BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The City University of New York

Department of Social Sciences, Human Services, and Criminal Justice

ECO 201.0800 Macroeconomics      (zero textbook cost)

Class Hours:  Tuesday and Thursday 8-9:15 am, Murray 1111

Fall 2018:  office hours 7:15-7:45 am, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and by appointment
Professor Bettina Berch

Office: N-658; phone: 212-220-1210; email: [email protected]

Credits: 3

Course Description

Economics 201 introduces the basic tools of economic analysis and shows you how to use them to understand the American economy today.   You will learn about supply and demand, market equilibrium, market efficiency, national income accounting, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, monetary institutions, and monetary and fiscal policy.

Prerequisites: ENG 88 or ESL 94 and ACR 94 and MAT 12 or MAT 41 or MAT 51

 

 

 

Course Student Learning Outcomes (Students will be able to…)	Measurements (means of assessment for student learning outcomes listed in first column)
1.  demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of macroeconomics	1. Class participation and in-class writing: oral and written test of student’s ability to explain the basic concepts of macroeconomic theory.
2. better evaluate the national economy within the context of global economic events; develop key global competencies, such as cultural understanding, effective intercultural communication, integrated reasoning and responsible global citizenship	2. Readings/discussion of reading assignments; student presentations; classroom discussion of weekly articles in The Economist magazine.
3. critically evaluate government economic policies with respect to the national economy. Understand how economists approach important social choices Understand the functions of our key economic institutions Gain a perspective on the global context of our economy	3.     Two major exams and a final: test of student understanding of fiscal and monetary policies and their applicability to current national economic issues              Student Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are the college’s general education learning outcomes, the outcomes in the left-hand column indicate goals that will be covered and assessed in this course. 

	General Education Learning Outcomes	Measurements (means of assessment for general education goals listed in first column)
xx	Communication Skills- Students will be able to write, read, listen and speak critically and effectively.	Written essay; student presentations
	Quantitative Reasoning- Students will be able to use quantitative skills and the concepts and methods of mathematics to solve problems.	Standardized tests: test a student’s ability to represent economic theory using basic models from the readings and discussions in class.
	Scientific Reasoning- Students will be able to apply the concepts and methods of the natural sciences.
	Social and Behavioral Sciences- Students will be able to apply the concepts and methods of the social sciences.	Student presentations on current economic themes
	Arts & Humanities- Students will be able to develop knowledge and understanding of the arts and literature through critiques of works of art, music, theatre or literature.
	Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be able to collect, evaluate and interpret information and effectively use information technologies.
	Values- Students will be able to make informed choices based on an understanding of personal values, human diversity, multicultural awareness and social responsibility.

 

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Required Reading:  Your syllabus (available on Blackboard) indicates the readings for each session. There will also be readings distributed to students.

Evaluation and Requirements of Students

15%  First Exam

20% Second Exam

35%  Final Exam

10%  written work

20%  student presentations, quizzes

College Attendance Policy

At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that class, you would be allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.

BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The

library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s Web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online).

 

Written Essay: The tour of the NY Federal Reserve or the visit to the Museum of  American Finance or an alternative writing assignment

You will write a short essay about your visit to the Federal Reserve or to the Museum of American Finance if it re-opens, or an essay about an on-line ‘museum’ that may be an alternative. This is NOT a research paper, but a personal essay about your experience. After you have written a first draft, you will revise this draft, correcting errors and shaping your narrative, so the reader gets a good sense of what you found interesting.

Sign up for the FED option by calling them (212 720 6130) or by going on-line:

http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/visiting.html

DO this RIGHT  AWAY!!  Visits book up fast—you may have to wait a month or two for your appointment, so DO it NOW.  After you apply for a date, watch your inbox or your spam (junk) inbox for a confirmation letter from the FED.  You will have to respond to this email or your date is not set. The visit is free, takes about 45 minutes.  It’s a 20-25 minute walk from BMCC to get there.  You will have to have a gov’t photo ID to enter, and you will have to go through security.

Students having difficulties arranging to visit the Federal Reserve, or who have already visited the Fed for another class, might visit the Museum of American Finance if it re-opens and write up this visit instead.  Check their website before attempting a visit. (www.moaf.org)

Otherwise, an alternative assignment will be posted on BlackBoard.

 

Student Presentations

Early in the semester, students are given a list of topics in Macroeconomics that might be of particular interest. Shortly after, the professor will assign topics and dates and issue a presentation schedule to students.

 

What’s Expected of Students in ECO 201

1. Daily attendance—on time!  There will usually be a quiz  during the first minutes of class.  It is brief and based on the materials assigned for that day. If you know you cannot get to class on time due to other commitments, you should sign up for a different section as there is no make-up for missed quizzes. If you must be absent, arrange with another student to borrow their notes.  The material covered in the class you miss will appear on one of the major exams, so it is hard to pass this course if you are frequently absent.
2. Respect for other classmates and the teacher—this should go without saying, but it is too important not to make explicit.
3. Read the assigned materials before arriving in class.  Your daily quiz addresses the assigned work, so if you have not looked at it, you probably won’t do well.  The lecture following the quiz will help you understand more about what you have read.  New material will be covered. Basically, when you are studying for the exams or the final, you will be reviewing material—not just seeing it for the first time.  This reduces stress and should mean that what you have learned stays with you better.
4. You will have two exams and a final exam —the dates are on the syllabus, so do not schedule optional activities on these days.  I do not offer make-up exams except for dire emergencies, which I decide on a case-by-case basis.
5. Your Federal Reserve or Museum trip—sign up immediately (on-line) with the Federal Reserve for their free guided tour at a time that works for you. You must do this as soon as possible, as the tours book-up quickly. If the Museum re-opens, this will also be an option. If not, another activity will be posted on BlackBoard.
6. Extra credit is ‘extra’ and only offered to students who have mastered the basic material of macroeconomics. If you have a B or above on the second exam, you may ask about doing ‘extra credit’ work.

7. If you frequently text or email during class, I will ignore you as you ignore me. It won’t go well.