Professor Ruth Morales

Fall 2024

Class meets TTh 2:20-3:40 PM in PS-101

All non-exam deadlines are set to 11:59pm Pacific Time unless notified otherwise

While rigorous, I think you will find this course and the economic way of thinking to be quite interesting. I will do my very best to convey the concepts in a way that is not only conducive to learning but relevant in your day-to-day life. Ultimately, my goal is to tool you up with an analytical arsenal, so to speak, so that you become a better informed individual and decision maker. You will find that even a little understanding of economics goes a long way because it illuminates much about the world around us. 

This course is challenging for nearly everyone who is taking economics for the first time, as it should be if one is to master economic concepts. While economics is incredibly logical and intuitive, it nevertheless requires a lot of effort, good study habits, and a significant time commitment along with the discipline to hold oneself accountable. I will do everything I can to provide the support to help you do well.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. 1. Key Measures - Define key measures of aggregate economic activity -- GDP, CPI, unemployment and inflation -- and describe the condition of an economy using these measures appropriately.

   2. Money - Explain what money is, how it is created, and its role in determining macroeconomic equilibrium.

   3. Boom/Bust Cycle - Use modern business cycle theory to explain how an economy enters a recession or an economic expansion and how it returns to its long-run trend.

   4. Economic Growth - Distinguish business cycles from economic growth and state factors that contribute to growth.

Time Commitment

You should be prepared to devote at least 6-9 hours of time per week to reading, attending lectures, and working on assignments & practice problems. This class is cumulative so it is essential that you not fall behind. I strongly encourage you to see the tutor or myself whenever you have difficulty understanding the material. Read the advice from former students to get a feel for the required commitment. Take it seriously -- this class will be challenging and will require discipline on your part.

College in the 2020s

All that said, I understand that this course is being offered in a time of uncertainty, and I recognize that you may encounter unexpected challenges during this semester. That includes challenges related to health and illness, technology, caregiving responsibilities, work responsibilities, and more. 

My goal this semester is to support you in doing the best work you can in light of the challenges you face. I understand that college students face tremendous pressure to work hard, get “good” grades, and be as “successful” as possible. That's a lot of pressure. I encourage you to remember that your health and well-being are far more important than the work you do in this class or any other class. I encourage you to take the time you need to care for yourself.

If you are finding it difficult to balance your well-being with your work in this class, please let me know. It is okay to ask for help and to acknowledge when you are struggling, and I am happy to help connect you with available resources and services.

The course is structured to allow for hiccups along the way by having a generous drop policy. With a few caveats (refer to requirements), the three homework assignment grades that hurt your course grade the most will be dropped (e.g., up to three zeros can be dropped), the lowest two discussion board post grades are dropped, and the final can take the place of one of the first three regular exams. This is structured to allow students room to breathe. Refer to the "Requirements & Grades" tab of the syllabus for details.

I will be highly accessible to you this semester. You are welcome to email me through Canvas's Inbox -- I will do my best to respond to messages within 24 hours. This semester, I have office hours available where you can meet with me to discuss the course material, economics more generally, college, careers, or any other thoughts or concerns you want to bring up. Both in-person and virtual hours are available. You are especially encouraged to stop by (or schedule an appointment) to ask questions about a concept you find particularly challenging. Taking an economics course is not easy -- I encourage you to actively seek out help from me and/or the tutor throughout the semester anytime we can be of help.

Class Format

Our class will meet in person every Tuesday & Thursday from 2:20-3:40 PM in PS-101. Students are expected to attend every session. Exams will be held in person on scheduled exam days.

There are strict binding deadlines for assignments, discussion board posts, and exams. It will be your responsibility to keep track of deadlines in order to submit things on time. A schedule of all deadlines is available via the link below as well as through the navigation bar that can be accessed where it says ECON 102 on the top left of this page. The schedule is also available as a PDF on our Canvas homepage. Deadlines have also been incorporated into the Canvas calendar.

SCHEDULE (PDF)

The Canvas modules will mostly consist of slides, chapter readings, discussion board forums, MindTap assignments, and exams. Each chapter and its related material will have its own module in Canvas. Modules will be released in blocks according to the chapters that will be assessed on the next exam.

Study Group

You are strongly encouraged to form a study group where you and a small group of other economics students meet regularly for study sessions. Explaining the material to your peers and asking each other questions is a great way to make sure you understand the material. It is also a great way to help identify your weaknesses so that you are better able to pinpoint what you need to focus on. 

Communication and Notifications

Announcements, course materials, and grades will be posted on Canvas. Be sure to check for updates regularly because announcements are posted frequently. While a student at SBCC, and especially while a student in this particular class, you should make it a habit to check your Pipeline email address and Canvas's announcement page regularly.