Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:   Principles of Macroeconomics

Course Prefix & Number: ECON2301

Section Number:  852

Semester/Year: 

Fall 2020

Semester Credit Hours:  3

Lecture Hours:  3

Lab Hours:  0

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

An analysis of the economy as a whole including measurement and determination of Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply, national income, inflation, and unemployment.  Other topics include international trade, economic growth, business cycles, and fiscal policy and monetary policy.

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required Materials:

 

McConnell, Brue & Flynn.  Macroeconomics:  Principles, Problems & Policies

(Connect Access)

McGraw-Hill 22nd edition

ISBN:  9781264112470

 

Connect Access may be purchased at the time students register for Connect through Canvas.  A temporary 14-day free access is available if students are not prepared to pay for access on the first day of class.

 

Connect Access:  The textbook, SmartBook, and Connect activities are all maintained within the McGraw-Hill Connect System.  Students will need to complete their registration in Connect through Canvas on the first day of class, as assignments are due immediately. 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Melissa Blankenship

Campus/Office Location:

FM 107

Telephone Number:

972-899-8400 x8504

E-mail Address:

mblankenship@nctc.edu (Please use CANVAS email unless not available)

 

OFFICE HOURS

 

All office hours this semester will be held virtually via WebEx.  I will hold open office hours Monday – Thursday from 2-3pm in my personal WebEx room.  That link is provided in Canvas.  Private conferences are available by appointment, just email me.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

 

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

Explain the role of scarcity, specialization, opportunity cost, and cost/benefit analysis in economic decision-making.

 

Identify the determinants of supply and demand; demonstrate the impact of shifts in both market supply and demand curves on equilibrium price and output.

 

Define and measure national income and rates of unemployment and inflation

 

Identify the phases of the business cycle and the problems caused by cyclical fluctuations in the market economy.

 

Define money and the money supply; describe the process of money creation by the banking system and the role of the central bank.

 

Construct the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model of the macro economy and use it to illustrate macroeconomic problems and potential monetary and fiscal policy solutions.

 

Explain the mechanics and institutions of international trade and their impact on the macro economy.

 

Define economic growth and identify sources of economic growth.

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

 

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

Homework/LearnSmart/Discussion Boards

20%

Quizzes

20%

Projects

20%

Exams

40%

 


 

GRADING POLICIES

 

The 2 lowest LearnSmart/homework grades will be dropped.  The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.  No late assignments will be accepted.  For an extra credit point, email me a picture of a dog.  No makeup exams are given – you must check the schedule and notify me at the beginning of the course if you have a conflict with an exam date. 

 

Extra credit assignments are NOT guaranteed and will be given at the discretion of the instructor.  Any extra credit will be assigned to enhance the learning experience and not simply to raise a grade.

 

CANVAS/CONNECT ACCESS:  All students must have complete access to Canvas for the entire semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the internet at all times, as well as having all needed programs to complete an online course.  Students are not to give any other person access to his/her Canvas account.  Students can be removed from the online course immediately for violating this rule.  Once a student has given another person access to his/her Canvas account, the credibility of any work becomes questionable.

 

Assignments must be submitted via Canvas/Connect.  No assignments will be accepted via email.

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Refer to Canvas Calendar 

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Dropping a course is the student's responsibility, but you MAY be dropped for excessive absence.  See Attendance Regulations in the North Central Texas College Catalog

 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 2, 2020.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______       

 

        Communication

        Mathematics              

        Life and Physical Science

        Language, Philosophy & Culture

        Creative Arts

 

            Government/Political Science

X         Social and Behavioral Sciences

        Component Area Option

        American History

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

X          Critical Thinking

X                Communication

X                Empirical and Quantitative

 

             Teamwork

                  Personal Responsibility

X                Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

            Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

        WECM Course

 

 

 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

 

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  You are not to give any person (which includes parents, spouses, friends, etc) access to your Canvas account at any time during the semester.  If you do, you are putting the integrity of the course work completed in question.  Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf in Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me on my office phone, 972-899-8400 x8504, or my NCTC email address: mblankenship@nctc.edu.  Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account.  Any student who cheats on any course material (exams, assignments, quizzes) will immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction.

 

COVID-19 Guidelines

 

Potential Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

 

Faculty will:

 

  • Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

 

 

 

Students should:

  • Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
  • Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
  • Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
  • Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
  • Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
  • Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
  • Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During this period, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

 

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Adam Ramsey

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 814

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4925

E-mail Address:

aramsey@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

316 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201

Telephone Number:

940-380-2504

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu