Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Macroeconomics (Online)

ECON 2020-30I

Course: ECON 2020-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ECON
CRN: 30180

Course Description

Introduces measurements of national economic performances: GDP, and interest, inflation and unemployment rates. Develops a model to describe the economic situation, and to present the options available to policy makers. Discusses the institutions and constraints that frame policy. International economic issues and the relation of the U.S. economy to the global economy are then examined. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded Letter]

Required Texts

Textbook

Your textbooks include:

  • Modern Principles: Macroeconomics , by Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabborok, 6th edition 

This textbook is charged as a student fee to your account and includes the Achieve access.  Do not purchase any texts on your own.  Sometimes this process can be tricky for students.  Please message me, or the Achieve tech support team, if you run into in problems.
You must use your student email (ending in @suu.edu) for the Achieve access.

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Explain how models can be used to answer relevant questions about the economy 
  2. Describe how macroeconomic data is used to measure income and productivity of a nation
  3. Apply economic theories that explain the real economy in the long-run
  4. Explain how money and prices operate in the long-run
  5. Explain the macroeconomics of open economies
  6. Apply economic theories that explain short-run fluctuations in the economy


It should be noted that, in order to ensure logical consistency, economists make extensive use of math. The math you will employ in this class is reasonably simple: graphs and algebra. However, if you are uncomfortable with basic math, and/or have been away from your math book for some time, I highly encourage you to do the Math and Graph Review assignments within Achieve. These are ungraded assignments and are solely for your practice.

Course Requirements



Assignment Outline

Learning Curve Assignments (10% of grade)


Learning Curve Assignments will be administered online through Achieve and are designed to test your comprehension at a primary level for concepts in each chapter. The design is that you read the chapter and then take the assignment. They are open book, open note and will walk you through each chapter.

Discussions (10% of grade)


Effective online courses build an online community. To facilitate this, each week there is a discussion question designed to help you think about how you can apply the topics covered that week to your own life. Instructions are given on Canvas. These will be due on Saturday at 11:59 pm

Quiz Assignments (35% of grade)


For assignments, we will rely on the Achieve Software. These assignments will be done online. Assignments for a given week will be due on Saturday at 11:59 pm.

Video Assignments (5% of grade)


Each week, Achieve has some excellent real world examples in the form of a video assignments.  You will be invited to watch and complete one, but others will be available in the form of extra credit.

Exams (40% of grade, or 10% for each exam)


There will be four midterm exams. The dates are found in Canvas.  Each exam covers specific chapters.  I recommend starting to study for exams early.


Exams will be taken online through Honorlock.  



Course Outline

Week 1-2: Big Economic Ideas and Introduction Week
Week 3: The Power of Trade and Comparative Advantage
Week 4: Supply and Demand
Week 5: Equilibrium and Midterm 1
Week 6: GDP and Measurements of Progress
Week 7: Saving, Investing, and the Financial System
Week 8: Markets and Personal Finance
Week 9: Unemployment and Labor Force Participation and Midterm 2
Week 10: Inflation and the Quantity Theory of Money
Week 11: The Federal Reserve System and Aggregate Demand
Week 12: Monetary Policy and Midterm 3
Week 13: The Federal Budget
Week 14: The Political Economy and Public Choice
Week 15: Final Midterm and Review 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


Generally, I do not accept late work.  Please contact me before the due date if you foresee a problem with any assignment and I will be happy to work with you.  I will also work with students who have adverse life circumstances on an individual basis.  


Attendance Policy

This is an asynchronous online course.  Attendance will be measured through participation in weekly online activities.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

Custom

Course Schedule
The course schedule is tentative and subject to change. The instructor reserves the right to deviate from this plan as needed, including changing the order of the chapters covered, eliminating chapters, or adding other chapters or modules to the list below.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.