PACS 220 Economics of Happiness will bring together the united insights of a diverse suite of sciences and arts (e.g. biology, ecology, psychology, sociology, economics, poetry, marketing, peace studies) to provide learners with a context-inclusive understanding of human decision-making processes, adaptive behaviours, and economic dynamics. A significant set of readings from the academic literature and popular press will challenge current thinking about sustainability and economic models. This knowledge will then be used in solitary synthesis and group collaborations to explore theoretical and practical models of sustainability and development, ultimately linking to the aim of creating local and global cultures of peace.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 or ENGL 60 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 40 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 8 |
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| Other | 5 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Describe ecological concepts regarding relationships (coevolution and food webs) and biological limits to growth
- Recognize a complex adaptive system and fundamental precepts of such
- Understand contrasts between living systems and machines and implications of such as metaphors
- Describe the concepts of decision-making psychology (e.g. loss vs. gain; emotional vs. logical), including better recognition of why poor decisions may be rational and made in certain contexts
- Understand basic economic principles such as growth, economic multipliers
- Engage in discussion and action around what sustainability does and could mean, and how communities make decisions to move toward or away from such a goal
- Relate the biological and economic concepts of growth, and the psychological concept of happiness to the tenets and foundations of creating local and global cultures of peace
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.