Course specification for ECO1000

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ECO1000 Economics

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Economics
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Commerce
Student contribution band : Band 3
ASCED code : 091901 - Economics
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Other requisites

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .

Rationale

Economics is a social science that studies how society manages its scarce resources. In this course, students will learn how to use resources more efficiently and how to allocate things in a manner that makes us all better off. All politicians and business people today use the language and ideas of economics. Economics is all around us and has become part of our everyday life. An understanding of the economic way of thinking and the principles of economics are essential for those who want to participate in a modern society.

Synopsis

Economic concepts and ideas are used in both business and government as the basis for much decision-making. This course introduces students to the main economic concepts and provides them with the opportunity to explore some of the key contemporary business and economic issues. Students not only learn the basic tenets of the discipline, but also able to relate these concepts to understand real-world problems through case studies. These case studies place students in real world situations requiring them to apply their theoretical understanding to explain and critically analyse these problems faced by business and economic managers in the 21st century. It covers both micro and macro economics.

Objectives

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. identify and interpret patterns evident in economic data presented in graphs and tables;
  2. explain and apply key economic concepts to business and economic decision-making;
  3. explain major problems faced by economic and business managers in the 21st Century;
  4. evaluate selected instruments of microeconomic and macroeconomic policy;
  5. demonstrate academic research and writing, and critical analysis and thinking skills.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Introduction to economics 2.00
2. How the market works 32.00
3. Firms and market structures 16.00
4. Macroeconomic foundation 16.00
5. Monetary and fiscal policy 32.00
6. Conclusion 2.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=ECO1000)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Hubbard, G, Garnett, A, Lewis, P & O'Brien, T 2017, Economics, USQ custom book, Pearson, Australia.
Students doing this course should regularly access the ECO1000 course website (textbook resources) to practise the quizzes and tests. The i¾«¶«´«Ã½app (interactive study guide) is a multimedia resource containing a vast range of interactive modules and videos, to enhance the understanding and practical application of key economic concepts. The i¾«¶«´«Ã½app is fully integrated with the e-text, and is also available as a complement to the printed text.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Layton, A, Robinson, T & Tucker, IB 2019, Economics for today, 6th edn, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne, Victoria.
(Asia-Pacific edition.)
Olney, ML 2009, Microeconomics as a second language, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Olney, ML 2011, Macroeconomics as a second language, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assignments 30.00
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 78.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 52.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
ONLINE QUIZ 10 10 23 Mar 2020 (see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 1 40 40 05 May 2020 (see note 2)
ASSIGMENT 2 50 50 17 Jun 2020 (see note 3)

Notes
  1. The online test will be only available on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk from 9.00am 23 March to 9.00pm 30 March (AEST).
  2. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the assignment by their examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    Online: There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

    On-campus: It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S1, 2020:

    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1, 2020:

    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: There is no examination in this course.

    Requirements after S1, 2020:

    This is a restricted examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the examination for this course are:
    1. writing materials. These must be non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination.
    2. an unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary). A student whose first language is not English may take a translation dictionary into the examination room. A translation dictionary with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
    3. a calculator which cannot hold textual information (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination).


  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.

    Requirements after S1, 2020:

    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Referencing in assignments:
    Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide at .

Date printed 19 June 2020