Economics (ECON) 248

Macroeconomics (Revision 8)

ECON 248

Revision 8 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version

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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online or grouped study** (check locations) - both options with eTextbook

Credits: 3

Area of Study: Social Science

Prerequisite: None

Centre: Faculty of Business

ECON 248 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Télé-université du Québec equivalency: ECO 2400.

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**Note: Students registering in grouped study mode are advised that there may be some differences in the evaluation and course materials information indicated below. To obtain the most up-to-date information, contact the Faculty of Business Student Support Centre at 1-800-468-6531.

Overview

ECON 248: Macroeconomics, in conjunction with ECON 247: Microeconomics, provides a basic introduction to the entire discipline of economics. The study of microeconomics, macroeconomics, or both can help all students to understand our society better. While microeconomics deals with individual decision makers in households, firms, and governments, macroeconomics deals with aggregates. ECON 248 looks at economy-wide issues such as inflation, unemployment, balance of international payments, and the way that government policies affect these variables.

ECON 248 deals with both economic theory and economic policy. For the future economist, the theory is absolutely essential, because senior economics courses will assume that you have already mastered certain analytical tools that economists routinely use.

In order to develop this understanding of economic issues and theories, you will need to learn:

  • economic definitions (e.g., how economists use terms like investment, money, and unemployment);
  • economic facts (e.g., what the powers and responsibilities of the Bank of Canada are); and
  • analytical tools (e.g., how economists determine the relationship between investment and unemployment).

Economics is a quantitative discipline. By its very nature, it deals with numbers and requires some understanding of mathematics.

Outline

  • Unit 1: Introduction to Economics
  • Unit 2: Monitoring Macroeconomic Trends and Fluctuations
  • Unit 3: Macroeconomic Trends: The Real Economy
  • Unit 4: Macroeconomic Trends: The Money Economy
  • Unit 5: Macroeconomic Fluctuations
  • Unit 6: Macroeconomic Policy

Evaluation

To receive credit for ECON 248, you must receive a grade of 50 percent or better on the final examination, and achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 percent) for the entire course. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on the activities listed below. The weightings for each of these activities are as follows:

Total
6 Quizzes (5% each) Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Final Exam
30% 10% 10% 50% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

Parkin, M. & Bade, R. (2013). Macroeconomics: Canada in the Global Environment. (8th ed.). Toronto: Pearson Education Canada Inc. ISBN 0321808398

You can acquire a print version of the textbook on your own if you wish.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the ECON 248 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Paper Exam (3 hours)

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

Current Grouped Study Locations

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 8, September 9, 2013.

View previous syllabus