Course Syllabus

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Course Syllabus - Economic Principles - Econ 101 - 5607- Spring 2025

Instructor Name: Todd Myers

Email Address: todd.myers@sdsu.edu

Meeting Time: M, W, and online activities F 2:00 -3:15 PM

Meeting Place: PG 153

Office Hours: By Appointment in Zoom. Here are ways to enter my Zoom office:

Topic: Todd Myers' Office Hours

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

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Preferred method of contact: Please contact me by email at todd.myers@sdsu.edu if you have any problems or questions with regards to the course. I will respond to emails within 24 hours on weekdays and on Monday for messages sent over the weekend. We can also set appointments in Zoom.

Course Description:

Principles of economic analysis, economic institutions, and issues of public policy. Emphasis on macroanalysis including national income analysis, money and banking, business cycles, and economic stabilization.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand, calculate, and analyze macroeconomic indicators including changes in employment, real GDP, interest rates, and price levels.
  2. Understand economic growth and the business cycle.
  3. Identify various causes of macroeconomic instability and evaluate different interventionist and non-interventionist perspectives.
  4. Identify and describe the major institutions and instruments through which macroeconomic policies are implemented.
  5. Identify the many consequences of scarcity and explain how changes in opportunity costs affect behavior.

Course Content:

This course is a hybrid course that meets in class on M and W and has tests, films, discussions, and other online activities due on Fridays.

Week 1 January 21 – January 24

  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Friday – Online Activity 1 due

Week 2 January 27 – January 31

  • Chapter 2: Introduction to Choice in a World of Scarcity
  • Friday – Online Activity 2 due

Week 3 February 3 – February 7

  • Chapter 3: Introduction to Demand and Supply
  • Wednesday - Test 1 2:00 -3:15 PM

Week 4 February 10 – February 14

  • Chapter 6: Introduction to the Macroeconomic Perspective
  • Friday – Online Activity 3 due

Week 5 February 17 – February 21

  • Chapter 7: Introduction to Economic Growth
  • Friday – Online Activity 4 due

Week 6 February 24 – February 28

  • Chapter 8: Introduction to Unemployment
  • Wednesday Test 2 online 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Week 7 March 3 – March 7

  • Chapter 9: Introduction to Inflation
  • Friday – Online Activity 5 due

Week 8 March 10 – March 14

  • Chapter 11: Introduction to the Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply Model
  • Friday – Online Activity 6 due

Week 9 March 17- March 21

  • Chapter 12: Introduction to the Keynesian Perspective
  • Wednesday – Test 3 online 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Week 10 March 24 - March 28

  • Chapter 13: Introduction to the Neoclassical Perspective

Week 11 March 31 – April 4

Spring Break

Week 12 April 7 – April 11

  • Chapter 14: Introduction to Money and Banking
  • Friday – Online Activity 7 due

Week 13 April 14 – April 18

  • Chapter 15: Introduction to Monetary Policy and Bank Regulation
  • Friday – Online Activity 8 due

Week 14 April 21 – April 25

  • Chapter 17: Introduction to Government and Fiscal Policy
  • Wednesday – Test 4 online 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Week 15 April 28 – May 2

  • Chapter 18: Introduction to the Impacts of Government Borrowing
  • Chapter 19: Introduction to Macroeconomic Policy Around the World
  • Wednesday – Test 5 online 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Week 16 May 4 – May 9

  • Chapter 20: Introduction to International Trade
  • Chapter 21: Introduction to Globalization and Protectionism
  • Friday – Online Activity 9 due

Week 17 May 12 – May 16

M Final Exam 1:00 -3:00 PM

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Principles of Macroeconomics from OpenStax (Links to an external site.), ISBN 1-947172-30-1 

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

 

Important Notes:

  • If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
  • The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism(Links to an external site.). These activities will not be tolerated in this class. Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html). Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.

Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:

  • Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work)
  • Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
  • Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
  • Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
  • Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class

If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy (Links to an external site.) (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html) and this helpful guide from the Library (Links to an external site.):( http://infodome.sdsu.edu/infolit/exploratorium/Standard_5/plagiarism.pdf) (Links to an external site.)

Grades and assessments

Do not confuse points and percentages. Your grade will be based on the percentage of the points you earn in a category and that percent will be weighted by the percentage the category counts toward your grade.  The three categories added with their weights will determine your final grade.

Five 16 Point Tests – 60%

You will have five 12 point tests during the semester that may include multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, and essay questions.

Final Exam - 20 Points – 20%

Your final exam will be worth 20 points and will be comprehensive. It may include multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, and essay questions.

Online Activities – 90 points – 20%

This category will include discussions, quizzes, small technical films, and documentaries.  You will earn points by completing the activity.

Grading Scale:
A =  +90, B = +80, C = +65, D = 60, F = Below 60

Grade consequences for less than the completed performance of course requirements:

Missed assignments cannot be made up.

The instructor reserves the right to use his discretion in individual circumstances that may not be covered by this syllabus or if the application of the rules of the syllabus would result in a miscarriage of justice. If you have any problems with the class or the instructor, please come to talk to me about these issues during office hours so that we can work the issues out.  I am a reasonable person and will try to address your concerns in a manner that will be mutually satisfactory, fair, and just. 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due