High School Economics and Catholic Social Teaching

Homeschool Connections has opened registration for this short economics course, which will take place in July. Whether you are looking for a basic introduction with a Catholic ethos or a solid foundation for future economics studies, this is the class to take.

Economics Summer Boot Camp

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, July 8 to July 11, 2013
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 4:30 pm Eastern
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade, but all enthusiastic high school students are welcomed.
Fee: $50 for all four classes (course materials included)
Instructor: Mr. Phillip Campbell
Course description: Introduction to the Church's social teaching on man, economy and the state, studying the benefits and pitfalls of the modern economy through the lens of Catholic Tradition.
Course outline:
Day 1: Catholic teaching on man and our duties to society and our neighbor
Day 2: Synopsis of the teachings in the Catholic Social Enyclicals
Day 3: Belloc and Chesteron
Day 4: Modern efforts at implementing the Church's social teaching
Course materials: Provided free online by instructor
Homework: Light reading, plus a comprehensive exam at the conclusion of the week

Economics Summer Boot Camp

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

(click on course title to register)

NOTE: Students wishing to prepare for the 2013/2014 School Year can also take advantage of our Unlimited Access! program. These are recorded courses that can be taken at your own pace on your own schedule. Unlimited Access! is an independent-learning program that gives your whole family unlimited access to over 124 courses, including several designed for summer learning.
          Mr. Campbell offers a 12-week economics course through Unlimited Access: Economics As If People Matter (Micro and Macro Economics). It is recommended that students of the Economics Summer Boot Camp follow up with Economics As if People Matter.

Catholic Homeschooling and High School Economics

Mr. Campbell takes a minute to tell you about his upcoming high school economics course:




For more information about the course: Economics as if People Matter

Online Economics Classes for High School (Micro and Macro)

Update: This live course has concluded and is currently available as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Middle and High School Online Classes

ADDENDUM: Click here to view a short video of Mr. Campbell: Homeschool Connections: Economics as if People Matter (YouTube).

This course will introduce students to basic economic principles, important economists, personal financial responsibility, today's economic struggles and what the Church has to say on the subject.

Economics: Economics as if People Matter

(click on title to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 1, 2011. No class Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving).
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 10 am Eastern (9 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
High school credit: 1 semester
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th
Fee: $160 if you register on or before August 1, 2011. $185 after Aug. 1 for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Phillip Campbell
Course description: This class is geared toward providing young people with a holistic approach towards economic principles based on six objectives: (1) introducing students to basic economic principles such as supply and demand, competition, etc. (2) studying the lives and thoughts of eminent economists (3) introducing principles of personal financial management (budgeting, frugality, etc.) (4) looking at economic problems through a Catholic perspective (5) critically examining current economic problems.
Course materials: The Worldly Philosophers by Robert Heilbroner (older editions will also work) as well as selected readings and research from free online sources.
Homework: Will consist of moderate reading (30-50 pages per week) and short answer questions, with an option of a research paper/project on a topic of their choosing for a final. All homework graded by instructor.

Personal Finance for Teens: Online Course

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Adult and High School Online Classes

Dr. David Harris, economics professor at Benedictine College, will be teaching a summer boot camp for teens in June on personal finances. Help your student prepare for the ups and downs of the economy and get a grip on their their personal finances before they enter into adulthood.

Life Skills Camp: Personal Finance

(click on the title to register)

Class dates: June 13 to 16, 2011
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 11 am Eastern (10 am Central)
Duration: 45-55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: High school
Fee: $50 before or on April 1, 2011. $60 after April 1, 2011
Course description: Students will gain an understanding of very basic financial literacy. The course will include discussions of concepts like spending, saving, budgeting, credit, and what financial matters should concern students as they begin to enter adulthood.
Course outline:
Class 1: What is personal finance?
Class 2: Money earned (Income and saving)
Class 3: Money spent (Spending, budgeting, and credit)
Class 4: How to make you and your family feel better about your financial future
Course materials: The majority of course material will be made available free to students online or via Homeschool Connections.
Homework: None

Professor's biography: Dr. Harris is an Associate Professor in the Economics Department at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Benedictine College in 1997, he earned his M.S. from Iowa State University in 1999 and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2008.

His areas of research interest Catholic Social Teaching, the history of economic thought, and social economics. After spending time as a full-time volunteer working with the poor and under served population of Milwaukee, he taught personal finance classes before coming to Benedictine.

Dr. Harris and his wife, Jackie, live in Atchison with their three children, Helen, Clare, and Luke. They are joyfully expecting their fourth child later this summer.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Misc:
Dr. Harris will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Economics Reading List: High School

This is a supplemental reading list to accompany our Economics course. You may choose 1 or 2 books (depending on their length and difficulty) and write a report for your parent in order to get a full semester credit for Economics.

Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell
A Stanford professor, Sowell writes a clear and concise explanation of economics for the layman. Follow up with Economics in One Lesson.

Economics in One Easy Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics by Henry Hazlitt
Short readable chapters. The "one lesson" is taught in chapter one. The remaining chapters contain stories to back up the lesson.

The Math Behind Wall Street: How the Market Works and How to Make it Work for You by Nicholas Teebagy
Outlines the concepts behind the stock market and explains the terminology. Gives you the basics.

The Road to Serfdom by F. A. Hayek
There are many books about Hayek's economics but this is his most accessible book for a high school student. It's a critique of Europe's (particularly England's) shift to socialism after World War II.

The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers by Robert Heilbroner
Biographies of economists. Also introduces basic concepts.

The Motley Fool Guide to Investing for Teens: Eight Steps to Having More Money than Your Parents Ever Dreamed of by David and Tom Gardner with Selena Maranjian
Teens learn investment strategies to prepare for their financial future.

Preparing Future Voters

From Maria Rioux, homeschool mom:

I want to make sure you all know about a terrific opportunity to study the principles of economics in light of Catholic social teaching. Our friend, Dr. David Harris, is teaching an online class, aimed at high school students but open to others, on the subject. David is a committed Catholic, and somewhat unique among economists in that he includes a study/discussion/application of Catholic Social teaching in his class. Given all the policy changes/economic troubles our country is facing, this would be a great way to prepare those future voters to make prudent and faithful choices ... and back them up with a solid grasp of the principles one ought to use when considering these things.

To help you decide whether this class would be a good fit for you and whether you like David as much as we do :), you might want to view the recorded webinar: Meet and Greet the Economics Professor.

Here's a brief description of the class:

Economics with Catholic Principles
This course is intended to introduce students to fundamental concepts of economics. We will develop the use of economic reasoning to answer basic economic questions in a rational manner. It also aims to provide a thorough understanding of many economic concepts, including marginal analysis, demand and supply, and market equilibrium analysis. The class is intended to assist students in using critical thinking to solve problems. A series of applications will often accompany the course material. In addition, the class will include a brief review of Catholic Social Teaching and its role within the economic realm.

Meet and Greet the Economics Professor

ADDENDUM: The Meet and Greet webinar went wonderfully well. If you missed it and would like to watch the recording at your leisure, just go to: Economics 101 -- Meet and Greet the Professor.

Come and meet our economics professor! Sit in on a sample class, play with the technology, see Dr. Harris in action, and learn what we have planned for the upcoming year for high school economics.

Dr. David Harris, economics professor at Benedictine College, will be teaching an introductory economics course for high school students. I am particularly excited about this course as Dr. Harris will be bringing in papal encyclicals on social justice to the last 2 classes of the course. I don't know of any other course like this for high school students.

Both you and your children are invited to join Dr. Harris on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 for Economics: Meet and Greet the Professor.

Online Course: Economics

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Online Catholic Courses

I have more exciting news for you all as I pull together the fall courses. Another Benedictine professor will be teaching a course for Homeschool Connections. Dr. Harris is wonderful, young associate professor with a love for economics as well as a love for the Catholic Church. This beautiful combination provides for an exciting and educational experience for his students.

The course is Principles of Economics and Catholic Perspectives. The regular price is $160 and there is a discount for early registration. Register by by August 10 and the price is only $135.

Course Description:
This course is intended to introduce students to fundamental concepts of economics. We will develop the use of economic reasoning to answer basic economic questions in a rational manner. It also aims to provide a thorough understanding of many economic concepts, including marginal analysis, demand and supply, and market equilibrium analysis. The class is intended to assist students in using critical thinking to solve problems. A series of applications will often accompany the course material. In addition, the class will include a brief review of Catholic Social Teaching and its role within the economic realm.

Course Outline:
Session 1: Introduction and marginal analysis
Session 2: Market demand analysis
Session 3: Market supply analysis
Session 4: Market equilibrium
Session 5: The market system and the role of government
Session 6: Utility and consumer behavior
Session 7: Catholic Social Teaching
Session 8: Catholic Social Teaching

Dates and Time:
This is a eight-week course. Classes will begin Tuesday, September 08, 2009 and meet every Tuesday through October 27, 2009. The time will begin 3:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 4:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close on September 3, 2009. This will provide students time to learn about the educational software Moodle and the instructor time to provide a syllabus and welcome letter.


Materials:
Microeconomics by McConnell and Brue, 15th edition (ISBN 0072340371)
This is an older edition that is fairly cheap bought used and easy to locate online.
We'll also use one or two papal encyclicals toward the end of class, most notably Centesimus Annus by Pope John Paul II. Encyclicals can be found online for free.

Homework:
Homework will be assigned and graded. However Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping. It is up to the parent to record the grade in their child's transcript.

Professor's Biography:
Dr. Harris is an Associate Professor in the Economics Department at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Benedictine College in 1997, he earned his M.S. from Iowa State University in 1999 and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2008.

His areas of research interest Catholic Social Teaching, the history of economic thought, and social economics. After spending time as a full-time volunteer working with the poor and under served population of Milwaukee, he taught personal finance classes before coming to Benedictine.

He and his wife, Jackie, live in Atchison with their three children, Helen, Clare, and Luke.

Misc. Details:
Dr. Harris will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Recordings of the classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.

Equipment Requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is required. You can find them reasonably price at Amazon.

To check your connection with the online classes visit: http://www.webex.com/lp/jointest/.

Registration:
Go to: Principles of Economics and Catholic Perspectives. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Maureen Wittmann.

In doing our polling, a lot of students asked for an economics course. In fact, here in Michigan and several other states a semester of economics is required for graduation. So, I suggest enrolling early in case the course fills up.