3 Takes on Introductory Economics

	Course	Format	Instructors	Cost	Students	Requirements (and share of grade)	Tests	Course philosophy	Take the course if
George Washington U.: Math, more math, and tough tests	Principles of Microeconomics 1011	Lectures twice weekly for 50 minutes, plus weekly discussion section	Steven M. Suranovic, an associate professor of economics and international affairs, and four teaching assistants	$3,928	232	Final exam (40%); midterm (30%); 4 quizzes (students’ top 3 scores count for 15%); 6 problem sets for homework (students’ top 4 count for 10%); algebra assessment (5%)	Consist of short-answer questions and calculations; each exam graded on a curve of about 20 points	If you’re not learning models, Mr. Suranovic says, “you’re not learning what the entire foundation of the discipline is.	You might want to major in economics or see yourself eventually pursuing a doctorate in the discipline.
George Mason U.: Lectures with zing and multiple-choice exams	Contemporary Microeconomic Principles 103	Lecture Wednesday evenings for three hours; no homework, discussion section, or required reading, though a textbook is recommended	Donald J. Boudreaux, an economics professor	$1,373 for Virginia residents, $3,558 for out-of-state students	308	Final exam (40%); first midterm (30%); second midterm (30%)	Consist of only multiple-choice questions, including a number of true/false; first midterm graded on 2-point curve, second midterm graded on 1-point curve.	We don’t do math in this class, Mr. Boudreaux says. “I want to instill a little bit of the gestalt, the deeper worldview of how an economist views microeconomics.	You plan to take only one course in economics, enjoy lectures, and want to be exposed to the foundational concepts of the discipline.
U. of Phoenix: Everyday applications and online discussions	Principles of Microeconomics 365	Students read four to five chapters each week to learn the material, then meet for five weeks asynchronously, working with each other online and over the phone on their own schedules; no lectures	Peggy V. Douglas, an online adjunct instructor	$1,805	18	3 papers (45%); students also work in learning teams of 3 to 5 students whose task is to collaborate on a 3,500- to 4,200-word paper on an industry or company (35%); class participation in the form of two substantive messages, usually in response to other students, posted in an online forum twice daily on four different days each week (16%), and two 150- to 250-word responses, with citations, to Ms. Douglas’s questions posted each week in an online forum (4%).	None	I want students to know and remember how to apply the principles to their lives and work environments, Ms. Douglas says.	You need to see the relevance of economics to the world outside class, and you want to take shorter courses on your own schedule.

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	Course	Format	Instructors	Cost	Students	Requirements (and share of grade)	Tests	Course philosophy	Take the course if
George Washington U.: Math, more math, and tough tests	Principles of Microeconomics 1011	Lectures twice weekly for 50 minutes, plus weekly discussion section	Steven M. Suranovic, an associate professor of economics and international affairs, and four teaching assistants	$3,928	232	Final exam (40%); midterm (30%); 4 quizzes (students’ top 3 scores count for 15%); 6 problem sets for homework (students’ top 4 count for 10%); algebra assessment (5%)	Consist of short-answer questions and calculations; each exam graded on a curve of about 20 points	If you’re not learning models, Mr. Suranovic says, “you’re not learning what the entire foundation of the discipline is.	You might want to major in economics or see yourself eventually pursuing a doctorate in the discipline.
George Mason U.: Lectures with zing and multiple-choice exams	Contemporary Microeconomic Principles 103	Lecture Wednesday evenings for three hours; no homework, discussion section, or required reading, though a textbook is recommended	Donald J. Boudreaux, an economics professor	$1,373 for Virginia residents, $3,558 for out-of-state students	308	Final exam (40%); first midterm (30%); second midterm (30%)	Consist of only multiple-choice questions, including a number of true/false; first midterm graded on 2-point curve, second midterm graded on 1-point curve.	We don’t do math in this class, Mr. Boudreaux says. “I want to instill a little bit of the gestalt, the deeper worldview of how an economist views microeconomics.	You plan to take only one course in economics, enjoy lectures, and want to be exposed to the foundational concepts of the discipline.
U. of Phoenix: Everyday applications and online discussions	Principles of Microeconomics 365	Students read four to five chapters each week to learn the material, then meet for five weeks asynchronously, working with each other online and over the phone on their own schedules; no lectures	Peggy V. Douglas, an online adjunct instructor	$1,805	18	3 papers (45%); students also work in learning teams of 3 to 5 students whose task is to collaborate on a 3,500- to 4,200-word paper on an industry or company (35%); class participation in the form of two substantive messages, usually in response to other students, posted in an online forum twice daily on four different days each week (16%), and two 150- to 250-word responses, with citations, to Ms. Douglas’s questions posted each week in an online forum (4%).	None	I want students to know and remember how to apply the principles to their lives and work environments, Ms. Douglas says.	You need to see the relevance of economics to the world outside class, and you want to take shorter courses on your own schedule.