Focuses on the individual consumer, firm, and specific market; the principle of supply and demand for specific goods and services; and the role of the price mechanism in allocating resources. Examines when markets work well and when they do not.
Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
This course will move to the Online (asynchronous) format in the event that the college is required to transition to online at any point during the semester due to a pandemic.
Contact Information
Textbook
Name: Economics for Today
Edition: 11th Edition
ISBN: 978-0357720936
Author: Irwin Tucker
Publisher: Cengage Learning
The primary goal of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of economic laws and relationships. In a modern economy, with a sufficient degree of competition, scarce resources are usually allocated to relatively efficient uses through the price mechanism. This general case will be followed by an examination of resource allocation within specific market structures such as perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. The problems of public goods and externalities, as well as the consequences of market failure for social welfare, will be examined and analyzed. Students are expected to become familiar with and have the ability to demonstrate knowledge of the basic framework of economic theory, including the concepts of opportunity cost, consumer choice, substitutability, profit-maximizing behavior, and the social justice of income and wealth distribution.
Tentative Schedule
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
| Week | Dates | Reading | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 8/24-8/8/28 | Introducing the Economic Way of Thinking | |
| Week 2 | 8/31-9/4 | Production Possibilities, Opportunity Cost and Economic Growth | |
| Week 3 | 9/7-9/11 | Market Supply and Demand | |
| Week 4 | 9/14-9/18 | Markets in Action |
|
| Week 5 | 9/21-9/25 | Price Elasticity of Demand and Supply | Quiz 1 |
| Week 6 | 9/28-10/2 | Consumer Choice Theory | |
| Week 7 | 10/5-10/9 | Production Costs |
|
| Week 8 | 10/12-10/16 | Income Distribution, Poverty and Discrimination |
|
| Week 9 | 10/19-10/23 | Perfect Competition | Midterm |
| Week 10 | 10/26-10/30 | Monopoly | |
| Week 11 | 11/2-11/6 | Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly |
|
| Week 12 | 11/9-11/13 | Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly continued |
|
| Week 13 | 11/16-11/20 | Labor Markets | Quiz 2 |
| Week 14 | 11/23-11/27 | Environmental Economics |
|
| Week 15 | 11/30-12/4 | Environmental Economics continued | |
| Week 16 | 12/8 | Course Review |
- Professional Judgement – 20%
- Quizzes – 30%
- Midterm – 25%
- Final – 25%
The grading scale will be as follows:
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
| 90-100% | A |
| 86-89% | B+ |
| 80-85% | B |
| 76-79% | C+ |
| 70-75% | C |
| 66-69% | D+ |
| 60-65% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Instructor Course Policies
Attendance is MANDATORY. If a student must miss a lecture, the student is solely responsible for obtaining the information missed. This includes, but is not limited to, subject matter and announcements about modifications to course content and the timetable. The instructor is not responsible for providing missed information to the student. Coming late to class or an online lecture, except in rare cases, is not permitted. Students who come late to class may be asked to leave the classroom or denied entry. Frequent absences and lateness will render the student ineligible for extra credit and any curve grades, if one is drawn. If a student misses 6 or more classes, the instructor may decide that the student will receive a failing grade and need to retake the class. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Attendance Policy, especially as it pertains to excused absences.
Attendance is required on days that include a guest speaker and/or a field trip. If you are unable to attend due to a conflict (athletic participation, etc.), please let me know no later than one week before the speaker or field trip, and I will provide an alternative assignment. If you do not let me know one week prior, you will not receive credit for these events and will lose points in the course. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS. I AM SERIOUS. You will provide your own transportation to the field trip.
Any act of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, will result in FAILURE of this course. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges. Failure to comply with this policy will result in penalties for academic dishonesty.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy
Artificial intelligence tools (including ChatGPT and other large language model–based platforms) are increasingly used in many professions. Learning how to use AI responsibly, ethically, and transparently is an important professional skill. When used appropriately, AI can support research, organization, brainstorming, and efficiency.
At the same time, education places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, professional judgment, student voice, and genuine learning. This policy is designed to help students take advantage of AI’s benefits while maintaining academic integrity and professional authenticity.
Permitted and Structured Use of AI
Many assignments in this course will explicitly identify whether and how AI tools may be used. When AI use is permitted, it may include (but is not limited to):
- Brainstorming ideas or refining research questions
- Locating and summarizing peer-reviewed sources
- Outlining papers or organizing ideas
- Checking grammar, clarity, and formatting
- Supporting literature reviews or background research
Students should never assume AI use is permitted unless it is clearly stated in the assignment instructions.
Documentation and Citation Requirements
If a student chooses to use AI on an assignment where AI use is permitted, the student must:
- Submit a transcript or record of the AI interaction (e.g., copied chat text or exported file), and
- Correctly cite the AI tool in APA format, including:
- The AI platform used
- The purpose for which it was used
- The date(s) of use
Failure to properly document and cite AI use will be treated as an academic integrity concern.
Preserving Student Voice and Authenticity
AI tools are meant to support student learning — not replace it. Students are expected to submit work that reflects:
- Their own thinking, analysis, and professional judgment
- Their unique voice and writing style
- Full engagement with course materials, including instructor-provided readings and documents
Assignments should demonstrate depth, accuracy, and thoughtful integration of course content. AI-generated text that lacks specificity, context, or meaningful engagement does not meet course expectations.
Instructor Discretion and Review
Instructors reserve the right to inquire about AI use on any assignment. Indicators that may prompt review include, but are not limited to:
- Overuse of dashes, bullet-point lists, or emojis
- Writing that appears unusually polished or mechanically “perfect”
- Abnormal or inconsistent grammar patterns
- Sudden or unexplained changes in student voice or tone
- Failure to reference required course materials (e.g., instructor-provided PDFs or Word documents)
- Incomplete, vague, or unsupported facts and statistics
- Missing or underdeveloped analysis
These indicators do not automatically constitute misconduct but may warrant further review or clarification.
Consequences for Improper or Undisclosed AI Use
If AI is used inappropriately, without disclosure, or in violation of assignment instructions, the instructor may take one or more of the following actions, at their discretion:
- Assign a zero (0) on the assignment
- Require a handwritten rewrite of the assignment
- Administer a quiz or oral assessment on the assignment content
- Require revision with additional documentation
- Refer the matter to the Office of Academic Affairs
Repeated or serious violations may result in further disciplinary action under College policy.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: FA26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |