Course Coordinator:Raffaella Belloni (rbelloni@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
This one-semester introductory course provides a comprehensive foundation in the field of Economics. You will understand the fundamental principles governing economic systems and decision-making processes by exploring key concepts and theories. Strong emphasis will be placed on critical thinking and problem-solving, challenging you to apply economic principles to real-world scenarios. You will develop a holistic understanding of economics and its significance in individual decision-making, societal welfare, and global economic issues. The course is structured into three modules: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and International Economics, where each module addresses different United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous online delivery of learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous and scheduled face to face workshops | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous online delivery of learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous online workshops (Recorded) | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
100 Level (Introductory)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Competencies from multiple Professional Bodies (see below) * | |
1 | Demonstrate knowledge and application of macroeconomic principles |
Knowledgeable Sustainability-focussed |
PC3.1, PC6, PC6.2, 8, 10.1.2 |
2 | Understand and evaluate economic issues and make connections with relevant theory |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Sustainability-focussed |
PC3, PC3.1, PC4, PC6, PC6.2 |
3 | Demonstrate knowledge of microeconomic principles and international economics and how they apply in real-world situations. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Sustainability-focussed |
1.1.1, PC1, PC3, PC3.1, PC6.2, 10.1.2, 17.1.1 |
4 | Demonstrate advanced communication and referencing skills |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
PC1.1, PC1.3, PC6 |
CODE | COMPETENCY |
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business | |
PC1 | Communication |
PC1.1 | Written Communication |
PC1.3 | Digital Literacy |
PC3 | Creative and Critical Thinking |
PC3.1 | Problem Solving |
PC4 | Community Consciousness |
PC6 | Career-ready |
PC6.2 | Discipline Knowledge |
Education for Sustainable Development Goals | |
1.1.1 | The learner understands the concepts of extreme and relative poverty and is able to critically reflect on their underlying cultural and normative assumptions and practices. |
8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all |
10.1.2 | The learner knows indicators that measure and describe inequalities and understands their relevance for decision-making. |
17.1.1 | The learner understands global issues, including issues of financing for development, taxation, debt and trade policies, and the interconnectedness and interdependency of different countries and populations. |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Practice online tests will be available through the semester starting from week 1. They are formative assessments, self-graded with immediate feedback to students.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Written Piece | Individual | 20% | 600 words |
Week 4 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 2 | Written Piece | Individual | 30% | 1000-1200 words |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 50% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1:Macroeconomic analysis | |||||||||||||||||||
Goal: | To demonstrate knowledge and application of macroeconomic principles. |
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Product: | Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||||
Format: | This is an individual assessment. Short answer questions to evaluate macroeconomic indicators. Further details will be provided in the assessment area in Canvas |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Information literacy |
All - Assessment Task 2:Analysis of media article | ||||||||||||||||
Goal: | To apply economic theory to demonstrate an understanding of economic stories as reported in the media (such as print, radio, TV, online) and to develop confidence in understanding real-world economic events. |
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Product: | Written Piece | |||||||||||||||
Format: | This is an individual assessment. The article will be available on Canvas at least three weeks before the response is due. Brief answers in your own words to specific questions are required. Further details will be provided on Canvas. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving |
All - Assessment Task 3:Exam | ||||||||||||||||
Goal: | To demonstrate an understanding of microeconomic principles and international economics and their application. |
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Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | |||||||||||||||
Format: | Short-answers questions covering topics related to the second part of the course. Further details will be provided on Canvas. This assessment task is an online, open-book and invigilated exam. You will need to take the exam on Canvas at a specific time and date scheduled by the University, while also attending a live Zoom session and sharing your screen for invigilation purposes. You will need a working computer device, a stable internet connection and a webcam. In the Zoom session, an invigilator will verify your identity and supervise your computer screen and webcam feed throughout the duration of the exam. In special circumstances (for example if you do not have access to a computer or a reliable internet connection), you will be able to request an exam seat in one of UniSC computer labs to take the exam on Canvas and in the presence of an invigilator in a computer lab. More details about this exam will be provided on Canvas. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy |
Programme Delivery Mode | Assessment Type | Title | Competency | Teaching Methods |
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2020 UniSC Business School Standards Undergraduate | ||||
All delivery modes | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Exam | PC1.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed |
PC3.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC4.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC6.2 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
Written Piece | Macroeconomic analysis | PC1.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |
PC3.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC4.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC5.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC6.2 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
Analysis of media article | PC1.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | ||
PC3.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC4.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
PC6.2 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
Education for Sustainable Development Goals | ||||
All delivery modes | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Exam | 1.1.3 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed |
4.1.2 | Taught | |||
8.2.1 | Taught, Practiced | |||
10.1.2 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
12.2.5 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
12.3.4 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
12.3.5 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
Written Piece | Macroeconomic analysis | 8.1.1 | Taught | |
8.1.2 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
8.1.3 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
8.2.2 | Taught | |||
Analysis of media article | 8.1.4 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | ||
8.2.1 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
8.2.3 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed |
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Period and Topic | Activities |
n/a |
n/a |
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Recommended | R. Glenn Hubbard | 0 | Essentials of Economics | 5th | n/a |
Not applicable
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
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For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
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