2012
GBU 6552: Law and Ethics in Business World
Syllabus
Instructor :
Office :
Ed Sentell
MCC 420
Office Hours :
I will be in my office or in
Phone
Email :
Web Page :
Credit
:
:
601-925-3418 (Office) sentell@mc.edu www.mc.edu/faculty/sentell
3 semester hours
Graduate Standing the classroom from
3:30 to 6:30 p.m. every
Thursday. See posted additional hours on office door.
Prerequisites :
Course Description : An interdisplinary course emphasizing the relationship among law, international business, ethics, social responsibility, and management.
Rationale for Course : Law and ethics in the business world gives students the legal and ethical foundation for business operations, sales, planning, and strategy. The course introduces the student to legal and ethical issues that they will confront in a business setting and how to resolve those issues using sound legal and ethical principles. The course integrates legal and ethical reasoning with business analysis. Students have the opportunity to analyze the legal and regulatory environment in which business must operate.
Instructor : Most of my career (35 years) has been spent working in corporate law. I retired as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Southern Farm Bureau Life
Insurance Company. I taught part-time for over 20 years. I have taught full-time at
Mississippi College for the past ten years.
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to :

Have an overview of the fundamental concepts, principles, and rules of law that apply to business transactions.

Understand the rule of law in business operations, planning, and strategy.

Recognize legal and ethical issues and apply law and ethics to business decision-making.

Present models for review and resolution of legal and ethical issues in business.
Text : Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment by Jennings, 9 th Edition,
West Publishing Company

2012
Student Responsibilities :

Come to class prepared; that is, read the assigned material.



Complete assignments –
Take all tests on time .
On Time
Graduate students should read the
.
Graduate Orientation Manual in its entirety. This is an important part of the orientation for graduate students. Please get your hard copy from your department or from the Graduate Office in Nelson 202. You may also view the manual on the web at this address: http:/www/mc.edu/publications/graduate/orientation.htm

Grading Scale :
See Rules for Class which is attached to syllabus.
93-100 =
90-92 =
84-89 =
81-83 =
A
B+
B
C+
Honest and Integrity :
75-80 =
70-74 =
60-69 =
C
D
F
MC students bring the very highest ethical standards into the classroom. If you have any questions regarding those standards, you may refer to of the Mississippi College
Undergraduate Bulletin for some specific prohibited practices and resulting punishments. Please also feel free to raise ethical questions of student or faculty behavior in the classroom, or I will gladly speak to you on a confidential basis.
I expect you to work your assignments and tests individually. I expect you to do your own writing. I am available to you for any questions and for help. Come to see me.
Attendance : Do NOT miss class. Each student should make an effort to attend class and BE ON TIME . Good class attendance will help you in a situation where you are borderline between grades. You are encouraged to attend EVERY class because missing classes usually results in less understanding of the course material covered.
Outline of Topics to be Covered in Course: (See attached sheet)
Methods of Instruction : Primarily lecture with discussion.

2012
Tests : There will be three major tests in the course, plus the final examination.
Each major test will count 25 percent of one’s grade. The final exam will count 25 percent. The tests will consist of true/false, short answer, discussion, cases, multiple choice, and definitions. MOST OF THE TEST
QUESTIONS WILL COME OUT OF THE MATERIAL WE COVER IN
CLASS. It is important that you attend class and review the material in the textbook prior to class.
You will have one outside assignment. It will count 25% of the first major test and will include ethical problems and the resolution of those problems. A portion of the second and third tests will be open book. If a student misses an open book test, the make-up test will be closed book.
There will be NO bonus points on any make-up test.
It is very important that students take the major tests and the final exam on the date assigned.
MAKE-UP TESTS ARE GIVEN ONLY WITH A VALID EXCUSE.
THESE TESTS, IF JUSTIFIED, WILL BE GIVEN TOWARD THE
END OF THE SEMESTER.
Text Pages from Business: Its Legal, Ethical and Global Environment,
9 th Edition
Topic
Introduction to Law
(Instructor’s Administrative Details)
1-8
15-20 Sources and Theories of Law
Introduction to International Law
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Recognizing and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
21-24
28-35
35-48
Why Business Ethics
Creation Ethical Culture in Business
The Judicial System
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Litigation
50-55
61-65
77-100
107-113
114-130

Exam 1 – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (includes ethics assignment)
Administrative Law 181-205
215-237 International Law
Business Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Intentional Torts
243-276
288-296
Negligence 299-308
Exam 2 – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 (includes open book test)
Introduction and Formation of Contracts 391-423
429-451 Defenses and Performance of Contracts
Business Property
Antitrust
496-520
527-558
Exam 3 – Chapters 12, 13, 15, 16 (includes open book test)
Agency, Employment at Will, and Whistle- 565-594
Blowers
Social Security, Unemployment, OSHA, 603-631
Workers’ Compensation, Unions
Employment Discrimination 641-676
Forms of Doing Business: Partnerships, LLCs, 687-698
LLPs
Forms of Doing Business: Corporations
Final Exam – Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20
698-715
2012