Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus

Note to Students: This may not be the most recent syllabus for this course, and any dates shown may apply to a previous semester. Any assignments included in this syllabus may change in the syllabus distributed on the class start date. Textbook information in this syllabus may also change. For current textbook information, refer to the Course Details accessed by clicking the course title in the online Course Schedule.

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES BUSI 1301
STUDENT DOCUMENT
CLASSROOM AND ON-LINE COURSE WORK
DR. SUZZANNE GUST-THOMASON
2008
COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND - TEXAS CITY, TX

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES BUSI 1301
COURSE TITLE: Business Principles          Business - BUSI 1301
CREDIT: Three semester hours.          PREREQUISITE: None

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name:      Dr. Suzzanne Gust-Thomason
Location: Business Education Dept.
(409) 938-1211 x340
E-mail:    sgt@com.edu

TEXT BOOK AND MATERIALS:
Text:BUSINESS IN A CHANGING WORLD 7ED.FERRELL, HIRT, FERRELL
MCGRAW HILL IRWIN COPY- 2009 ISBN 0-07-351172-6 Text available@ College of the Mainland Book Store

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a basic business course that outlines the business process. It reviews the past and explores future of business. It includes studies on how the internal and external environment affects business.

STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL GOALS – PURPOSE - OUTCOME
Business Principles provides the basic and essential foundation upon which the student can build an understanding of the exciting world of business. The purpose of this course is to examine the fundamental areas of business, to demonstrate how business organizations operate, to identify the individual’s role in the business environment and to explore various business careers and opportunities.

This course will attempt to:

A. Give the student a general understanding of the nature and scope of business operations within the changing world environment of technology and global issues. (Chapters 1,2,3,&4)

B. Provide the student with a general understanding of the modern private enterprise system as it operates in the United States. (Chapters 5 & 6)

C. Familiarize the student with the nature of management, organization, teamwork, competition, quality issues and business communications. (Chapter 7,8, & 9)

D. Provide the student with an understanding of Human Resource information including motivating the workforce, managing human resources, career path management and the dynamics of human resource advantages. (Chapter 10 & 11)

E. Provide the student with general information about business marketing issues including developing relationships with customers, customer driven marketing and dimensions of marketing strategies. (Chapter 12 & 13)

F. Review Financial Management including, Accounting,the financial systems, securities markets and financing the business. (Chapters 14,15,16)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

A. A mid-term exam will be given at an announced time during the semester. This exam will be based on reading assignments, lecture and other class related materials.

B. One final exam will be given at the end of the semester. This test will be comprehensive and objective and will include items from the second half of the text reading assignments, student reports, lecture and class related materials.

C. 14 chapter quizzes will be given. There will be no make up on the quizzes. Quizzes will be online and listed in the calendar as to availability.

D. Special discussion topics will be explored. Student participation is measured in student responses to these discussions and chats. On-line classes will post written responses to the discussions and chats to attend on-line.

E. Class Participation: Each student will be expected to attend classes and participate in discussions, chats, and other elements at the discretion of the instructor.

Classroom – The class will meet 3 hours per week for lecture, discussions and various presentations. There is no laboratory associated with this course.

In order to receive full participation credit, students must post to 10 discussions and attend 2 chats in order to obtain full participation points. Posting to additional discussions and attending additional chats will be considered extra credit and additional points will be given.

On-line – Students will attend class (log into class over the internet) a minimum of 2 times per week to participate in discussions, chats, provide presentations/projects, take quizzes and other activities. On-line work should consist of a minimum of 3 hours per week. (Students in the on-line class must participate in a minimum of 10 Discussions and 2 Chats to receive full attendance points.

F. Case studies. Each student will prepare a written paper containing a review of 3 case studies. A document containing the details of these reports will be handed out at a later date.

G. Class Presentation/Project Each student will prepare and present a report on a current event topic Related to one of the Business Areas studied within this course. ONLINE students will post a written report for this assignment and post it in the Student Assignments Area.

In order to accomplish this educational purpose,this course will attempt to provide classroom lectures, films, textbook and out-side of class readings, guest lectures, Internet related information, class presentations, and role playing.

Grade requirements. It is the standard policy that all minimum requirements as specified in this document must be met, on schedule, in order to earn the appropriate grade for the course.

A. Attendance and Tardiness. Students at College of the Mainland are expected to punctually attend every class for which they are registered. This has meaning for quizzes and attendance and participation points.

B. Students Personal Commitment. In addition to Attendance and Participation as previously noted, the student is expected to spend a minimum of two hours in study outside of class for each hour of scheduled class time. For example, if there are three (3) class hours each week, the student is expected to study six (6) hours outside of class each week.

C. Withdrawal. It will be the responsibility of the students themselves to declare at the registrar’s office for withdrawal from the course prior to the W-day deadline stated in the current College of the Mainland catalog. Otherwise theappropriate course grade will go into the students record.