Syllabus
ECON 1010: Microeconomics – Accelerated – 8 week – Fall 2023
Credits - 3
Description
This course provides a thorough introduction to microeconomic theory. This course begins with an analysis of opportunity costs and trade offs. These concepts are then used as the foundation for studying producer and consumer behavior. Next, consumer and producer behavior theory are combined and used as the building blocks for an analysis of supply, demand, consumer surplus, producer surplus, and elasticity. The course concludes with an overview of the four market structures commonly studied in microeconomics and how they rely on the concepts and theories that have provided the foundation for the course. Recommended prerequisite: College Algebra.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Course Objectives
- Examine the role economists play in society and how they use critical thinking skills
- Analyze the term microeconomics and the components of the economic system: demand, supply, equilibrium, and consumption
- Evaluate the factors of production, market structure, resource allocation, and regulation
- Analyze household behavior and consumer choice
- Summarize the behavior of profit maximizing firms and the production process
- Outline the production and distribution of resources, goods, and services
- Debate the concept of scarcity and opportunity cost with the concept of marginal analysis to evaluate trade-offs and make decisions
- Analyze how markets work to allocate resources and the optimal individual decision-making that underlies market outcomes
- Identify various market structures and their implications for resource allocation
Assignments
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Checks are weekly quizzes that will test your knowledge of the concepts covered in the readings and videos for that week. Your course allows for a possible second attempt with quizzes.
Discussion
Discussions require two responses. The first response should address the question presented in the prompt. The second response should be a response to a classmate comparing and contrasting examples used in the first response.
Article Analysis
Article Analysis requires an analysis of a current event that relates to a microeconomic concept or theory.
Readings and Video Submission
Readings and Video Submissions are focused questions designed to help students reflect on the readings and videos presented for the weekly topic.
Worksheet Quiz
Worksheets are opportunities to practice and apply the concepts and theories that are covered each week. Each worksheet quiz consists of either multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, or short answer questions that will be based on concept and theory definitions, graph interpretation, mathematical computations, and practical scenarios.
Research Analysis
The Research Analysis allows students to research products and/or firms that operate within each of the following market structures: Perfect Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Monopoly. Through this analysis, students will become more familiar with the characteristics and attributes of each market structure.
Final
The Final is comprehensive and consists of multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions which encompasses all material in Weeks 1-8. The questions are based on theory and concept definitions, graph interpretations, mathematical computations, and practical scenarios.
This Final Exam must be taken through ProctorU. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. A UNE-compliant webcam is required.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Knowledge Checks | 9% |
| Discussions | 27% |
| Identify Media Research Paper | 7% |
| Readings and Video Submissions | 16% |
| Worksheets | 21% |
| Market Structure Paper | 8% |
| Final | 12% |
| Total | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Schedule
Week 1: Nov 1 – Nov 7
Week 2: Nov 8 – Nov 14
Week 3: Nov 15 – Nov 21
Week 4: Nov 22 – Nov 28
Week 5: Nov 29 – Dec 5
Week 6: Dec 6 – Dec 12
Week 7: Dec 13 – Dec 19
Week 8: Dec 20 – Dec 26
|
Week |
Topic |
Activities |
Due Dates |
|
1 |
What is Economics? |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
2 |
Factors of Production and the Circular Flow Model |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
3 |
Production and Cost |
|
Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
4 |
Production Possibilities Frontier, Opportunity Costs, and Comparative Advantage |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
5 |
Consumer Theory and Utility |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
6 |
Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
7 |
Consumer Surplus, Producer Surplus, and Deadweight Loss |
|
Initial Discussion Posts: 11:59 PM EST on SUNDAY Response Discussion Posts, Assignments, and Quizzes: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
|
8 |
Market Structures |
|
Assignments, and Final Exam: 11:59 PM EST on TUESDAY |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
UNE Libraries
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance
Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
Proctored Examinations
The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.
Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.
Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.
Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.
Proctored exams are not available for review at any time. You will not be able to see the questions, nor the answers you've given, after completing the exams. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Course Discussions
Discussion board assignments cover interesting current events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each assignment may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials (a short journal or magazine article), visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video prior to writing a response following the specific guidelines in the assignment.
To earn full credit: you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of at least two other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You will need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. Please keep in mind that only this initial response is included in your assignment grade, so make sure you have followed all of the guidelines and written a complete response prior to submitting the post. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.
Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each assignment. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.
Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion board assignment is worth.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.
- Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
To view your unofficial UNE student transcript:
- Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
- Select Student Services
- Select Student Records
- Select Academic Transcript
To request your official UNE student transcript:
Please review your Unofficial Transcript prior to requesting an Official Transcript.
- Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
- Select Student Services
- Select Student Records
- Select Request Printed/Official Transcript
- Follow the prompts
After you click Submit Request, your official transcript will be put into the queue to be printed in the Registrar's Office.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Attendance Policy
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.