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Course Outline

BUS201 Applied Microeconomics

Course Coordinator:Leanda Garvie (lgarvie@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 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, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course addresses important questions about how economics can help inform rational decision making, such as: What is the role of trust in strategic interaction between individuals or firms? How can a firm adapt its behaviour  in the face of competition? This course builds a systematic way of thinking about questions like these, grounded in microeconomic theory as it relates to the strategic nature of decision making, in order to give you the confidence to increase your understanding and develop the skills to continue learning.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

Microeconomic basics: supply and demand, consumer and producer surplus, elasticity, market failure

Consumer choice: indifference curves and the budget constraint

Producer choice: production functions, cost curves, isocosts and isoquants

Market forms: perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligpoly and monopoly

Game theory:  social dilemmas, static and dynamic games, evolutionary game theory

Rationality and collective choice

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

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 Understand and use standard supply and demand analysis to analyse market outcomes under various market forms. Creative and critical thinker 
PC1.1, PC3, PC6.2
2 Analyse problems facing both individuals and firms in managing strategic interactions. Creative and critical thinker 
PC1.1, PC3.1, PC6.2, 16.3.1
3 Explain the role of strategic thinking in oligopolistic markets and be able to use the basic tools of game theory. Creative and critical thinker 
PC1.1, PC3, PC6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1.1 Written Communication
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC3.1 Problem Solving
PC6 Career-ready
PC6.2 Discipline Knowledge
Education for Sustainable Development Goals
16.3.1 The learner is able to critically assess issues of peace, justice, inclusion and strong institutions in their region, nationally and globally.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

BUS102

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

From week 1, formative feedback will be provided in the form of answer guides to the tutorial exercises.

Assessment tasks

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 50% 
1500 words
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 50% 
1500 words
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Application of market analysis
Goal: 
To apply knowledge of economic theory and concepts to economic problems demonstrating
ability to structure sound economic reasoning and explain it coherently
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual assessment to be undertaken independently
Further details are provided in the assessment area in Canvas
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of appropriate economic models and analysis
 2
2 
Accuracy and completeness of solutions
 2
3 
Clarity of expression
 2
4 
Analyse market outcomes
 1
5 
Suitable choice of modelling techniques
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Analysis of strategic behaviour
Goal: 
To analyse a range of economic problems, both theoretical and applied, applying appropriate economic models and reasoning
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual assessment to be undertaken independently.
May cover all parts of the course, but relies heavily on later material.
Further details are provided in the assessment area in Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Correct application of appropriate microeconomic theory and models
 3
2 
Accuracy and completeness of analysis
 3
3 
Clarity of expression
 3
4 
Critically evaluate and identify solutions
 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

Directed study hours

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.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

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.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

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.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

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

Assessment: Submission penalties

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

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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