Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Limited places are also open for exchange students.
Please note: this course takes place in The Hague. Traveling between University buildings from Leiden to The Hague takes about 45 minutes.
Description
This course is designed to introduce students in the BA International Studies to the major concepts, principles, and models of micro- and macroeconomics. In addition, via our tutorials, it will help introduce students to basic quantitative methods, and the skills required to read and create graphs. The course will familiarize students with the central concepts and theoretical debates in economics, and equip them with the necessary tools to apply these concepts to understand economic trends in the global economy. This course aims to set a foundation on which students may build their capacity in assessing local, regional, and international economic affairs, both per se and as these relate to political and social policy. The intention is that by the end of the course, students will be able to read financial newspapers and publications such as The Economist with a sense of familiarity with the terminology, policies, and ideologies that are routinely found there. As the foundational course in the BAIS economics pillar, it is hoped that students will eventually be able to apply the concepts taught here in many aspects of their professional lives.
Course objectives
To be decided.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Lectures are held every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Weekly lectures will cover issues both inside and outside the readings.
Tutorials
Tutorials are held once every two weeks, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent without notification and valid reason or not being present at half or more of the tutorial sessions will mean your assignments will not be assessed, and result in a 1.0 for the tutorial (30% of the final grade).
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), this equals 140 hours, broken down by:
Attending lectures: 24 hours
Attending tutorials: 12 hours
Assessment hours (midterm and final exam): 4 hours
Study of compulsory literature: 64 hours
Completing assignments, preparing classes and exams: 36 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm exam: Written examination with closed questions (multiple choice), and short, open questions.
Final exam: Written examination with closed questions (multiple choice), and short, open questions.
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 30% |
| Midterm Exam | 30% |
| Final Exam | 40% |
End grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note of the following:
The end grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of tutorial, midterm exam and final exam.
The weighted average of the midterm exam and final exam needs to be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), or the weighted average of midterm- and final exams is lower than 5.5, there is a possibility of retaking the full 70% of the exam material, replacing both the earlier midterm and final exam grades. No resit for the tutorial is possible.
Please note that if the resit exam grade is lower than 5.5, you will not pass the course, regardless of the tutorial grade.
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2017 – 2018.
Exam review
How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for tutorial groups. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard for this course, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
- Krugman and Wells, Macroeconomics, 2015 Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis can be found here.
The student administration will register all first year students for the first semester courses in uSis, the registration system of Leiden University.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
For tutorials
Dr. J. Fynn-Paul
When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number and tutorial group number.