Economics
2025-2026
This Economics course will cover basic economics (macro and micro) along with personal economics. We will look at how our local, federal, and worldwide economies work by studying general economic concepts, including supply and demand, prices, profits and losses, regulation and anti-trust laws, productivity and pay, labor markets, investments, banking, and national output. We will also study papal encyclicals addressing economic issues and Catholic social justice teachings.
Alongside the wider economic look, we will study personal economics including banking, credit, loans, credit cards, interest, insurance, investments, payroll, etc. We will have a long-running project allowing students to research various aspects of personal economics and make a plan for their future selves for 1-year, 5-years, and 10-years.
HOMEWORK
Homework will include reading from source textbooks and documents, answering discussion development questions, and some writing assignments. Research into economic scenarios and project work will also be required.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITY
- Parents will be asked to assist the student with research regarding life-plan goals (students will be expected to research housing and transportation costs, starting salaries, job opportunities, etc.)
- Parents will also need to have discussions with the student regarding personal economic goals (i.e. is debt to be avoided at all costs, is some debt okay if deemed appropriate, is college negotiable or is higher education a given?)
- Parents are asked to ensure that students are keeping up with their homework and reading assignments in preparation for class. (15-20 minutes)
COURSE FEE: $350 pay-in-full / $384 payment plan
SUPPLY FEE: None
GRADE LEVEL: 11th - 12th
PREREQUISITES: None
CREDIT HOURS: 1 credit Economics or 1/2 credit social science and 1/2 personal math
MIN/MAX: 5 minimum, 15 maximum
TEXTS*:
- Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell 5th edition
- "Rerum Novarem (On Capital and Labor)" Pope Leo XIII, 1891, available on vatican.va
- "Laborem Exercens (On the 90th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum)" by Pope John Paul II, 1981, available on vatican.va
- "Centesimus Annus (On the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum)" Pope John Paul II, 1991, available on vatican.va
- The Wealth of Nations Books I-III Adam Smith (Penguin Classics edition)
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? By Richard J. Maybury, 7th edition
> Resource list may be incomplete
Additional supplies*:
- 3-ring binders
- Basic classroom supplies - paper, pens, pencils, etc.
- Presentation Supplies
- Access to a computer for research
- Presentation software program such as PowerPoint or Google Slides, preferred
*Please do not purchase any texts or supplies until you receive the officially, updated book & supply list after registration.