SHORT & CERTIFICATE COURSES

WITS PLUS T +27 11 717 9503 / 9511 / 9519

E [email protected]
W www.wits.ac.za/part-time

ECONOMICS OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

This course aims to provide participants with an insight into the
- LEVEL I theories and applications of the discipline of economics, equivalent
to a first-year level university course.

OUTCOMES
Join us on the Wits Campus for our • An understanding and knowledge of the essential principles
evening class in Economics Level I, and theories of micro-economics, macro-economics and
extending over 28 weeks in 3.5-hours international economics, and the application of theories to the
weekly sessions. South African economy.
This is a one-year short course • Understand and evaluate a broad range of economic theory
with an academic focus and earns in the form of concepts, mathematical formulae, graphs and
a Certificate of Competence. The models.
course is offered at the University of • Apply a broad range of economic theory to solving particular
the Witwatersrand’s Braamfontein economic problems.
Campus West in lecture and tutorial • Develop numeric, graphical and writing skills and combine these
format by Wits specialist lecturers in in a variety of problem solving exercises.
economics. • Think and express yourself in a manner that is logical, analytical,
clear and concise.
• Understand the major features of the South African economy
TARGET AUDIENCE and the challenges facing it, and relate these to micro-economic,
The course will: macro-economic and international economics theory.
• appeal to graduates in other
disciplines who have had no ADMISSION CRITERIA
engagement with the discipline of If you matriculated before 2008: Maths HG with at least a D symbol
economics; or SG with at least a B symbol; and English HG with at least a D
• add value to people who wish to symbol.
study economics at a serious level
If you matriculated after 2008: Mathematics with a National Senior
at entry level;
Certificate (NSC) rating of at least 5 (60% - 69%) and English
• prepare students wishing to
Home Language or 1st Additional Language with a NSC rating of
ultimately gain entry to the Honours
at least 5 (60% - 69%).
programme (following completion
of the Level II and III courses). Applications from graduates who are interested in studying
Economics will be considered, subject to the entrance requirements
• The course will also add value to
in Mathematics and English as stipulated above.
anyone who requires knowledge of
economics in her/his working life.
Students wishing to progress onto STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE
Economics Level II must successfully The course will run over two academic terms or semesters.
complete and pass Economics Level Semester 1 is devoted to Economics IA – Micro-economics and
I, Computational Mathematics I (or an International Trade in goods and factors of production. Economics
equivalent) and Business Statistics I. IB – Macro-economics and International Finance – is taught in
semester 2. Economics IA is a prerequisite for Economics IB, i.e.
a student must pass Economics IA to proceed to Economics IB
and the certificate will be conferred only when the student has
successfully completed both Economics IA and IB. FEES
Economics IA and IB are offered concurrently in both R17 655.
semesters giving students who have failed a module in
a semester the opportunity to repeat the course in the METHOD OF PAYMENT
following semester (this arrangement depends on the
The fees for all courses are the responsibility of the
number of students).
individual attending the course. All fees must be
paid prior to registration. Payment can be made by
COURSE CONTENT electronic payment or bank deposits. You will then
Topics covered will include topics in Microeconomics, need to bring the original proof of payment to Wits
Macroeconomics and International Economics Plus on Registration Day; dates will be provided in the
Microeconomics and International Trade: acceptance letter.
Mathematics for Economics. Graphical techniques.
The economic problem. Demand, supply and CANCELLATION OF A COURSE
equilibrium. Elasticity of demand and supply. Efficiency Wits Plus courses offered over one year:
and equity. Markets in action. Marginal utility theory. • Cancellation in the beginning of the year before
Household choices. Organising production. Output and commencement of lectures will result in an
costs. Perfect competition and monopoly. Monopolistic administration fee of 15% of the course fee for
competition and oligopoly. International trade in goods Semester 1 regardless of the reason.
and factors of production, and international trade policy. • Cancellation in Semester 1 after commencement
Macroeconomics and International Finance: of the course will result in liability 50% of the course
fees regardless of the reason.
Introduction to macroeconomics. Measuring GDP.
• Cancellation in Semester 2 after commencement
Monitoring jobs and the price level. Short run: the
of classes will result in liability for the full amount of
Keynesian aggregate demand model. Long run:
the course fees regardless of the reason.
the Classical aggregate supply model. Aggregate
• Students who do not meet the requirements to
supply and demand. Fiscal policy. Money and continue in the second half of a year course will
banking. Monetary policy. Fiscal and monetary policy be refunded all course fees paid in advance for
interactions. Bond market, money market and goods that semester. ICAM and parking disc fees are not
market equilibrium model (IS-LM model). Inflation. refundable.
International finance.

LENGTH OF COURSE/ TIMETABLES VISITORS ACCESS

Lectures will take place once a week over 28 weeks All short course participants are issued with a Visitors
spread over two terms (February to June and July to Access Card ±R140. Parking disc fees also apply:
November). arrangements need to be made with the parking office.
You may park in student parking on the Braamfontein
Course length (number of hours): 98 contact hours + Campus West.
204 hours self-study. The duration of each lecture plus
a tutorial will be 3.5 hours in the evening from 17:30 to
21:00, on a Tuesday evening or Saturday morning. APPLICATIONS
Applications should be accompanied by a brief CV
COMMENCEMENT DATE (strictly 3 pages maximum), a matric certificate, full
academic records of university/tertiary level study and
February of each year
other pertinent documentation listed in the application
form.ivalent).
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Approximately 6 MyEconLab online tests (three per
semester), four formal tests (two per semester) and two
examinations, one in May/June and one in October/
November.

Note: Wits Plus, University of the Witwatersrand, reserves the right to withdraw a course from its programme
should registrations not reach viable numbers. In this event a full refund will be made. Refund requests will take a
minimum of 30 working days to be processed after all documentation has been received.