Text used exclusively for this course--
Hyman, D.N. 2005. Public finance: A contemporary application of theory to policy (8th ed.). Fort Worth: Dryden Press.

Text used in multiple courses--
American Pyschological Association. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington D.C.: Author.

1. The rationale for the economic activity of the government in a capitalistic economy,
2. The structure, sources, functions, and trends of U.S. public funds,
3. The role of federal, state, and local governments in resource allocation, distribution, and stabilization policies, and how these governments interrelate with regard to funding,   
4. The specific structure of the U.S. personal and corporate income tax structure,
5. The nature of the federal deficit and debt, and how economic policy decisions are both constrained by and affect both, and
6. How economic analysis influences various models of policy analysis. 

1. Analyze how a market system operates with government influence,
2. Evaluate issues of market failure such as externalities and public goods,
3. Critique government policies that effect the market economy and propose modifications to existing policies or new policies,  
4. Analyze how policy decisions are influenced by and influence the complex nature of the federal/state/local environments and the business/government environment,
5. Utilize government-provided data to evaluate economic performance when developing or analyzing policy,
6. Prepare written economic critiques of existing public policies and propose new policies based on economic considerations,
7. Incorporate visual and mathematical economic analysis in written economic critiques of policy decisions, and  
8. Present orally an economic criticism of a new publicp policy for review by peers. 

• A    90%
  
• B    80 – 89%
  
• C    70 – 79%
  
• F    Below 70%

• Participate in classroom discussions/problem solutions   10%
  
• Write and present an economic policy analysis      30%
  
• Complete a midterm with a comprehensive exam question    30%
• Complete a final with a comprehensive exam question 30%

Write and present an economic policy analysis: Students will be divided into groups for policy areas related to government expenditures: income support for the poor, social security and social insurance, and health care. You will work as a team to summarize the chapter and general policies, and then each student is to choose a specific local, state, or federal policy analysis related to that policy area.

You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment.

Teaching Philosophy–I believe students learn best when learning is fun and applied to real-world situations and when students are involved in the process. Therefore, students are expected to participate in discussions work in groups to resolve in-class exercises assist their fellow students when possible (without doing their work for them) and to ask questions when there is confusion. I believe that every student starts out with an A in the class and through his/her behavior illustrates to me that they are unworthy of an A. As an instructor it is my job to facilitate the learning process, but I can’t do so unless I have feedback as to what may be impeding that process.

Biography-–After obtaining a BA from the University of Chicago in Anthropology Dr. Mock worked for IBM for 15 years primarily in the technical writing field as writer, editor, and manager, and second-line manager. Her highest position was as the division’s publications coordinator in the Systems Architecture Department reporting to the General Systems Division Vice President of Manufacturing. She has worked with the IBM 1800MPX System, the 360 and 370 Systems, the System/34, /36, and /38, among others. For several years she was a member of an application development team working in the manufacturing, health, education, and banking industries. After leaving IBM she worked as an consultant to the IBM Corporation, the American Red Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Management Institute, USAID, Time Systems International, and Zygonic Technologies.