Your final grade will be composed as follows: 

• Top 3 of Exams (3) and Final (1): 63% (21*3)
• Problem Sets: 20%
• Comparative Healthcare System Presentation: 10%
• In-Class Participation: 7%

Description of Graded Components

Examinations: This class will have three exams and one final exam. I will drop your lowest score so that your top three scores make up your final grade. If you are running late to the exam for some legitimate reason, please email me as soon as possible, so that I know to allow you to take the exam. Make-up exams will be given with an excused absence (see make-up policy below). The dates for the exams are listed in the schedule at the end of the syllabus, but are subject to change as necessary. Students are expected to arrive on time for exams, especially for the final exam. The instructor reserves the right to deny students the ability to take the final exam if they are over an hour late arriving to the final.

Problem Sets: Problem sets will be posted on Canvas to solidify your understanding of the material for the exam. Due dates for these will be posted with each problem set and will be due in class on that day. You are welcome to work with your classmates, but everyone should turn in their own problem set and explanations should be in your own words.

Comparative Healthcare System Presentation: Students will form groups and give a 9-minute presentation on a country’s healthcare system. Signups will occur in class and any students leftover will be assigned by the instructor. This presentation will address the topics listed below. The presentation will occur near the end of the semester on the day assigned to your country. Slides must be uploaded the night before your assigned presentation date.

• Overview: where is the country, what language(s) do they speak, and/or anything else that's relevant to their health care system.
• Payer system: single v. multiple payers (i.e., insurers), public v. private, etc.
• Coverage: who is/isn't insured? Is insurance coverage mandatory/universal?
• Anything you (or others) view as exceptional or unusual about the country's health care system and/or health outcomes, including challenges (e.g., political, economic, etc.) to providing health care services or improving health outcomes
• Conclude by answering the question: Would you implement this healthcare system in the U.S.? Why or why not? Elaborate on this response.

In-Class Participation: We will have graded in-class participation activities throughout the semester, approximately one per two lecture classes. These may be submitting a two-sentence free response thought on the material this week, doing a math exercise in small groups, or some other form of engagement. I will take attendance through Canvas and you will receive full credit if you are in class that day. I will drop your lowest two scores. If you are sick or have an emergency, please message the TA in Canvas for the access code.

Extra Credit 

Any extra credit opportunities will be announced in class and made available to the entire class. There will be no individual extra credit offered out of consideration towards fairness to the rest of the class. 

Grading Scale

Your final grade will be assigned as a letter grade according to the following scale:

A            90-100.99%

B            80-89.99%

C            70-79.99%

D            60-69.99%

F            0-59.99%

Grade cutoffs are final and grades do not round up. I do not arbitrarily raise any individual’s grade at the end of the semester to bump a student above a letter grade cutoff. I consider it unethical to change a student's grade at the end of the semester; I will not respond to those emails and please do not ask. For fairness reasons, all opportunities for grade increases will be captured in extra credit assignments that are offered to the entire class. For pass/fail students, a C or higher is passing.