HomeMy WebLinkAboutECO-1011
BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Division of Business & Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences
Departmental Policy Syllabus
ECO-101 Principles of Macroeconomics
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an analytical and institutional study of the American economy. The course
explores issues such as inflation, recession, unemployment, financial markets, money & banking, and
the role of government spending and taxation to achieve an optimal allocation of resources, price
stability, full-employment level of national income, and long-term growth under the modern market
economy.
Credits: 3
Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
Co-requisites: None
General Education Course: Yes
Diversity Course: No
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The main goal of this course is to improve your economic literacy and ability to apply economic models
to analyze world events. As a result of meeting the requirements of this course, students will be able
to:
➢ Discuss the role of scarcity, specialization, opportunity cost and cost/benefit analysis in economic
decision-making
➢ Illustrate the impact of shocks & sticky prices for short-run fluctuations in output & employment
➢ Explain and compute measures of national income as well as rates of unemployment and
inflation
➢ Demonstrate the relationship between income and consumption as well as savings and income
➢ Construct the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model of the macro economy and use it
to explain macroeconomic problems as well as potential policy solutions
➢ Describe the functions of money, the fractional reserve banking system, the role of the Federal
Reserve in the U.S. economy and evaluate the goals, tools, as well as the effectivenes s of
monetary policy on GDP and the price level
➢ Use the extended aggregate demand and aggregate supply model to clarify the long-run aspects
of inflation, recessions, & economic growth
➢ Compare and contrast different perspectives on the causes of macroeconomic instability
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MEANS OF ASSESSMENT
In order to meet the Student Learning Objectives above, various assessment types will be utilized. The
major assessment types used in this course are graded class discussions, objective tests and
examinations, essay tests and examinations, student presentations (individual or group), and writing
assignments (papers, short essays, book reports, etc.).
COURSE TEXTBOOK
Suggested textbook: McConnell, C.R, Brue, S.L., & Flynn, S. (2023). Macroeconomics, 23th Edition. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
RESEARCH, THINKING, WRITING, AND/OR EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT(S)
Writing Activity: All students in the economics course will be expected to engage in one or more
written assignments. These assignments may be essay questions on one or more tests, an essay test, or
a short-written report based on outside readings or activities. For example, students will be able to
research and locate information related to a current U.S. economic policy and write a term paper
about it.
Critical Thinking: Students would be encouraged through classroom activities to think about, analyze,
and use basic economic concepts. Memorization of key concepts and theories should be thought as the
first, not the final, stage of learning significant course material.
GRADING POLICY
A student’s final grade should be based primarily on his/her performance on the assignments and the
mastery of the material covered in the course. In determining a student’s final grade, a minimum of
three assignments are to be employed. They may include multiple choices, definitions and essay type
question examinations, a written term project, and/or an oral presentation to the class. Class
participation may also be part of the final grade.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
BCC Attendance Policy: All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of
each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be
determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on
the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and
counseling purposes.
OTHER COLLEGE, DIVISIONAL, AND/OR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY STATEMENTS
Academic Dishonesty: The College has a zero-tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty.
Instances of alleged academic dishonesty such as plagiarism or cheating will be reported to the
Departmental Chair and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Should such allegation be proven, the
student will face failure for the work where the cheating occurred, and possibly be removed from the
class and suspended from the college with a permanent record of the offense established.
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Communication: Only communications made through Bergen e-mail account will be accepted. No
personal e-mail accounts will be used. Each and every one of you has a Bergen e-mail account and you
must use that account when communicating with faculty members.
Withdrawals: Students who decide to withdraw from the class can do so without penalty (with the
exception of losing tuition money) as long as they meet the official deadline for withdrawal which is
posted in the Academic Calendar of the college. Please check that Calendar for the exact date.
Remember, do not just walk away from the course without officially withdrawing as it will result in a 3-
credit zero averaged into your GPA. If you are failing the course, withdraw officially while you can
without penalty.
Class Cancellation: Please view class cancellations online by selecting Class Cancellations under Current
Students>Student Support Services on the College’s home page at www.bergen.edu.
STUDENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES
The Distance Learning Office-for any
problems you may have accessing
your online courses
Room C-334
210-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
The Tutoring Center Room L-125 201-447-7489
The Writing Center Room L-125 201-447-7489
The Office of Specialized Services
(for Students with Disabilities) Room L-115 201-612-5269
www.bergen.edu/oss
The Sidney Silverman Library Room L-226 201-447-7970
http://www.bergen.edu/library
COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
Week(s) Topic Reading/Activity/Assignments
1 Limits, Alternatives, & Choices Chapter 1/Homework/Quiz
2 An Introduction to Macroeconomics Chapter 6/Homework/Quiz
3 Measuring Domestic Output & National Income Chapter 7/Homework/Quiz
4 Business Cycles, Unemployment, & Inflation Chapter 9/Homework/Quiz
5 Review Exam 1
6 Basic Macroeconomic Relationships Chapter 10/Homework/Quiz
7 Aggregate Expenditures Model Chapter 11/Homework/Quiz
8 Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply Chapter 12/Homework/Quiz
9 Fiscal Policy, Deficits, & Debt Chapter 13/Homework/Quiz
10 Review Exam 2
11 Money, the Federal Reserve, and Interest Rates Chapter 14/Homework/Quiz
12 Monetary Policy, GDP, & the Price Level Chapter 15/Homework/Quiz
13 Extending the Analysis of Aggregate Supply Chapter 17/Homework/Quiz
14 Current Issues in Macro Theory & Policy Chapter 18/Homework/Quiz
15 Review Final Exam
Note to Students: This Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending upon
the progress of the class.