BUS 300 Syllabus (Frames)

<body stylesrc="../home.htm" leftmargin="30" background="../images/crcbackground.gif" text="#003366" link="#000000">  <h1 align="center"><a name="Top" target="_self"> BUS 300 - Introduction to Business</a></h1> <h2 align="center">Course Syllabus</h2> <h2 align="center">Cosumnes River College</h2> <hr> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td> Professor Markus Geissler, Ph.D.</td> <td align="right">Credit: 3 units</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Fall 2006</td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> </table> <h3>Catalog Description</h3> <p>This course provides a survey of all business areas, including Accounting, Law, Computer Information Science, Management, Marketing, Economics and Finance. The course is designed to be taken by all beginning students interested in business. It is a core requirement for business majors. This course provides an overview often very helpful in assisting students' selection of a specific career in the field of business.</p> <h3>Course Objectives</h3> <p>Upon completion of this course the student will be able to... </p> <ul> <li>Understand of the role of business institutions and their relationship to other parts of society.</li> <li>Describe the economic, social, legal, and governmental environments in which business organizations operate.</li> <li>Understand the major functional areas of the business organizations including management, marketing, and finance.</li> <li>Critically analyze practical business problems and utilize critical thinking in the determination of alternative solutions.</li> <li>Apply course concepts to the real world of business.</li> </ul> <h3><a name="Prerequisite(s)" target="_self">Prerequisite(s)</a></h3> <p> None.</p> <h3><a name="Text(s)" target="_self">Textbook(s)</a></h3> <ul> <li>Required: <a href="http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072538767/information_center_view0/" target="_self">Understanding Business, 7th Edition</a>, by William G. Nickels, James M. McHugh, and Susan M. McHugh, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-288441-X.<br> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/007288441X/coursecentral-20" target="_self">Click here to purchase this book directly from Amazon.com. Used copies may be available.</a></li> </ul> <p>Textbooks and other materials are available for purchase in the CRC Bookstore.</p> <h3>Course Introduction</h3> <p>To allow you to find out about my teaching, grading, and professional philosophy I have developed video- and audio-based introductions to my courses. <a href="../courseintroduction.htm" target="_self">Click here to check out a the introduction and orientation to my courses.</a></p> <h3>Office Hours</h3> <p>My office hours for the <b>Spring 2007 </b>semester are... </p> <table border="1" width="529"> <tr> <td width="147"><b>Day</b></td> <td width="366"><b>Hours</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="147">Mondays</td> <td width="366">10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="147">Tuesdays</td> <td width="366">12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="147">Wednesdays</td> <td width="366">10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="147">Thursdays</td> <td width="366">Online only. Please email me at <a href="mailto:geisslm@crc.losrios.edu" target="_self"> geisslm@crc.losrios.edu</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="147">Fridays</td> <td width="366">10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.</td> </tr> </table> <p>My office is room BS155, located at the east end of the Business/Social Science building on the main campus of Cosumnes River College. The parking lot closest to my office is Lot C on the south side of campus.</p> <p>You can send me email at <a href="mailto:geisslm@crc.losrios.edu" target="_self"> geisslm@crc.losrios.edu</a> or call me at 916-691-7239 at any time. Email correspondence typically allows me to answer your questions most efficiently.</p> <h3>Course Requirements</h3> <p><i>Attendance</i> is vital to the course. If you need to miss a class, you are responsible for the material covered. Since I cannot possibly review the entire content of an hour's lecture with you in five minutes, I will make all PowerPoint presentations available to you within Blackboard. You should find a "buddy" who is willing to share notes with you if you have to miss lecture.</p> <p><strong>If, for any reason, it is necessary for you to drop the course, it is your responsibility to drop using a drop card or Los Rios e-Services.</strong></p> <hr> <h2><a name="Assignments" target="_self">Assignments</a></h2> <p>I will assign reading and hands-on lab assignments in addition to research through topic-related papers and magazine articles.</p> <p>Click here to see the <a href="calendar/bus300mwff2006.htm" target="_self">course calendar for the Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning section</a>.</p> <h3>Discovery Assignments</h3> <p>You are required to find, analyze, and summarize articles about <em>current </em>topics related to the course. These topics include, but are surely not limited to, business environments; small business; human resources, marketing, information, and financial management, etc. You can find these types of articles in newspapers, magazines, books, or on the Internet, but <em>the articles must have been published within the past three months</em>.</p> <h3>Case Studies</h3> <p>You will be assigned three Case Studies from your textbook. Using approximately 250 words, answer the Decision Questions at the end of the assigned Case Study and post your responses in the appropriate Discussion Board within eLearning.</p> <h3>Submitting Discovery Assignments</h3> <p>Submit your Discovery Assignments through the appropriate link or Discussion Board in <a href="http://www.losriosonline.com" target="_self">Los Rios eLearning</a>.</p> <p>Note: If you are submitting a magazine article summary, be sure to include your analysis and opinion of the article in the summary because they count for 50% of your grade.</p> <p>I use the following structure to evaluate Discovery Assignments:</p> <ul> <li>Quality of summary: 40%</li> <li>Quality of article chosen: 20%</li> <li>Quality of your analysis/opinion statement: 30%</li> <li>Quality of submission details (Is the form completely and accurately filled out?): 10%</li> <li>Spelling and grammar errors: -5% for each error, up to -50%</li> </ul> <p>Since spelling and/or grammatical errors will reduce your score by up to one-half of the Discovery Assignment's total possible point value, I strongly suggest that you use the spelling and grammar checking features of your word processing software and/or have another person read over your assignment before you post it to the appropriate Discussion Board.</p> <p>Please remember that you should avoid contractions (it's, don't, etc.) and ensure that you correctly spell and capitalize proper names in formal writing such as this. Your submission should reflect a professional tone and quality, similar to what you might submit to your manager at work.</p> <p><a href="../magazinearticlesummarysamples.htm" target="_self">Click here to find examples of outstanding Discovery Assignment submissions that students turned in during previous semesters.</a></p> <p>If you do not include the <b>complete</b> URL for the article in your posting (i.e., if you did not find your article on the Internet), it is your responsibility to submit a paper copy of the actual article to me by either 1) leaving it in my mailbox in the Business & Family Science Area Office (SOC159), 2) leaving it under my office door (BS155), or 3) sending it via U.S. Mail to my attention at CRC <strong>before the assignment's due date</strong>.</p> <p>I will NOT accept any handwritten assignments for credit unless I have specified otherwise.</p> <h3><strong>Late Assignment Policy</strong></h3> <p>Since I publish assignments and their due dates well in advance, I expect that you will be able to post your assignments on eLearning (a.k.a. Blackboard) by their respective deadlines unless otherwise specified. If your email/Internet access is unavailable for whatever reason, please use the CRC Computer Lab in room LRC-204 (916-691-7220) which is usually open late and also on Saturdays. I will not accept technical problems as a reason for late work with the exception of the failure of certain Los Rios computing resources (eLearning, email, etc.). Please plan ahead and complete your assignments well before the due date to avoid any problems.</p> <p>I will <b>not</b> accept any late assignments for credit unless you 1. provide written verification from your employer, a peace officer, or a physician, and 2. turn in the assignment and deliver the appropriate verification to me no later than one week of the assignment's initial due date.</p> <p>If you are going to be absent from class for more than one week, please let me know. To earn credit for your homework, you will usually need to submit it before you leave.</p> <h3>Make-Up Policy</h3> <p>Examinations <b>cannot</b> be made up. If you miss a scheduled exam, you will need to take the Comprehensive Final Exam.</p> <p>If you will be absent from class and notify me <b>at least one week prior </b>to an examination scheduled during the period of absence, I will be happy to work with you to find another time to take an examination, either before or after your absence. Regardless of prior arrangements for an examination, you must turn in all other assignments on or before their due date to earn credit.</p> <p>Pop quizzes <b>cannot</b> be made up under any circumstances.</p> <h3>Plagiarism/Academic Honesty Policy</h3> <p>It is inappropriate, and a violation of academic policy, to copy information from any source (including, but not limited to, textbooks, magazine articles, newspaper articles, web sites, and fellow students) without giving proper credit to the author by using standard quotation procedures such as in-line quotes, footnotes, endnotes, etc. Quotes may not exceed 25% of the assignment's total length. Submissions of creative assignments must demonstrate that they were developed independently.</p> <p>I will enforce a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism. If you violate this or any other applicable college or district policies, I will assign you a grade of 'F' for this course and report your behavior to the appropriate Cosumnes River College authorities for their action.</p> <p>Please let me know if you have any specific questions about this policy.</p> <h3>Cell Phone/Pager Policy</h3> <p>For the benefit of everyone's learning experience, please turn your cell phones, pagers, and other noise-emitting electronic devices to silent or vibrate mode during class. If your phone rings during class, I will be happy to answer it for you.</p> <h3>Computer Lab Hours</h3> <p>You may need to use the <i>CRC Computer Lab (room LRC-204)</i> for some of your assignments. Its hours of operation are:</p> <ul> <li>Mondays - Thursdays: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.</li> <li>Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.</li> <li>Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.</li> <li>The CRC Computer Lab is closed on Sundays.</li> </ul> <p>The phone number for the <i>CRC Computer Lab (room LRC-204) </i>is 916-691-7220. The most convenient parking lot for this lab is Parking Lot E near the CRC stadium.</p> <p>For <b>specific help with homework related to this class and other Computer Information Science or Business classes</b>, visit the <i>CRC Business Computer Lab (room BS-145A)</i>. Its hours of operation are:</p> <ul> <li>Mondays - Thursdays: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.</li> <li>Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.</li> <li>The Business Computer Lab is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. </li> </ul> <p>The phone number for the <i>CRC Business Computer Lab (room BS-145A) </i>is 916-691-7297. The most convenient parking lot for the lab is Parking Lot C on the south side of the CRC campus.</p> <p>Note: Please be sure to double-check with each lab for its hours of operation around campus holidays and during final exams.</p> <h3> Email Account</h3> <p>If you do not yet have an email account, you will need to create one to effectively participate in any of my classes. I recommend that you sign up for a free email account with one of the popular web-based email services such as <a href="http://www.hotmail.com" target="_self">Hotmail</a>, <a href="http://mail.yahoo.com" target="_self">Yahoo Mail</a>, etc. It takes less than ten minutes to create an account, and the account will be yours to keep. The Los Rios Community College District's <a href="https://imail.losrios.edu/" target="_self">iMail</a> system also provides you with a free email account for as long as you are enrolled.</p> <p>If you already have an email account, you are welcome to use it for my classes. Please be sure to enter your correct email address when you update your Personal Information, found in the Tools section in several locations within <a href="http://www.losriosonline.com" target="_self">eLearning (a.k.a. Blackboard)</a>. Be sure to update your settings right away if you change your email address during the semester. </p> <h3>Email Netiquette</h3> <p>To help maintain a positive learning environment, I will not tolerate rude and demeaning comments or emails to anyone in this class. Please keep your comments and emails topic-related and professional. If I determine that a comment or email to anyone else in the class is rude or demeaning, I will issue one warning to you. If your behavior continues to be unacceptable, I will refer you to the college's administration for disciplinary action.</p> <p>The Syllabus Assignment Password for this course is <b>BUSINESS</b> .</p> <hr> <h3><a name="Evaluation" target="_self">Evaluation</a></h3> <table border="2"> <tr> <td align="center" rowspan="2"><p align="center"><strong>Assignment Type</strong></p> </td> <td align="center" rowspan="2"><p align="center"><strong>No.</strong></p> </td> <td align="center" rowspan="2"><p align="center"><strong>Points Possible</strong></p> </td> <td align="center" rowspan="2"><p align="center"><strong>Total Points Possible</strong></p> </td> <td align="center"><strong>Your Scores</strong></td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center" rowspan="2"><p align="center"><strong>Your Total</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">01</td> <td align="right">02</td> <td align="right">03</td> <td align="right">04</td> <td align="right">05</td> <td align="right">06</td> <td align="right">07</td> <td align="right">08</td> <td align="right">09</td> <td align="right">10</td> <td align="right">11</td> <td align="right">12</td> <td align="right">13</td> <td align="right">14</td> <td align="right">15</td> <td align="right">16</td> <td align="right">17</td> <td align="right">18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Examinations</td> <td align="right">5</td> <td align="right">100 points ea.</td> <td align="right">500</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter Review Questions </td> <td align="right">18</td> <td align="right">10 points ea.</td> <td align="right">180</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td 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bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Case Studies</td> <td align="right">2</td> <td align="right">40 points ea.</td> <td align="right">80</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Stock Market Report</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">40 points ea.</td> <td align="right">40</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Class Participation</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">50 points ea.</td> <td align="right">50</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pop Quizzes </td> <td align="right">4</td> <td align="right">10 points ea.</td> <td align="right">40</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Syllabus Assignment</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">10 points ea.</td> <td align="right">10</td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Total Points Possible </strong></td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"><strong>1,000</strong></td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#808080"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> </table> <h3><a name="Grading" target="_self">Grading</a></h3> <table border="2"> <tr> <td>900 points or higher </td> <td>A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>800 points - 899 points</td> <td>B</td> </tr> <tr> <td>700 points - 799 points</td> <td>C</td> </tr> <tr> <td>600 points - 699 points</td> <td>D</td> </tr> <tr> <td>less than 600 points </td> <td>F</td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><a href="../home.htm" target="_self"> <img src="../images/navhome.gif" alt="Go to Dr. Geissler's Home Page" border="0" width="80" height="20"></a><a href="../coursecentral.htm" target="_self"><img src="../images/navcc.gif" alt="Go to Dr. Geissler's Course Central page" border="0" width="125" height="20"></a><a href="../home.htm#contact" target="_self"><img src="../images/navcontc.gif" alt="Contact Information for Prof. Markus Geissler, Ph.D." border="0" width="90" height="20"></a><a href="../feedback.htm" target="_self"><img src="../images/navfeedb.gif" alt="Send feedback to Prof. Markus Geissler, Ph.D." border="0" width="100" height="20"></a><a href="http://www.crc.losrios.edu/" target="_self"><img src="../images/navcrc.gif" alt="Go to Cosumnes River College's home page" border="0" width="100" height="20"></a><a href="http://www.losrios.edu/" target="_self"><img src="../images/navlrccd.gif" alt="Go to the Los Rios Community College District's home page" border="0" width="120" height="20"></a></p> <h5><img src="../images/e-mail.gif" width="32" height="32" alt="Animated envelope">E-mail:<a href="mailto:geisslm@crc.losrios.edu" target="_self"> geisslm@crc.losrios.edu</a></h5> <h5>Copyright � 1998-2007 by Professor Markus Geissler, Ph.D. All rights reserved.<br> Last updated: January 12, 2007</h5>  </body>