/24/2017
5/28/2017
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Sunday 11:59 PM
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Sunday 11:59 PM
End date
Date and time
5/31/2017
6/4/2017
6/7/2017
6/11/2017
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Sunday 11:59 PM
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Sunday 11:59 PM
End date
Date and time
6/14/2017
6/18/2017
6/21/2017
6/23/2017
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Sunday 11:59 PM
Wednesday 11:59 PM
Friday, 11:59 PM
Chapters
covered
1-2
4
5-6
Exam I
Chapters
covered
7-8
10-11
13-14
Exam II
Chapters
covered
15
16-17
18-19
Exam III
Assignments
Online Class time:
We will meet twice per week via Collaborate on D2L for live online office hours. The schedule for the office
hours will be posted on the course calendar and on a printable schedule posted on the main D2L course page.
This is the best opportunity for you to come ask questions that arise about the material and to listen to
questions others may have. The more students that show up, the more beneficial these sessions can be,
especially when you come with questions. Make sure that your Java software is up to date and that your popup
blocker is OFF when arriving for office hours.
Exams:
This course has three exams. Each section exam covers only the material in that section of the course. See the
course reading above for the chapters covered on each section exam. The final exam is not cumulative.
Exams must be taken in a proctored environment and on a computer using the "RESPONDUS BROWSER
LOCKDOWN" program. This is required by USD policy and there are no exceptions. You can download and install
RESPONDUS once the semester begins. A proctored exam environment means you either need to take the
exams at a pre-approved University Center (Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City), the Continuing Education Office on
campus at USD, or with an approved proctor. Read the CDE Testing Information. If you are not using a
University center, you MUST complete a proctor form. Your proctor will oversee the administration of your
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exam. Your proctor must be approved by USD before you can take the exams. Make sure you allow sufficient
time to process your proctor form! Exam results will be posted in the D2L gradebook within one week of the
end of the exam period.
Homework Assignments:
During the semester, you will complete required homework assignments for each chapter covered. Homework
assignments are completed using the Aplia courseware. There will be two homework assignment deadlines
every week. Homework assignments are due on Sundays and Wednesdays at 11:55pm Central time according
to the schedule above. The schedule on D2L includes which chapters are covered by each Aplia homework
assignment. Assignments are graded immediately after the due date.
Grading:
There are two section exams, weekly homework assignments, and a final exam in this course. Please see the
policies below on make-up work and late assignments.
Your course grade will consist of the following:
Exam 1: 25% - 250 points
Exam 2: 25% - 250 points
Exam 3: 25% - 250 points
Average of Aplia homework assignments: 25% - 250 points
Total: 100% or 1000 points
Course grades will be determined by the following grading scale:
Letter Grade
Points
Percentage
A
900-1000
90% - 100%
B
800-899
80% - 89.9%
C
700-799
70% - 79.9%
D
600-699
60% - 69.9%
F
<599
Below 60%
Course Policies
Communication:
I use email as a main communication tool. You must be able to access your USD email account. Please make
sure your inbox is not too full to receive messages. You are expected to check your USD email account regularly
(multiple times per week). When you email me, you can expect a response within 24 hours during the week. On
the weekends, my responses may take longer. Please use my USD email address. Please DO NOT use the
Course Mail option in D2L.
Desire2Learn:
The course uses Desire to Learn (D2L) for all course information, lecture notes, and grades. You can access D2L
through the MyU portal or at https://d2l.sdbor.edu/. You should check the website for this course in D2L
multiple times per week. A new feature in D2L allows you to set up notifications about when I post
announcements. You can sign up to receive email or text message notifications when I post an announcement
to our D2L site. If you do not see ECON-201 in your list of courses, see me about adding you to the course.
Access to D2L does not begin until May 15.
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Attendance:
Success in any course, but particularly in an economics course, is highly correlated with class participation.
While this is an online class, it does not mean it is a self-paced or correspondence-like course. Each week you
will be required to complete a number of tasks as outlined in the schedule on D2L.
If we were meeting face to face for this course we would meet for 6 hours each week and you would have
reading and homework to do every week. Fortunately, this online format offers flexibility (perhaps you are
working during the day or at night). The course is set up to allow you to choose what time of day you will
participate. However, this does not diminish the time commitment. Taking a 3 credit course means you must
set time aside for the course. You will need to find time to read a significant amount each week along with
weekly discussions and Aplia homework assignments. I anticipate it will take you 14-18 hours per week to do
well in this course, considering we are moving at double the speed of a typical fall or spring semester. Please
make sure to schedule enough time.
Late Work:
Homework assignments on Aplia cannot be submitted late. Late homework assignments will receive a zero.
Exams not completed during the allotted schedule for them will also receive zeroes.
Make-up Work:
It is mutually inconvenient to give make-up exams and assignments. Therefore, make-up work is generally more
difficult. Make-up work is allowed only in the most extreme circumstances and with documentation. If you
need to make-up an exam, you must contact me prior to the end of the exam period. I will not consider
requests for make-up exams that are made after an exam has closed except in the most extreme circumstances.
University Policies
Beacom School of Business Policy on Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is defined as using the words and/or ideas of another representing them to be your own, without proper credit
to the author or source. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism will result, at a minimum, in a grade of zero for
that assignment. Since it is impossible to evaluate a plagiarized assignment, no credit can be given. However, at the
discretion of the instructor, a student may be allowed to rewrite and resubmit the assignment for credit.
Beacom School of Business Undergraduate Exit Exam (USD Business Majors Only):
The material presented in this course is part of the common body of knowledge for this discipline. Mastering the
information presented in this course lays the foundation for your future success as a knowledgeable, well-rounded business
professional. The course is designed to encourage you to commit this valuable information to your long-term memory. In
addition to demonstrating mastery of this information throughout the course, you will also be required to demonstrate
your retention of this critical common body of knowledge by achieving a satisfactory score on the Beacom School of
Business’s exit exam which is part of BADM 482 Business Policy and Strategy. Achieving a satisfactory score on the exit
exam is a graduation requirement. This applies to all Business majors (BBA programs).
No credit can be given for a dishonest assignment. A student found to have engaged in any form of academic dishonesty
may, at the discretion of the instructor, be:
a) Given a zero for that assignment.
b) Allowed to rewrite and resubmit the assignment for credit.
c) Assigned a reduced grade for the course.
d) Dropped from the course.
e) Failed in the course
USD Academic Misconduct Link
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Statement on Freedom in Learning:
Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic
basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned
exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they
are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an
academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinion or conduct unrelated to academic
standards should contact the Dean of the Beacom School of Business to initiate a review of the evaluation.
Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota Mission Statement:
We are a community of scholars and practitioners committed to superior undergraduate and graduate business programs
accredited by AACSB International. We emphasize excellence in teaching, promote intellectual exchange and development,
and advocate continuous learning reflecting a dynamic global environment. Our services deliver value to our students, the
university, business disciplines, and society.
Student Code of Ethics:
Students enrolled at the Beacom School of Business are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical
principles and to adhere to the Student Code of Ethics developed and approved by Beacom School of Business students.
This Code provides a frame of reference for the behavior of Beacom School of Business students in their personal,
academic, and professional activities.
To learn more about these expectations, read the Student Code of Ethics posted on D2L.
ADA Statement:
Any student who feels he/she may need academic accommodations or access accommodations based on the impact of any
disability should contact and register with the Office of Disability Services during the first week of class. Please contact both
your instructor and the Director of the Office of Disability Services (677-6389), Ms. Ernetta L. Fox, Director, to make these
arrangements.
Withdrawal Policy:
The last day to drop a class with a full refund and without having the class recorded on your academic record is Thursday,
May 18, 2017. The last day to drop a class with a grade of “W” is Monday, June 12, 2017. Courses may not be dropped on
or after Tuesday, June 13, 2017.
The instructor of a course may drop a student for non-attendance or non-participation provided the student is in violation
of the official attendance policy or participation policy of the course. Instructor initiated drops are at the instructor's option,
but they must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by June 12th and be approved by the dean of the college or school in
which the course is offered. The student is notified by the Registrar's Office that he/she has been dropped from the course.
The grade assigned is in accord with the drop policy for student initiated drops. If you do not participate in the weekly
homework assignments and discussion posts, I reserve the right to drop you from the course for non-participation.
Mission Statement:
Our primary mission is excellence in undergraduate and graduate education that develops successful future business
leaders. We deliver high value to our students, employers and community through distinctive teaching and learning
supported by significant intellectual and professional contributions and meaningful service.
Student Resources
The University of South Dakota provides a number of useful services to students:
CDE Online Orientation Guide and Online Student Readiness Check:
This contains very important information related to the services provided by the University of South Dakota as
well as the University policies. In it, you will find such information as:
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•
•
•
Academic support services such as the library, writing center, proctor and testing information, book
purchasing, etc.
Student support services such as advising and enrollment information, financial aid, student life, and
counseling, etc.
Technology support services like technology requirements, ITS Help Desk contact information, discounts
on computers and software, etc.
USD Portal (http://myu.usd.edu/):
The USD Portal is your one-stop place for a majority of services offered to any student taking a USD course—like
this course. You can access the following services from the “Academics” tab in the portal:
• Desire2Learn
• WebAdvisor
• I.D. Weeks Library
Learning and Study Suggestions
Economics is not a subject that can simply be "memorized." The goal of this course is not to teach you to be
good at trivia, but to condition your mind to approach problems in new ways. The application, interpretation,
and evaluation of concepts and models are fundamental to learning economics. The following are some
suggestions for learning and study. You will have to determine what works best for you.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Log-on for the live class lectures. The lecture and class activities will emphasize what I feel is important,
and you can develop a set of notes from which to study.
Ask questions!! Your questions and comments during the live sessions and the discussion posts help not
only yourself but others to learn and understand. Be an active participant in class discussions. If you are
struggling, please contact me for additional help.
Read the text, preferably before the material is reviewed in class. You may not fully understand the
material the first time you read it that is why you need to participate in the Collaborate lecture so I can
explain it further.
Study with others in class - there is much you can learn from each other.
Practice. Work problems on the homework and the practice quizzes for each chapter in D2L.
Don't fall behind – consistent effort is necessary, not sporadic cram sessions
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How to access your Aplia course
Econ 201 Summer 2017
Instructor: John Stavick
Start Date: 05/15/2017
What is Aplia?
In just 10 years, more than one billion answers have been submitted through Aplia, the premier
online assignment solution. Millions of students use Aplia to better prepare for class and for their
exams. Join them today!
Registration
1. Connect to http://login.cengagebrain.com/course/9CR2-8BXP-YFDG
2. Follow the prompts to register for your Aplia course.
Payment
After registering for your course, you will need to pay for access using one of the options below:
Online: You can pay online using a credit or debit card, or PayPal.
Bookstore: You may be able to purchase access to Aplia at your bookstore. Check with the
bookstore to find out what they offer for your course.
Free Trial: Your course enrollment includes a free trial period of up to two weeks. After the free
trial ends you will be required to pay for access.
Please note: At the end of the free trial period, your course access will be suspended until your
payment has been made. All your scores and course activity will be saved and will be available to
you after you pay for access.
If you already registered an access code or bought Aplia online, the course key to register for this
course is: 9CR2-8BXP-YFDG
System Check
To check whether your computer meets the requirements for using Aplia, go to
http://www.aplia.com/support/sysreq.jsp
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