COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor                                                                             Fall 2009
Dr. Titus Awokuse                                                                 University of Delaware
Room 207 Townsend Hall                                                       Food and Resource Economics           
Phone: 831-1323                                                                     Location: TNS 002   
E-mail: kuse@udel.edu                                                           Time: MWF  9:05AM - 9:55AM

Course Website: http://www.udel.edu/FREC/awokuse/web/FREC410_webpage.htm

Office Hours:  Mondays & Wednesdays 11:30 - 12:30 PM (and by appointment)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

This course introduces students to the global economy and emphasizes the significance and implications of government policies for trade in various commodities.  Specifically, students will learn about various trade theories and develop an intuitive understanding of the theoretical foundations of the economics of international agricultural trade.  Furthermore, the course would familiarize students with current issues and methods used in the analysis of international agricultural trade. Traditional lectures and Problem-based Learning (PBL) techniques and tools will be used in communicating important concepts and ideas in this course. The PBL section of the course will focus on the impact of freer agricultural trade on environmental policy and practice in developed and developing countries. The PBL sessions will include group-based activities such as problem solving, role-playing, debates, discussions, writing assignments, and in-class presentations.

Objectives:

·        To develop an intuitive understanding of the theoretical foundations of the economics of international agricultural trade.

·         To introduce students to the role of government and other institutions in setting agricultural trade policy.

·        To familiarize students with current research issues and models used in the analysis of international agricultural trade. 

 Course Prerequisites: 

·         Introductory microeconomics and/or macroeconomics.

·         Please inform me if you do not have a background in microeconomics. 

 Textbooks: 

My lectures will not be limited to a particular book.  However, many lectures during the first part of the course will be based on the following texts:  

Pugel, Thomas (2007).  International Economics, 13^th edition, Irwin McGraw-Hill (Required text)

Koo, Won and P. Lynn Kennedy (2005) International Trade and Agriculture: Theories and Practices. Blackwell Publishing.

Reed, Michael (2000). International Agricultural Trade. NY: Prentice-Hall Publishing. 

GRADING PROCEDURES AND ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES

Class Attendance: Attendance will be taken randomly and students are expected to attend all class sessions. If you have to miss a class, you are still responsible for course material covered during the missed class period.  It is the student's responsibility to keep up with changes in the course syllabus announced by the instructor.

Reading Assignments, Case Studies, and Discussion Sessions: Reading assignments are listed in the course outline. The expectation is that students will make every effort to complete the assigned readings prior to the class session for which they are assigned.  About 65% of the course notes will be posted on the course website, but the remaining 35% will be presented in class. If you have to miss class for any reason, make prior arrangements with classmates to obtain materials presented in class. Beyond the notes posted online, the instructor will NOT provide his personal notes to students who missed class.

Homework Assignments: There will be problem sets to be completed and turned in on the specified dates.  Written assignments will be due at the beginning of class on the specified dates. Late assignments will be penalized a letter grade unless a valid written excuse with supporting letter from the dean’s office is provided.   If you will be absent from class the day an assignment is due, you can submit it through a friend or do it before the due date.

Exams:  Three in-class tests will be administered during the term.  The exams may include essay questions and problems. The in-class exams are closed-book and emphasize comprehension of key concepts. No make-up exams will be scheduled except under serious extenuating circumstances and only with the instructor’s prior approval.  

Academic Dishonesty Policy: Students are encouraged to work together in solving homework assignments. However, copying from another student’s answers is not permitted. Each student is responsible for reading and abiding by the rules as outlined in the UD Student Guide: http://www.udel.edu/stuguide/09-10/code.html

Tests & Grading Procedures: Overall course grade will be based on three exams, and other assignments as given by the instructor. The following weights and scale will be used for the overall grade.

           A          A-          B+      B         B-       C+       C         C-        D+        D        D-       F                            93-100          89-92       86-88     83-85     79-82     76-78     73-75     69-72     61-68     56-60     51-55     0-50

Tests/Exams Dates (subject to change): 

1^st Test:  Friday, Oct. 9, 2009     2^nd Test:  Friday, Nov. 6, 2009     3^rd Test: Wed.  Dec. 9, 2009         

Term Paper:  Wed., Dec. 2, 2009.