ECON 1, Principles of Macroeconomics; Course Syllabus

Course Description

An introduction to macroeconomic concepts and principles of economic analysis. Topics include: foundations of economic life, national income and employment, business cycles, money and banking, monetary and fiscal policy, economic growth and stability, international trade and the position of the U.S. within the context of the global economy.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Instructor Contact

Rich Strauch

Email:  rstrauch@santarosa.edu or use the Inbox in Canvas

Text/Cell: (707) 921-9679

Office Hours: By appointment.

My preferred method of communication is the Inbox in Canvas.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course website to access the Textbook slides, viewing grades, etc..

Textbook

Principles of Macroeconomics 3e. Openstax. 

You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.

Note: 2e. is perfectly fine to use; you may also access the textbook in Canvas, at the OpenStax website, and in the OpenStax app.

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course. 

• Adobe Reader
• Open Office

Important Dates

Section 5608 (Santa Rosa Campus, 1597 Emeritus, TTh 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm):

https://portal.santarosa.edu/SRWeb/SR_SectionDatesNew.aspx?Section=5608&Semester=20243 

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%).  For several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student; students who fail to attend the first class (face-to-face courses) or do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester may be dropped from the class.  Note: I rarely will drop students as I feel that is your responsibility.  Do not count on me dropping you.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Attendance

It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to catch up.  I also suggest finding a partner in the class to cover for you if you cannot make class for any reason.

Late Policy

All assignments are due on the due date and time stated on the assignment. No late assignments accepted as we may review that material in class.

Homework, Exams

There will be three homework assignments worth 10 points each, two midterms worth 20 points each, and a final exam worth 30 points.  The final will be comprehensive but weighted to the later sections of the class. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. If the course has an online exam, it is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade after homework and midterms are graded and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

Grading

A	90%	90 points or more
B	80%	80 to 89 points
C	70%	70 to 79 points
D	60%	60 to 69 points

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism (and that includes AI tools such as Chat GPT)

Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.

The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.

Plagiarism: How to avoid it

Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?

Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:

• Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
• Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
• Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
• Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
• Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
• Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
• Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

 

Syllabus Appendix; Select College Catalog Policies

Select SRJC Policies from the College Catalog:  Please refer to the latest version of the Catalog at https://catalog.santarosa.edu  See Section 3: Rights, Responsibilities, Policies and Regulations

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Sonoma County Junior College District (SCJCD) holds that its primary function is the development of intellectual curiosity, integrity, and accomplishment in an atmosphere that upholds the principles of academic freedom. All members of the academic community - student, faculty, staff, and administrator - must assume responsibility for providing an environment of the highest standards, characterized by a spirit of academic honesty and mutual respect. Because personal accountability is inherent in an academic community of integrity, this institution will not tolerate or ignore any form of academic dishonesty. 

Academic dishonesty is regarded as any act of deception, benign or malicious in nature, in the completion of any academic exercise. Examples of academic dishonesty include cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and other academic misconduct.

Faculty, students and administrators are partners in maintaining the District’s academic integrity in accordance with the guidelines delineated below.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Conduct oneself in a respectful, honorable manner that focuses on learning, academic honesty, and success for both oneself and other students. 
2. Learn and understand the course requirements, grading procedures, and rules and expectations for acceptable conduct and behavior in each course, including definitions of academic dishonesty and the ethical use of technology.
3. Learn and understand the SRJC policy on Academic Integrity and the Student Conduct Standards, which is in the SRJC College Catalog and part of the District Student Discipline policy.
4. Learn and understand students’ rights to due process in contesting an allegation or penalty made by an instructor or other representative of the district.

 

Policy 3.11 and Procedure 3.11P, Revised July 2012

 

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

 

It shall be the policy of the Sonoma County Junior College District to maintain an attendance policy and procedures consistent with state and local requirements.

 

1. Attendance

1. Students are expected to attend, and in the case of online classes, participate in, all sessions of the course in which they are enrolled.
2. A student may be dropped from any class when that student’s absences exceed ten percent (10%) of the total hours of class time.
3. With advanced notice and appropriate documentation, members of the U.S. Military Armed Services and Reservists shall have their absences accommodated due to service obligations provided that satisfactory academic progress is being made prior to suspending their studies. For the purpose of this policy, a student is making satisfactory academic progress so long as, at the start of the absence, the student has the potential to pass the class after completing the remaining assignments.
4. Specific courses may have stricter requirements based on professional certification mandates or curricular situations in which absences will severely compromise the learning for other students (such as team or performance ensemble courses). These stricter requirements shall be stated in the course syllabus.

1. Nonattendance

1. Students who fail to attend the first class meeting may be dropped by the instructor. For classes that meet online, students who fail to log on and initiate participation by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the first day of the class may be dropped by the instructor. The start date for full semester online classes is the official first day of the semester; for short-term classes, the first day will be specified in the schedule of classes.
2. Instructors are required to drop all No-Show students immediately following the second class meeting. A No-Show is an enrolled student who has not attended any class meeting of the course. For classes that meet online, a No-Show is an enrolled student who has not logged on and initiated active participation by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the second day of the class.

1. Excessive absence defined

1. Instructors shall state in each course syllabus what constitutes excessive absence for that course.
2. Any student with excessive absences may be dropped from the class.

1. Excused and unexcused absences

1. Unless state or federal law, including Executive Orders, requires that the absence be deemed excused, no instructor shall be required to make a distinction between excused and unexcused absences.
2. If instructors wish to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences they shall state in each course syllabus all criteria for any excused absences in addition to those required by state or federal law.

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Policy 8.1.5 and Procedure 8.1.5P , Revised February 2014