AG244 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Course Syllabus - Chadwick McKay

Term
Spring 2025
Section
M1
Course Delivery
Hybrid Traditional
Class Program

AG244:

Credits 4
Description

The focus of this course is on the role of agriculture in today’s economic system. The course provides an understanding of the economic relationships coordinating the food and fiber industry. Economic principles and concepts are studied in terms of American agriculture. 

Prerequisites

MT106, OR MT102 AND MT103, OR higher numbered mathematics course: a minimum of 3 semester hours required. 

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
M-W-F--
Meeting Times:
10:20AM - 11:20AM
Location:
CSA SA310

Contact Information

Instructor:
Chadwick McKay
Instructor Email:
chad_mckay@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
CSA 134
Phone Number
937-481-2377
Office Hours:
Monday & Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 4:00
Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course....

  1.  The student will be able to comprehend the economics and policies underlying food and fiber production, distribution, and consumption.  
  2. The student will be able to describe the use of environmental and natural resources.  
  3. The student will be able to define agricultural vocabulary used in agricultural economics.  
Course Materials

An introduction to the economics and policies underlying food and fiber production, distribution, and
consumption as well as the use of environmental and natural resources.
There will be 6 units that will be covered throughout the duration of the course. Through these 5 units,
students will be able to demonstrate basic economic knowledge through assignments, exams, and
situational problem activities performed during class. At any given time, the units may be adjusted to better
meet time allotted throughout the semester.
a) Introduction
b) Understanding Consumer Behavior
c) Business Behavior and Market Equilibrium
d) Government in the Food and Fiber Industry
e) Macroeconomics of Agriculture
f) International Agricultural Trade
For Hybrid Traditional Courses: In Hybrid Traditional courses students will be required to attend each
scheduled class session either live in the physical classroom or joining the classroom at the same
scheduled time live online synchronously via Zoom. Class will be held virtually every Friday during the
semester. In the event that the College transitions to fully online at some point during Spring 2023
semester, this course will continue as an online asynchronous delivery method.
Introduction to Agricultural Economics
Author: J. Penson
Publisher: Pearson
Edition: 7
ISBN: 013460282X

Course Schedule

Tentative Schedule

Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.

Course Assignments

Please see the evaluation of work section for the breakdown of assignments. Each week, besides exam
weeks, a homework assignment will be assigned. The assignment will be assigned Monday and be due
Friday by 11:59 p.m. to WC Blackboard.

Course Final Exam
May 5, 2025 - 10:15am
Evaluation of Work

Assignments (10) 10 points each 100 points
Quizzes (10) 20 points each 200 points
Exams (3) 100 points each 300 points
Final Exam 100 points 100 points.
This course will have several small assignments throughout the course for students to demonstrate their
understanding of economic concepts. The assignments will involve students answering selected study
questions from the lectures (weeks where there are no scheduled exam). All assignments are expected to
be handed in on time and late assignments will not be accepted.
A student will be permitted to retake one missed exam or quiz (not both) of their choice on the final day of
final examinations at the end of term at 5:00 p.m.
The quizzes will be by advance notice. The quiz will cover the topics that were addressed in the week’s
lecture. Quizzes will occur on Friday. However, the professor may change the date of the quiz at their
discretion.
The midterms and the final will be in person and will be closed book, time restricted to one hour, and,
designed to test students’ understanding of topics covered. Multiple styles of questions will be asked from
true or false, fill in the blank, multiple choice, short answer and extended response.
Criteria
 

GradingA = Above 95.99% A- = 95.98 - 91%
B+ = 90.99 - 88% B = 87.99 - 85% B- = 84.99 - 82%
C+ 81.99 - 79% C = 78.99 - 76%C- 75.99 - 72%
D+ = 71.99 - 69% D = 68.99 - 65%F = Below 65%

Instructor Course Policies

Instructor's Course Attendance Policy

Each member of the Wilmington College faculty will provide all students enrolled in his/her courses
with a written statement on attendance policy for each particular course in the course syllabus. This
statement will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for
excessive absences as the professor defines that term. See the current Undergraduate Student
Handbook (https://www.wilmington.edu/current-students/) for the college's Attendance Policy,
especially as it pertains to excused absences.

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule

All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

SP25 Final Exam Schedule 

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)