Overview Objective Materials grading Exam ELI Policies and Procedures Contacting the Instructor Beginning the Course
ECO 201: Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 Credits
Professors: Ron Earley, Dennis Bradshaw, Clinton McCully, Robert Barr, John Min

Overview

The purpose of this course is to enhance your understanding of the economic system in the United States. This will be accomplished by developing your ability to interpret and analyze, as an economist would, economic problems and circumstances. The economist's tools of analysis will be presented in the context of typical historical or present day economic situations. The course will also present alternative viewpoints when there is significant controversy as to the correct economic interpretation.

Economic events and problems such as inflation and unemployment continuously affect our lives. A basic understanding of them will enable you to anticipate and take the logical steps necessary to deal effectively with their consequences. In addition such knowledge allows each of us as citizens to critically evaluate government's economic programs and policies addressed to these situations. 

*Note: This course requires completing assignments on a fixed weekly schedule and requires online collaboration in group assignments.

Top  

Objectives

 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the meaning of economics and the tasks that must be accomplished by any economic system. 
  • Understand the course of a capitalist economy's instability. 
  • Understand the use of fiscal and monetary policy. 
  • Understand the causes and effects of stagflation. 
Top  

Materials

 


Top  
Grading
 

Your course grade will be determined according to the following points:

Assignment Total Points Percentage of Grade
MindTap Problem Sets* 300 30%
4 Discussion Boards @ 50 Points Each 200

20%

 1 Group Report 150

15 %

Exams

2 Proctored Exams at Testing Center @ 100 Each

1 Final Exam at Home @ 150

 

200

150

 

20 %

15%

Total 1000 100 %

*total points in Problem Sets equates to 300 points toward your course grade.

 

Grading Scale
A
900-1000 pts
B
800-899 pts
C
700-799 pts
D
600-699 pts
F
0-599 pts
Top  

Exams

 

There will be three exams in this course.

The two proctored exams (Exams 1 and 2) are taken at the Testing Center, or with a proctor you make arrangements to take the exam with. These Proctored Exams may be multiple choice, short-answer, or essay questions, or some combination. These two exams are worth 100 points each. 

The Final Exam will be taken online at home. You WILL NOT take this at the Testing Center. The Final Exam will cover the full set of material for entire course, however you will be given guidence on what will be on the exam. When you do the problems sets each week you can do each question three times and your score will be the average of your attempts. For the Final Exam, however, you will have a time limit and you only have one attempt at answering the question. The number of answers will be adjusted to reflect 150 points for exam.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

Top  

ELI Policies and Procedures

 
This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. If you have questions, call ELI at (703) 323-3347 or (888) 435-6822.
Top  

Contacting the Instructor

 

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : rearley@nvcc.edu, Telephone : (703) 323-3261
E-mail : dbradshaw@nvcc.edu, Telephone: (703) 402-3417

E-mail : cmccully@nvcc.edu, Telephone: (571) 594-4250
E-mail: rbarr@nvcc.edu, Telephone: (703) 825-7463

E-mail: jmin@nvcc.edu, Telephone: (703) 845-6314

You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Annandale. 

Top  

Beginning the Course

 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://nvcc.my.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.