GBU 147.001 Introduction to Business Course Syllabus Fall 2012 Instructor: Mrs. Carol Wright Email: Link in Desire2Learn or cwright@sfasu.edu Desire2Learn Address: http://d2l.sfasu.edu/ Office: 229M McGee Business Building Office Phone: 936-468-1780 Office Hours: Monday 8:15 9:00 & 10:00 11:00 Tuesday 8:30 9:30 & 11:00 2:00 Wednesday 8:15 9:00 & 10:00 11:00 Thursday 8:30 9:30 Friday 8:15 9:00 & 10:00 11:00 Other times by Appt. Department: Business Communication & Legal Studies Class Meeting time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 10:45 Course Description: An overview of basic business functions and environments including accounting, business law, communication, computer technology, economics, finance, marketing, and management. Program Learning Outcomes: Program learning outcomes define the knowledge, skills, and abilities students are expected to demonstrate upon completion of an academic program. These learning outcomes are regularly assessed to determine student learning and to evaluate overall program effectiveness. You may access the program learning outcomes for your major and particular courses at http://cobweb.sfasu.edu/plo.html. Learning Objectives : Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1- Describe the key functions of business. 2- Describe the cross-functional interaction that is required to meet company objectives. 3- Compare the internal and external environmental matters that affect the business unit. Textbook: Pride, Hughes, and Kapoor, Business, 9 th, 10 th or 11 th Edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007, 2009 or 2011. Purchasing a textbook is REQUIRED. The majority of test questions will come from this text. You may purchase a new, used, or electronic version of the text.
Course Information: All information needed to complete the course will be provided in class and, at times, through Desire2Learn (D2L). Messages and instructions can be posted on the course homepage or email. It should be accessed using the direct logon at http://d2l.sfasu.edu/. Your password for this link should be the same username and password used for MySFA. Assignments and tests may be required to be submitted using Desire2Learn. You should be able to identify at least two locations (computers) available for you to use to complete the course requirements on time. SFA has several internet-capable computer labs available. Among other places, there are computers available on the 3 rd floor of the McGee Business Building and the LINC in the Steen Library. You may access the course through any internet capable computer, including public libraries. A problem with your personal computer or internet connection is not an excuse for not completing course assignments on time. Communications: When corresponding with the instructor, all email should be sent through the course site on D2L, unless unavailable at the time. Grades (Tentative): Exams: 4 @ 100 pts each Current Topic Article (four) Participation (Attendance) Total Points: 400 pts. 100 pts. 50 pts. 550 pts You can access your grades through D2L. Grades are posted continuously throughout the semester. You should check your grades and email prior to the final exam with any questions. Unless you email prior to the final exam, you indicate that you are in agreement with the grades posted. Please do not contact the instructor during exam week asking to makeup an assignment or be allowed extra credit instead review the section on Missed Assignments. Grading Scale: A B C D F 90 to 100 % of Total Points 80 to 89% of Total Points 70 to 79% of Total Points 60 to 69% of Total Points Below 60% of Total Points Examinations: Four objective examinations on material in the textbook and from written lecture will be given during the semester. Tests may be administered in class using a Scantron or through D2L. Exams are objective and consist of multiple choice and true/false questions.
Current Topic Article: In an effort to keep textbook information current and relevant, each student will be asked to find one current article on one topic during each unit. One article will be found for each unit (group of four chapters) and will be due BEFORE the last class before each unit test. In D2L, the student will post a link to the article and provide a summary of the article. The article subject must be related to one of the topics in that unit. Some articles will be presented and discussed in class. The article must be from a credible source such as Business Week, Time, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC. Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance is expected, and attendance will be taken. Attendance is a portion of the course grade. Material may be covered in class that is not included in the text material. Each student is responsible for all information and instructions covered in class. It is the responsibility of the student to determine what was covered in class the course calendar in D2L is updated regularly. Missed Assignments: Makeup exams will be allowed only if arranged prior to the date of the test. The student must provide documentation. Please see the General Bulletin for a further explanation of excused absences. Makeup exams for non-excused absences will be determined at the sole discretion of the instructor and, if allowed, will usually consist of an essay-type exam. Postings for current articles must be made BEFORE the last class day to receive credit. Classroom Etiquette: Class time is valuable and is intended for educational purposes. Students should conduct themselves in an appropriate manner during class sessions. This behavior includes showing respect to the instructor and other students, and students should refrain from any behavior that may distract others. All electronic devices including cell phones, pagers, laptops, and ipods should be turned off during class times. General Student Policies: Academic Integrity (A-9.1) Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work
when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp. Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Students with Disabilities To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. Students with documented disabilities who need course adaptations or accommodations should make an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible. Acceptable Student Behavior Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic, or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.
Date Chapter Topic GBU 147 Course Timeline Fall 2012 Tentative Schedule Aug. 28 T Introduction, 1 Exploring the World of Business and Economics 30 Th Cont. Sep. 4 T 2 Being Ethical and Socially Responsible 6 Th Cont. 11 T 4 Choosing a Form of Business Ownership 13 Th 5 Small Business, Entrepreneurship, & Franchises 18 T Cont. 20 Th Test 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 4 and 5) 25 T 6 Understanding the Management Process 27 Th 8 Producing Quality Goods and Services Oct. 2 T Cont. 4 Th 9 Attracting and Retaining the Best Employees 9 T 10 Motivating and Satisfying Employees 11 Th Cont. 16 T Test 2 (Chapters 6, 8, 9 and 10) 18 Th Building Customer Relationships Through Effective Marketing 23 T Cont. 25 Th 12 Creating and Pricing Products that Satisfy Customers 30 T Cont. Nov. 1 Th 13 Wholesaling, Retailing, and Physical Distribution 6 T Using Accounting Information 8 Th 14 Cont. 13 T 17 Test 3 (Chapters 12, 13, 14 and 17) 15 Th Understanding Money, Banking, and Credit 20 T Cont. 22 Th Thanksgiving Holiday 27 T 18 Mastering Financial Management 29 Th Understanding Personal Finances and Investments Dec. 4 T 19 Cont. 6 Th 20 Understanding Information and e-business 11 T Final Exam 8:00 (Chapters 18, 19, 20 and 16) 13 Th No Class Finals Week