Prince William Sound Community College

Principles of Microeconomics

Course Syllabus ECON 202

 

Credits:         3
Instructor:     Melissa Reese, 835-3066 melissa_reese@valdez.cc
Date:            January 16, 2007

 

Course Description

This course is an introduction to economic theory. Microeconomics explores the concepts behind theory of prices and markets; industrial organization; public policy; income distribution; and contemporary problems of labor and business. Prerequisite: knowledge of basic algebra is recommended.

 

Objectives

Students will demonstrate their understanding of microeconomic theory by their performance on examinations and their ability to apply microeconomic principles by their written analyses of issues facing the modern American economy. On completion of the course, students should have a basic understanding of the economic problem; consumer choice and elasticities; production and costs; perfect competition; monopolistic competition; and income distribution. The student should be able to demonstrate the use of this knowledge through explanation, application, and interpretation of economic issues

 

Teaching Methodologies

This on-line introductory course emphasizes on-line and textbook assignments. Students will complete and e-mail assignments to the instructor. All assignments have firm due dates. Late assignments will not be accepted.

 

Evaluation Methodologies

Students must complete assignments on time to do well in this course. Late assignments will not be accepted.

 

 Final Exam

All Chapters

May  20%
Unit Exams  20%
 Semester Project

Business Plan

March 15  20%
 Chapter Quizzes  All Chapters  Each Week  20%
Workbook and in-class Assignments 20%

 

Required Text

Milller, Roger LeRoy. Economics Today The Micro View 13th Ed. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. Boston.

Miller, Roger LeRoy & VanHoose, David. Study Guide for Microeconomics to Accompany Economics Today. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. Boston.

 

January 16    Chapter 1

            Excel

            ALEXsys http://www.jobs.state.ak.us

January 18 - no class - ALEXsys - by background and resume builder

January 23    Chapter 2

            ALEXsys

            MLA format - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/
            Production Possibilities Activities  http://www.bus.msu.edu/econ/brown/pim/

January 25    Chapter 3       Supply and Demand

            Business Plan introduction

January 30    no class -

            Find three business plans

http://www.toolkitcch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp 
http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/index.html_

             Find three resources for creating business plans

February 1 - no class - arrange test at PWSCC for Chapter 1-3 Test

February 6     Chapter 4       Extension of Supply and Demand

    Chapters 4-6 Test Review

February 8     Chapter 5       Public Sector and Public Choice

February 13   Chapter 6       Taxes, Transfers, and Public Spending

February 15   Chapters 4-6 Test

            Business Plan outline due

February 20   Chapter 20    Consumer Choice

    Chapters 20-22 Test Review

February 22   Chapter 21    Demand and Supply Elasticity      

February 27   Chapter 22    Rents, Profits, and the financial Environment of Business

March 1          Chapters 20-22 Test

            Business Plan draft due

March 6          Chapter 23    The Firm: Cost and Output Determination

    Chapters 23-25 Test Review

March 8          Chapter 24    Perfect Competition

March 13        Chapter 25    Monopoly

March 15 -  Business Plan final due

            Chapters 23-25 Test

March 20 - Spring Break

March 22 - Spring Break

March 27 - No class - interview VHS students

    Chapters 26-28 Test Review

March 29        No class

April 3             Chapter 26    Monopolistic Competition

April 5             Chapter 27    Oligopoly and Strategic Behavior

April 10          Chapter 28    Regulation and Antitrust Policy in a Globalized Economy

April 12          Chapters 26-28 Test - Schedule time with PWSCC personnel

April 17          Chapter 29    The Labor Market: Demand, Supply, and Outsourcing

                        Chapters 29-32 Test Review

April 19          Chapter 30    Union and Labor Market Monopoly Power

April 24          Chapter 31    Income, Poverty, and Health Care

April 26          Chapter 32    Environmental Economics

May 1 -         Chapters 29-32 Test