Microeconomics studies the behavior of households and business firms; the role of government in a market system; taxation; economic

models that include supply and demand, competitive labor markets, international trade, and distinctive market structures. 

We employ basic mathematics skills and use graphs extensively in this course.  Appendix to Chapter 2 of the textbook, "Graphish

The Language of Graphs" contains information to develop your skills.  If you are not familiar with graphs, you will need to practice,

learn, and understand this information outside class.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1.   Define and explain the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and its consequences - choice, cost, and economizing;

2.   Use a production possibilities diagram to show and explain the concepts of limits, choice, cost, efficiency, and economic growth.

3.   Construct a supply and demand model and use it to explain how prices are determined in markets.

4.   Employ supply and demand diagrams to evaluate the consequences of legally imposed prices (ceiling and floor prices).

5.   Calculate the elasticity coefficient for supply or demand in a market and interpret the result.

6.   Differentiate the alternative definitions of profit, implicit and explicit costs; and use them to calculate profit given the appropriate data.

7.   Apply the law of diminishing returns to show, calculate, and explain costs in the short run.

8.   Define, explain and evaluate the different market structures.

9.   Determine a firm's profit maximizing (or loss minimizing) quantity and the price given cost and revenue data, for each of the market types.

10.  Critically evaluate the efficiency differences between purely competitive industries and monopolies.

11.  Assess and interpret the market factors that determine the prices and quantities in resource markets.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

Microeconomics Resource Guide, 4th edition, new and unused, by Martha Stuffler outlines course lectures, organizes the structure and format

of classroom presentations.  Each student must use their own copy of the Resource Guide during each class to record lecture notes, complete

problems, perform graphical analysis and participate in problem solving and class discussions.  In addition, the Guide provides hundreds of practice

problems and homework assignments. 

A calculator and the Resource Guide must be brought to every lecture. 

The textbook, Microeconomics, Brief Edition, 1^st edition 2010, McConnell and Brue, ISBN-13 9780077230982

supplements the course lectures, but does not need to be brought to class.  

Three Scantron Forms No. 882 for each exam.

Access to your IVC email account (or forward your IVC email, my webpage has instructions) and MySite. 

ASSESSMENTS:  Exams are application-oriented and in-depth using multiple choice, short-answer, essay, and graphical analysis based on

material covered in lectures and if assigned, outside readings.  Students must complete all parts of the three exams or earn an "F" grade for

the course. 

Students must complete all exams on the date and time with the class for which they are registered.  The instructor does not give make-up exams. 

If you cannot attend your scheduled exam with advance notice to the instructor, you may take the exam early.  If you miss an exam, since no

midterm score may be dropped for grade calculation, you must drop the course or earn an "F". 

                                     Points Possible/Percent

     Midterm 1                        100                25%

     Midterm 2                         100                25%

     Final exam                       100                25%

     Graded Homework           100                25%

                     Total                 400 points = 100%

Homework assignments are tear-out sheets in the back of the Resource Guide. They are collected at the beginning of class on the due date. 

Late assignments, if accepted, will bear opportunity costs of a decreased point value.  Any assignment not turned in to the instructor during

class and later discovered in the instructor's mailbox will be late or may not be accepted.   

No assignments will be accepted for any reason if these assignments have been returned to any class.  Missed assignments may not be made up.

GRADING:  Total possible points for the course are 400: 

A = 360 or more points      (90% or higher)

B = 320 to 359 points        (80% but less than 90%)

C = 280 to 319 points        (70% but less than 80%)

D = 240 to 279 points        (60% but less than 70%)

F < 240 points                   (Less than 60% or for cases

                                              of academic dishonesty)

Academic dishonesty includes turning in work that is not your own; removing test questions or other test material from the classroom;

discussing test material with students who have not taken the exam; looking at another student's assignment or test and copying their

answers, etc.  Students should read and understand this syllabus and the Student Code of Conduct in the class schedule.

The instructor retains graded materials that have not been returned to students for 90 days after grades have been posted.  If any

student wishes to review these materials used for grade determination, the student must contact the instructor before this date.  

ATTENDANCE: Students are responsible for all lecture material and assignments given.  If you miss class, ask another student to

get assignments, fill in Resource Guide notes, and gain any other information missed.  Your instructor does not provide a copy of

notes that you have missed.

If you decide to drop the course, it is your responsibility to drop the course through Admissions and Records.  Deadlines for dropping

courses are shown in the class schedule.  Any student who does not complete the course and does not drop the course will earn the

grade of "F". The instructor reserves the right to drop any student who misses more than three classes.   

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:  A student learns best when he/she knows what is expected and is presented with a challenge.  I will

do my best to present complex material in a simplified manner.  I need your classroom participation to know whether or not you grasp

the material.  I do not believe in surprises on exams, but they will test your knowledge in-depth.  I will help every student who is sincerely

trying to pass the course.  You may reach me by phoning my office or meeting with me during office hours or by appointment.  Please

do not hesitate to ask for help at any time during the semester.

INSTRUCTOR MESSAGES:  If you need to reach me, call my office telephone (949) 451-5759 during office hours or leave a voice mail

message.  I will return your call as soon as possible.  Meet with me during my office hours or by arranged appointments.  Please do

not leave messages for me with office staff. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS: 

1.  Attend each class meeting and complete the lecture material required in the Resource Guide. 

2.  Complete the Practice Questions and Assignments in the Resource Guide.

3.  Use the Online Learning Center Student Edition at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0077230981/student_view0/index.html, choose a

chapter from the drop-down menu on the left and select any of the resources listed below the Chapter number.  Practice quizzes are great

test preparation to confirm your strengths and identify areas where you need more study. 

4.  Tape record lectures, replay to reinforce learning. 

5.  Ask questions during lectures. 

6.  Expect to spend 6 and dedicate 6 hours in home study per week to be successful in this course. 

7.  Form study groups to discuss and apply concepts.

8.  Read the Resource Guide material and the textbook within 24 hours AFTER the lecture.  Reread the material at least once before exams. 

9.  When assigned, read lessons and chapters covering supply and demand and elasticity five times—they are very challenging concepts. 

10. Students unsuccessful or dissatisfied on first exam should meet with me to discuss their progress. 
 

READING ASSIGNMENT AND TEST SCHEDULE:  This schedule is tentative and is subject to change at the instructor's discretion based

on the pace that we are able to maintain. 

Chapters are listed for the textbook and Lessons are for the Resource Guide.

Unit One:  Read Chapters 1-3 and 5 and Lessons 1-4

Week 1/Day 1 – Lesson 1 Introduction to Economics 

Week 2/Day 2 – Lesson 2 Production Possibilities Curve

Week 3/Day 3 – Lesson 3 Supply and Demand

Week 4/Day 4 – Lesson 4 Economic Agents

Week 5/Day 5 – Lesson 4 and Unit One Test

Unit Two:  Read Chapters 4,5, 11, and 12 and Lessons 5-9

Week 6/Day 6 – Lesson 5 International Trade     

Week 7/Day 7 – Lesson 6 Elasticity 

Week 8/Day 8 – Lesson 7 Consumer Choice  

Week 9/Day 9 – Lesson 8 U.S. Income, Poverty and Taxes   

Week 10/Day 10 – Lesson 9 and Unit Two Test

Unit Three:  Read Chapters 6-9 and Lessons 10-14

Week 11/Day 11 – Lesson 9 Production, Costs, and Profits

Week 12/Day 12 – Lesson 10 Competitive Labor Markets and Labor Issues

Week 13/Day 13 – Lesson 11 Perfect Competition

Week 14/Day 14 – Lesson 12 Monopoly

Week 15/Day 15 – Lesson 13 Oligopoly and Game Theory

Week 16/Day 16 – Lesson 14 Monopolistic Competition

Final Exam

Note:    Weeks are listed for a 16 week course and days are shown for an 8 week course.  For the first 8 week course: 

the final exam will be held on the last class meeting and each class day shown above covers one week of course

material for a comparable 16 week class.