UnitLevel 1Undergraduate

ECS1101 Introductory microeconomics

Faculty of Business and Economics

ECS1101 Introductory microeconomics is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2020 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at South Africa. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 29 units, leading on to 81 units in all.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2020
Semester 1, Semester 2
South Africa
Assessment
Exam 60%
and 2 other tasks
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2021 entry.

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Requisites

After ECS1101

29 units list ECS1101 as a prerequisite or corequisite.

Show 21 more

Equivalent units

The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.

Overview

An introduction to the study of economics; consumer behaviour; demand and supply and the operation of markets; market efficiency and welfare; welfare effects of international trade; public sector economics; the behaviour of firms and the organisation of an industry; market structures - perfect competition and monopoly; economies of the labour market.

Offerings in 2020

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterSouth AfricaOn campus
Second semesterSouth AfricaOn campus

Assessment

  • Semester Test 1
    20%
  • Semester Test 2
    20%
  • Summative Exam
    60%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    understand the theoretical foundations of economics

  2. 2

    understand generic skills essential for progression to upper level units by applying rigorous thinking and understanding to analytical geometric models

  3. 3

    appreciate economics as an evolutionary science and its ability to address, in a microeconomic framework, the persistent social and economic problems confronted by society

  4. 4

    demonstrate in individual summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in this unit.

Workload and teaching

  • Lectures144 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes

Three principles drive the teaching approaches in this unit:

Constructive Alignment: Learning is strategically aligned to achieve the learning outcomes, as demonstrated through the assessment. Through the weekly lessons you should see clear connections to the assessment program, and learning should be directly transferrable to the assessment program.

Scaffolding: Starting from lower level learning, new knowledge and skills are progressively introduced adding complexity and connections, and expecting higher-order learning. Within each lesson, and across the unit, building upon early activities, you should see your knowledge and skills demonstrate higher capabilities.

Team-Based Learning: Learning is social and interactive, and best achieved through purposefully designed activities that include these interactions. Through your personally developed and shared learning activities you should develop, analyse, connect, synthesise, interpret, evaluate, justify… more than you could on your own.

Learning resources

Required resources

Mankiw, N. Gregory, 'Principles of Microeconomics', 8th edition (2018); Cengage Learning.

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Dr Tendeukayi Mugadza

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for ECS1101?

ECS1101 has no prerequisites.

What can I take after ECS1101?

ECS1101 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 29 units, including BES3120, BFB2140, BFW2140, ECB2141, ECB2731 and ECB3143. Those lead on to 81 units in all.

When is ECS1101 offered?

In 2020, ECS1101 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at South Africa.

How much work is ECS1101?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does ECS1101 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
1
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Economics
Organisational unit
Department of Economics
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 3
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
20202021