Sierra Vista Campus-El Paso, Texas
School of Business
SYLLABUS
Our Mission Statement
Wayland Baptist University exits to educate students in an academically challenging, learningfocused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and
humankind.
Course: BUAD 5315-EP01; Legal Environment
Term: Winter Term Nov. 11, 2015-Feb. 10, 2016
Instructor: Drew A. Neal, M.A., J.D. Instructor cell phone 915-691-4300.
Office Phone Number and WBU Email Address: 915-755-5100
Email: drew.neal@wayland.wbu.edu or alternative danealdoc@gmail.com
Office Hours, Building, and Location: Before or after class or by appointment
Class Meeting Time and Location: Wednesday 5:30-9:10 P.M.
4959 Hondo Pass
El Paso, Texas 79924
Catalog Description: Case studies of the laws in the traditional topics of constitutional law, criminal
law, property law, procedural law, international law, torts, contracts, commercial transactions, business
organizations, employer and labor relations, employment law, globalization implications, and government
regulations.
Prerequisites: none
Required Textbook and Resources:
BOOK
Business Law Today
AUTHOR ED YEAR PUBLISHER
Miller
10th 2015
Cengage
Learning
ISBN#
UPDATED
9781305617926 and
available ONLY at our 9/29/14
WBU Bookstore
Optional Materials: Assigned as necessary
Course Outcome Competencies:

Develop a basic understanding and interest in not only the legal process but also the structure of our current
legal system. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to describe the different levels and
types of courts, both state and federal, located in Hawaii, California, and Washington D.C.;

Develop an appreciation for the fundamentals of legal research, learn methods of legal reasoning and
analysis, then apply these skills to in-class case law readings;

Become familiar with the fundamental terminology and concepts of Constitutional law, contracts, sales,
torts, agency, wills, trusts, property, administrative law, the basic business organizations, intellectual
property, and cyber-law;

Know the process for establishing a business organization and actually go through the formalities of setting
up a specific type of business to accommodate e-commerce activities;

Develop/craft a persuasive argument, pro or con, regarding the governments (state or federal) regulation
of private business.
Attendance Policy: Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make
every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who
will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that
number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the
student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the external campus executive
director/dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class
meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course,
as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s
attendance policy. A student may petition the Academic Council for exceptions to the above
stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the executive vice president/provost.
Service for the Disabled: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a
disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of
Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be
contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability
must accompany any requests for accommodations.
Course Requirements:
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious
academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic
standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in
the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals
may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations.
Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage
of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the
Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review
and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade
be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.
Readings: You are required to read all assigned chapters prior to class. This course is taught on
the adult learning model, where the student accepts the responsibility of completing assigned
tasks which includes being prepared prior to class session and completing assignments on time.
Being a combined undergraduate and undergraduate class, the actual assigned readings will
differ, however the subject matter will be the same. Graduate students will be responsible for
larger amounts of assigned reading. By being prepared, the student can actively participate in
class discussions, ask questions to clarify readings, and be prepared for successfully mastering
quizzes and exams.
Homework: A general rule in college level instruction is the student should be prepared to
complete two hours of work outside of class for every one hour inside of class. Homework
consists of performing all reading tasks, formulating ideas and concepts regarding the reading,
preparing for class discussions, completing writing assignments, and review of presented
information prior to any testing.
Class Participation: Class participation is required and is an important portion of learning in the
adult model of education. Participation is more than attendance, although attendance is part of
participation, because you must be present to participate. Participation includes, but not limited
to, asking questions, joining discussions, volunteering opinions and evidencing that you have
completed your assigned readings prior to class time. Group work in class may also be assigned.
Exams: Weekly quizzes will be given following the week that the material was presented.
Quizzes and the mid-term, final, and participation will make up the components leading to your
final grade. There will be a midterm and final exam as evidenced on the course outline. It is very
likely the exams will be take home essay exams.
Method of Determining Course Grade:
Discussion/Participation
20%
Quizzes 8 X 5
40%
Midterm Exam
20%
Final Exam
20%
100%
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP =
withdrew passing, WF = withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within
the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two days of a micro-term to a student who is
passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for reasons
beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work required is
completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor
designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date,
the I is converted to the grade of F.
Academic Dishonesty: This class will adhere to zero tolerance for using someone else's work as
your own. Student work will be reviewed for plagiarism.
Students are responsible for reading, understanding, obeying, and respecting all academic
policies, with added emphasis being placed upon academic progress policies, appearing in the
Wayland Baptist University Academic Catalog applicable to their curriculum and/or program of
study.
Tentative Schedule:
HOLIDAYS
Nov. 26-27 Thanksgiving
Dec. 21-Jan. 1, 2016
Week 1
Introduction to course, explanation of expectations, overview of American
Nov. 11, 2015 Legal System Homework: Integrate class discussions, re-read and prepare Chap
1 and 2, prepare for quiz 1 next week.
Week 2:
QUIZ 1-Chaps. 1 & 2. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 3 and
4.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 3 & 4 quiz. Prepare for discussion of Chaps. 5 and 6 next week after quiz.
Week 3:
QUIZ 2-Chaps. 3 & 4. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 5 and
6.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 5 & 6 quiz. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 7 & 8
Week 4:
QUIZ 3-Chaps. 5 & 6. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 7 and
8.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 7 & 8 quiz. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 9 & 10.
Week 5:
QUIZ 4-Chaps. 7& 8. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 9 and
10.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Midterm. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 11 & 12.
Week 6:
MIDTERM EXAM-Chaps. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 . Review reading, class
discussions, discuss Chap. 11 & 12.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare Chap.
11 & 12 quiz. Prepare for class discussion of Chap. 13 & 14 after quiz.
Week 7:
QUIZ 5-Chaps. 11 & 12. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 13
and 14.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 13 & 14 quiz. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 15 & 17
Week 8:
QUIZ 6-Chaps. 13 & 14. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 15
and 17.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 15 & 17 quiz. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 19 & 28.
Week 9:
QUIZ 7-Chaps. 15 & 17. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 19
and 28.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
Chap. 19 & 28 quiz. Prepare for class discussion on Chap. 29 & 30.
Week 10:
QUIZ 8-Chaps. 19 & 28. Review reading, class discussions, discuss Chap 29
and 30.
Homework: Integrate previous readings and discussions, re-read & prepare for
FINAL
Week 11:
FINAL Review Chaps. 29 & 30. Take FINAL
FEB 10, 2016
THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED UPON STUDENT INPUT,
CHANGES DUE TO GUEST SPEAKERS, ETC.