Course Outline

BUS202 Applied Macroeconomics

Course Coordinator:Raffaella Belloni (rbelloni@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

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

Macroeconomics offers you the possibility to understand important questions about how the world works, such as: Why are some countries rich and others poor? What are the causes of economic and financial crises? How can policies to address economic problems such as unemployment and inflation be assessed? This course builds a systematic way of thinking about questions like these, grounded in a synthesis of the most up-to-date theories in the discipline, 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 – Asynchronous online delivery of learning material. 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous and scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Online
Learning materials – Asynchronous online delivery of learning material. 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous and scheduled face to face workshops (recorded). 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

Macroeconomic issues and data

The neo-classical growth model and endogenous growth theory

Keynesian economics: the multiplier effect, the IS/LM model and the Phillips Curve

Fiscal Policy: the budget, debt, political constraints

The current New Classical/New Keynesian consensus and the IS-PC-MR model 

Monetary policy: inflation targeting, financial sector oversight

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 Source, interpret and evaluate reliable data related to macroeconomic issues; present and interpret data clearly. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
PC1.1, PC1.3, PC3, PC6
2 Apply macroeconomic concepts and models to analyse real-world policy challenges Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
PC1.1, PC3, PC6, 10.1.2, 10.3.3
3 Evaluate macroeconomic policies to inform and analyse business and economic issues. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
PC1.1, PC3.1, PC6.2, 8.1.3, 8.2.1

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1.1 Written Communication
PC1.3 Digital Literacy
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC3.1 Problem Solving
PC6 Career-ready
PC6.2 Discipline Knowledge
Education for Sustainable Development Goals
8.1.3 The learner understands the relation between employment and economic growth, and knows about other moderating factors like a growing labour force or new technologies that substitute jobs.
8.2.1 The learner is able to discuss economic models and future visions of economy and society critically and to communicate them in public spheres.
10.1.2 The learner knows indicators that measure and describe inequalities and understands their relevance for decision-making.
10.3.3 The learner is able to identify and analyse different types of causes and reasons for inequalities.

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 onwards, oral (in workshop) and written (via solutions posted on Canvas) feedback on workshop exercises will be provided.

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 Report Individual 50%
1500 words
Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 50%
1500 words
Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Policy analysis
Goal:
To apply knowledge of economic theory and evidence to a macroeconomic policy issue.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Work must be completed individually. Relevant theory should be coherently explained, and evidence presented and applied to a macroeconomic policy issue. Further details are provided in the assessment area on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Application and evaluation of appropriate macroeconomic theory and concepts
2 3
2
Source, interpret and evaluate economic data to support policy arguments
1
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Country report
Goal:
To apply macroeconomic theory and models to real-world data and to demonstrate the ability to structure sound economic reasoning.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This is an individual assessment. Students are required to collect, analyse, and interpret macroeconomic indicators to evaluate a country’s economic performance and policy stance. 
Further details are provided in the assessment area on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Effective application of appropriate macroeconomic theory.
2 3
2
Interpret and analyse macroeconomic data to assess national economic performance
1
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
2020 UniSC Business School Standards Undergraduate
All delivery modes Report Policy analysis PC1.1 Assessed
PC3.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
PC6.2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Written Piece Country report PC1.1 Assessed
PC3.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
PC4.1 Practiced, Assessed
PC6.2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

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: