The Stuyvesant High School Online Course Guide

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• Students may apply for both Advanced Placement Macroeconomics and Advanced Placement Microeconomics. Students who take both of these courses will, of necessity, be doubling up in Social Studies during the semester when they will also be studying American Government (H7V or H7PX).

•"Doubling up" requires that your requested program be able to fit within the confines of a school day. Required courses may not be postponed to make space for an elective course.

• Applications for Advanced Placement Economics and Advanced Placement Government for the next academic year are processed during the spring term of the preceding year.

Who should take this course?

The Advanced Placement Economics course is a one term college level course for 11th grade students. It will fulfill the Social Studies curriculum requirement of economics. In many cases, college level credit will be granted upon the passing of the Advanced Placement Exam in May. However, every college has its own distinct policy. Consider taking the course if you want a more in-depth view of either Microeconomics or Macroeconomics. The regular Regents course includes both areas; therefore, the instructor has both the time and focus to concentrate more on economic theory and application than he or she might in a regular Regents' class. Furthermore, out of necessity the curriculum must conform to classical theory and applications that make up much of the Advanced Placement Exam. Nevertheless, additional units of micro or macro analysis will be inserted when appropriate to amplify each course. Students in micro will be taught some macro, and visa versa. You will even learn how to fill out a tax form and read the financial section of a newspaper.

What will we be studying? How is the course taught?

The course is the equivalent of an introductory college level course in economics taken in the first year of college. The topics covered are essentially those in regular Regents classes. Please note that the college text used is most difficult and demanding - so demanding that many colleges cannot use it. It is challenging to say the least, but basically appropriate. The course is often supplemented with additional outside readings, as well as many immediate economic concerns that appear in the newspaper daily. (Note: look at the front page of The New York Times and generally you will find half the space devoted to economics.)

What will be expected of me? What are the completion requirements?

There is a stress on analysis and problem solving. Some problems can take many hours of work. Assignments are given daily. Generally, the course requires strong analytical and mathematical skills. The latter is not a requirement, but mathematical representations are part of the course. In that way, it can be considerably different from other social studies classes. Sometimes even the strongest history student can find some concepts and applications difficult, whereas strong physics or math students adapt quickly. This, however, should not deter you, but instead inspire and give meaning to the word interdisciplinary. Look upon it as a challenge. Economics to some small extent is a meeting ground of all the social sciences with a mild blend of mathematics to simplify some complex idea. You will also be required to keep a journal, taken from contemporary sources. Please realize the course is time consuming and requires assignments that are easily twice the length of a regular class. Although taking and passing the A. P. Exam is not a requirement, it should be your goal with a successful outcome. There is also a term project requirement that can be satisfied in one of several ways.

Are there any special demands, costs, etc.?

This course is a challenge to those who arbitrarily impose limits on human potential or to those who misuse or abuse both human and natural resources. Economics is about moral contradictions and missed opportunities- moral and material.

An $84 fee is charged to students who take the A.P. Exam. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch will receive a fee waiver reducing the cost of the exam.

Details and pre/co-requisites:

Microeconomics (H8IX) is offered in the fall. Macroeconomics (H8AX) is offered in the spring. Students should have at least a 91% average in social studies.