COURSE SYLLABUS SUMMER 2013

Course:
Business Economics
Section:
X 100

Professor:
Britt Hastey
(323) 953-4000 x2547 work
(714) 349-8852 evening
Email: b.hastey@yahoo.com

Days/Time:
ONLINE
06/26/13 09/11/13
Room #:
ONLINE
Prerequisites:
None
Description:
This course examines the effort of the enterprise to secure profits and the nature of demand for its
products. Topics include demand and supply, consumer and firm behavior, public and private sectors,
cost and production, allocation of resources through competition, forms of market competition, foreign
exchange markets, relation of size to efficiency, markets for productive factors, and incentives and
growth.
Required Text:
Boyes, William and Michael Melvin. Economics. 9th ed., South-Western Cengage Learning, 2013.
ISBN: 1-111-82613-7
Course Objectives:
This is a very broad and general economics course. We will examine various micro and macro-economic
issues that have relevance in the business environment, as well as clarify terms (i.e. what is a business,
what is economics, what is money, etc.) in an effort to establish a strong understanding of the topics
covered. Contemporary situations and actions of known organizations will be utilized throughout as a
means of either validating or questioning economic theory. By the end of the course the student should be
able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Use analytical tools which can be used to understand how people make choices.
Study contemporary economic issues and analyze them by using the tools of economic analysis.
Understand roles of government and the Federal Reserve in economic analysis.
Analyze how the market system solves basic economic problems.
Understand how group or collective economic decisions are made and the consequences.

Major Study Units:

1. Choice, Opportunity Costs, and Trade
2. Supply and Demand
3. Basic Theory of Market Prices and the Private Sector
4. Analysis of Costs and Output Decisions
5. Market Equilibrium
6. The Public Sector
7. National Income Accounting
8. The Foreign Exchange Market and Balance of Payments
9. Unemployment and Inflation
10. Macroeconomic Equilibrium: Aggregate Demand and Supply
11. Money and Banking
12. Pricing in Competitive Markets

Method of Evaluation:
The final grade will be determined by the announced exams, quizzes, homework assignments, and
discussion forums. All exams, quizzes homework assignments, and discussions will be completed online
and must be submitted electronically. The point system is referenced below.
Points Distribution:
2 quizzes @ 40 points each
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
10 Homework Assignments @ 5 points each
10 Discussions @ 5 points each

= 80 points
= 100 points
= 100 points
= 50 points
= 50 points

Total Points for course

= 380 points

Grading:
Grades are based on the scale as follow:
A
=
342 to 380 points
B
=
304 to 341 points
C
=
266 to 303 points
D
=
228 to 265 points
F
=
0 to 227 points

Please note that ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL.

How this class will be taught on-line: What you need to know
Mode of Instruction:
This course will be 100% online (lecture readings, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and exams). Each
week we cover a new section of material. Weeks begin on Monday morning (except the first week it
begins on Wednesday) and end at 11:30pm the following Sunday. You will not be allowed to work
ahead, but you will be able to go back and view past lecture notes and materials. In the course website, I
will provide students with my lecture notes and PowerPoint slides for all of the chapters that will be
covered. These are a very valuable tool to use to help understand the material. Read them in conjunction
with the textbook. It is your responsibility to keep up with the readings and assignments.
Online Quizzes:
There will be a total of 2 quizzes. They begin on the scheduled Monday and must be completed by the
following Sunday by 11:30pm. Students will only be able to take each quiz once and will have 20
minutes to complete. Also, you will only be allowed to enter each quiz exam once. Once entered,
you must complete, as you cannot re-enter. Each quiz is worth 40 points. They will consist of 10
multiple choice questions. There will be no set time for the student to log on to complete the quizzes.
However, they must be completed by the end of the week in which they are assigned. Failure to take any
of the quizzes will result in a grade of zero. No make-ups will be allowed. Quizzes can be found by
clicking on the Assignments tab. Then look for the week in which they are assigned. Click on the quiz
to begin. Follow the on-screen instructions. Keep in mind there is a timer, but it is not visible. You will
be given a one minute warning. Its best to keep a watch/timer nearby so you can monitor your time. The
following is a breakdown of each quiz with regards to start/end dates and chapters covered:
Quiz #1 07/22/13 to 07/28/13 - Chapters 1, 2, 3
Quiz #2 08/19/13 to 08/25/13 Chapters 5, 6
Homework Assignments:
There will be a total of 10 homework assignments valued at 5 points each for a total of 50 points. They
begin each week on Monday and must be completed by the following Sunday by 11:30pm. They will
consist of short discussion questions from the end of each chapter covered. These assignments can be
found on the course website under the heading Assignments. You will then see the assignment for the
corresponding week. To receive credit, answer each question in the body of the submission/answer box
(or as an attachment), and then click the Submit button. Credit will be determined by the quality of the
students answers. You will have unlimited attempts to complete each assignment, and there will be no
set time to log on to complete. However, each assignment must be completed by the end of the week in
which it is assigned. Failure to complete any of the assignments will result in no points for that
assignment. No make-ups will be allowed. Make sure to put your name and assignment # on your work.
Otherwise, you will not receive credit. The following is a breakdown of each assignment and start/end
dates:
Assignment #1 07/01/13 to 07/07/13 Chapter 1
Assignment #2 07/08/13 to 07/14/13 Chapter 2
Assignment #3 07/15/13 to 07/21/13 Chapter 3
Assignment #4 07/22/13 to 07/28/13 Chapter 4
Assignment #5 07/22/13 to 07/28/13 Chapter 4
Assignment #6 08/05/13 to 08/11/13 Chapter 5
Assignment #7 08/12/13 to 08/18/13 Chapter 6
Assignment #8 08/19/13 to 08/25/13 Chapter 7
Assignment #9 08/26/13 to 09/01/13 Chapter 8
Assignment #10 09/02/13 to 09/08/13 Chapter 12

Discussion Forums:
There will be a total of 10 short discussion/participation forums valued at 5 points each for a total of 50
points. They begin each week on Monday and must be completed by the following Sunday by 11:30pm.
Each student is required to participate in the threaded discussion(s) on a weekly basis in the Discussion
Board area. To receive full credit, three posts to each discussion thread are required. The first will be your
initial post due no later than 11:30pm Thursday PST (Pacific Standard Time) each week. You can simply
post something you read in the newspaper or a magazine, heard on the news or read over the internet. You
may also comment on an item you liked/did not like from reading the text. These should relate to the
topics we are covering for that week. You will then have to respond to at least two of your classmates
responses before 11:30pm Sunday. (This will result in a total of three posts per week). Each response
must be substantive, but need not be verbose. Points will be deducted for lack of participation or
insufficient responses. Technically, there are no correct answers. Your grade will be based on the depth
of your comment and your willingness to participate. Though I may not comment, I will visit the forums
to make sure students are doing their work. The just of the forum is to promote student-to-student
discussions. You must click on the Discussion Board tab to post your comments. You will then select
the appropriate week where the forum is located. Your comments must be posted in the discussion forum
area. Failure to do so will result in zero points. Do not email them to me. Students are free to discuss
their comments with fellow students. However, each student must individually submit their own work.
The following is a breakdown of each discussion forum and start/end dates:
Discussion #1 07/01/13 to 07/07/13
Discussion #2 07/08/13 to 07/14/13
Discussion #3 07/15/13 to 07/21/13
Discussion #4 07/22/13 to 07/28/13
Discussion #5 08/05/13 to 08/11/13
Discussion #6 08/12/13 to 08/18/13
Discussion #7 08/19/13 to 08/25/13
Discussion #8 08/26/13 to 09/01/13
Discussion #9 09/02/13 to 09/08/13
Discussion #10 09/04/13 to 09/11/13
Exams:
There will be a midterm and final exam. Students will only be able to take each exam once and will
have 90 minutes to complete. Also, you will only be allowed to enter the exam once. Once entered,
you must complete, as you cannot re-enter. Each exam is worth 100 points. They will consist of 50
multiple choice questions valued at 2 points each. The midterm and final exam can be found on the
course website under the heading Assignments. There will be no set time for the student to log on to
complete the exams. However, they must be completed by the scheduled end date by 11:30pm. Failure
to take any of the exams will result in a grade of zero for that test. No make-ups will be allowed. Should
you not finish before the 90 minute time limit, only work completed up to that point will get submitted.
The following is a breakdown of each exam with regards to start/end dates and chapters covered:
Midterm Exam: 07/29/13 - 08/04/13 (chapters 1 - 4)
Final Exam: 09/04/13 - 09/11/13 (chapters 5 - 8 & 12)
** PLEASE NOTE THE FINAL EXAM IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11**
Checking grades:
Students may log on to the course website to check their grades. Grades can be found by selecting the
My Grades tab.

Attendance and Participation:

Online attendance and adequate participation is recommended for the successful completion of this
course. Worthwhile contributions and punctual attendance can positively affect the grade.
Time Table:
This course is to be completed in one quarter.

Economics Course Schedule

WEEK DATE
(Mondays Date)
1 06/24/13
2 07/01/13
3 07/08/13
4 07/15/13
5 07/22/13

TOPICS / ASSIGNMENTS
Course Syllabus Course Overview
Chapter 1 - Economics: An Overview
Complete Assignment #1
Complete Discussion #1
Chapter 2 - Choice and Opportunity Costs
Complete Assignment #2
Complete Discussion #2
Chapter 3 - Demand and Supply
Complete Assignment #3
Complete Discussion #3
Chapter 4 - The Private and Public Sector
Complete Assignment #4
Complete Assignment #5
Complete Discussion #4
Complete Quiz #1 Chapters 1, 2, 3
Review for Midterm Exam

6 07/29/13
Midterm Exam - DUE 08/04/13 BY 11:30PM (Chapters 1 4)
7 08/05/13
8 08/12/13
9 08/19/13

10 08/26/13
11 09/02/13

12 09/09/13

*Please Note:

Chapter 5 National Income Accounting

Complete Assignment #6
Complete Discussion #5
Chapter 6 - The Foreign Exchange Market
Complete Assignment #7
Complete Discussion #6
Chapter 7 Unemployment and Inflation
Complete Assignment #8
Complete Discussion #7
Complete Quiz #2 Chapters 5, 6
Chapter 8 Macroeconomic Equilibrium
Complete Assignment #9
Complete Discussion #8
Chapter 12: Money and Banking
Complete Assignment #10
Complete Discussion #9
Review for Final Exam
Complete Discussion #10: DUE - 09/11/13 (available Wed., Sept. 04)
Final Exam DUE 09/11/13 BY 11:30PM (Chapters 5 8, & 12)
*The Exam will be available beginning Wednesday, September 04*
Course Syllabus and Course Schedule are subject to Change