Fall 2026
Principles of Macroeconomics
Instructor: Brian Lynch
Email: lynchb@lamarpa.edu
Phone: 409-984-6015
Office Hours: 7-8am 9.30 to 11.30 am
Additional Contact Information: You can message me in Blackboard
An analysis of the economy as a whole including aggregate demand and supply, national income, inflation, unemployment, international trade, economic growth, business cycles, and fiscal and monetary policy.
AKA- it is the study how people make choices- by people, I mean you and I, the government, businesses, and the rest of the world. Where we live, where we work, what we study, what major we choose. All of these things are interdependent and interconnected. You will find during the semester how many of the concepts related to your everyday life.
5th edition Ebook with Inquizitive and Smartwork:
Principals of Macroeconomics: Mateer/Coppock
9781324115397
This an e-book and will be required for the semester. There will be no codes, no special software to upload. You will log into the course, and there will be a simple link that once you click on it, it will take to you the book. The e-book is necessary to complete most of the assignments in this course.
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
You will take the tests through blackboard. Some tests will have notes allowed. Other tests will have no notes allowed. Your tests will be proctored. That means that the test proctor at your school will give an you access code and you will take the test at your school. Here are the calendar dates for the test, so you can put them in your planner
Test 1 Sept 21-Sept 25
Test 2 Oct 12- Oct 15
Test 3 Nov 16- Nov 19
Test 4 Dec 7- Dec 9
Please download the Blackboard and Outlook apps to your phone and stay logged into your LSCPA accounts in order to receive proper notifications of assignments and announcements.
Madison Monroe Educational Building, Room 220
Hours of Operation
Monday -Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Email address: HelpDesk@lamarpa.edu
Phone number: (409) 984-6150
If you need to fill out a ticket to contact them after normal operating hours, access their website ticket
If it is a Blackboard question:
Phone: 936-496-5379
Email: bbhelp@lamarpa.edu (Blackboard is available 24/7)
| Course Learning Outcome | Associated Core Objective | Activities/Assignments/Projects |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Explain the role of scarcity, specialization, opportunity cost, and cost/benefit analysis in economic decision-making. | Critical Thinking | Students will analyze production decisions and make choices based on opportunity costs. |
| 2. Identify the determinants of supply and demand; demonstrate the impact of shifts in both market supply and demand curves on equilibrium price and output. | Critical Thinking | Students will create a project based on real-world changes in the marketplace. |
| 3. Define and measure national income and rates of unemployment and inflation. | Empirical and Quantitative Skills | Students are tested on these foundational concepts. |
| 4. Identify the phases of the business cycle and the problems caused by cyclical fluctuations in the market economy. | Critical Thinking | Students interpret graphs to determine turning points in the economy. |
| 5. Construct the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model of the macroeconomy and use it to illustrate macroeconomic problems and potential monetary and fiscal policy solutions. | Empirical and Quantitative Skills | Students will apply the model to various scenarios. |
| 6. Define money and the money supply; describe the process of money creation by the banking system and the role of the central bank. | Critical Thinking | Students will analyze changes in monetary policy. |
| 7. Explain the mechanics and institutions of international trade and their impact on the macroeconomy. | Critical Thinking | Students will prepare short-answer responses on these topics. |
| 8. Define economic growth and identify sources of economic growth. | Critical Thinking | Students will be tested on these foundational concepts. |
| Communication Skills | Demonstrate effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication. | |
| Content Knowledge | Recall facts, explain principles and theories, apply factual knowledge, principles and theories to solve problems in a specific discipline. | |
| Critical Thinking Skills | Use creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. | |
| Empirical and Quantitative Skills | Apply the manipulation and/or analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. | |
| Personal Responsibility Skills | Integrate choices, actions and consequences in ethical decision-making. | |
| Social Responsibility Skills | Express intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. | |
| Teamwork Skills | Show the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. |
Chapter Number | Chapter Title |
1 | Five Foundations of Economics |
2 | Model Building and Gains from Trade |
3 | The Market at Work: Supply and Demand |
5 | Price Controls |
6 | Introduction to Macroeconomics and Gross Domestic Product |
7 | Unemployment |
8 | The Price Level and Inflation |
13 | The Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply Model |
15 | Federal Budgets: The Tools of Fiscal Policy |
16 | Fiscal Policy |
17 | Money and the Federal Reserve |
11 | Economic Growth and the Wealth of Nations |
Chapter Number | Chapter Title |
1 | Five Foundations of Economics |
2 | Model Building and Gains from Trade |
3 | The Market at Work: Supply and Demand |
Test 1 | Chapters 1-3 |
5 | Price Controls |
6 | Introduction to Macroeconomics and Gross Domestic Product |
Test 2 | Chapters 5-6 |
7 | Unemployment |
8 | The Price Level and Inflation |
13 | The Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply Model |
Test 3 | Chapters 7,8,13 |
15 | Federal Budgets: The Tools of Fiscal Policy |
16 | Fiscal Policy |
17 | Money and the Federal Reserve |
11 | Economic Growth and the Wealth of Nations |
Test 4 | Chapters 15-17, 11 |
December 9th 5 pm
Letter Grade | Percentage Range | Points Needed (out of 875) |
A | 90% - 100% | 785 to 872 |
B | 80% - 89.99% | 698 to 784 |
C | 70% - 79.99% | 610 to 697 |
D | 60% - 69.99% | 523 to 609 |
F | Below 60% | 0 to 522 |
Homework 361
Test 364
Discussion 127
Creative Writing Assignments 20
All Email Communication must come from an @lamarpa.edu email address from the student enrolled in this course. I am unable to respond to any emails from outside parties.
• I will respond to emails through official avenues only, this includes office phone, lamarpa.edu email and Bookings messages and meeting requests.
Emails: Must contain the students name, class section, and a detailed description of their question written in complete sentences. Please include screenshots when appropriate. I will not discuss your grade via email.
Make-up Work Policy
Given that lives can get really busy, and things pop up- I am issuing 3 extension passes. That means you can turn in the assignment/exam by the next deadline period and not get a zero. You will need to email me ahead of the deadline and inform me you are wanting to use it. If you inform me after the original deadline, you cannot use it. If your inability to contact me is due to a personal or medical emergency, please note that it is at my discretion to let you use the extension passes.
You will receive 2 extra credit for passes you have left at the end of the semester .
You are responsible for completing your work around your other time commitments. When you cultivate these habits, it can provide excellent training for your professional life. You have chosen to enroll in this course. The expectation is that you will work diligently to get your work done.
Extra Credit: DO NOT ask for extra credit.
Please note: Any graded assignment in this class must be written by the student enrolled in the class without any outside help. A first offense will result in a 0 grade for the assignment, and a second offence will result in failure of the course. Ignorance is not a defense
Academic Dishonesty: Do not copy from another student, or do you share your work with another student. The first offense will result in a 0 grade for the assignment, and a second offence will result in failure of the course. Ignorance is not a defense. If you have completed a test and share information with another student, you and that student will receive a zero on the test. A second offence will result in failure of the course. Ignorance is not a defense.
Students documented as "not attending" a course upon the census date are assumed (for financial aid purposes) to have not begun attendance for that course, negatively affecting their financial aid eligibility and disbursement. Attendance in an ONLINE course is verified by substantial participation in the course on or before the census date published in the LSCPA Academic Calendar. Substantial participation in this online course is defined as logging in
and completing/participating in at least one requirement of the course. Note: Simply logging in to your online course does not constitute attendance
If you engage in behavior is harassing or incites fear, this may result in expulsion from the course. If you attack myself or another student personally, use offensive, racist, or discriminatory language, this may result in expulsion from the class. We all bring our own perspectives to the class. Your views will not influence how I grade your assignments. How you express your views will. This is particularly important for the discussion assignments. Make sure to avoid hateful, racist, sexist , discriminatory language and behavior.
Recommended Device for This Course This course is designed to be completed on a laptop or desktop computer. Students frequently miss important information, instructions, or assignments when using mobile devices (phones/tablets). For best results, use a full computer whenever possible.
Please realize that you should be accessing this course at least 3 days a week and contribute about 2 hours each time
Software & Technical Requirements
Students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required course materials, including software, e-books, access codes, and any other tools needed to complete readings, assignments, and activities. Reliable internet access is required for this course. If you lack consistent access at home, use the open computer
lab on the LSCPA campus. Computer failure, software issues, or lack of internet access are NOT acceptable excuses for missed assignments, projects, quizzes, exams, or other coursework.
Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Department Information
Business and Industrial Technology
Chair: Cristina Lawson
Email: lawsonac@lamarpa.edu
Phone: (409) 984-6381
Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.