Business Administration 400 – Spring 2014
Business Honors Seminar – SS 3630
Dr. Carol F. Venable
Office: SS2417 venable@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: 1745-1900 Thursdays, by email/phone, by appointment
Course Objective/Learning Outcomes
The objectives of this seminar are to integrate your business education with the broader community in order to
develop business professionals who are aware of the current issues and problems affecting the local, national,
and global environments, and who are conscious of their social and ethical responsibility to the community and
society. At the end of the honors program you should be able to
o
o
o
o
o
Critically assess how current events influence business activities
Document your accomplishments effectively and succinctly in written form
Present your reasoned opinion in small group discussions
Listen, evaluate, and appreciate conflicting views
Apply ethical reasoning to business issues
Text and Readings
Current business publications, government and regulatory websites
Business Writers Handbook, Alred, Brusaw, Oliu, 10th edition, 2012 (recommended)
Business Week and Wall Street Journal Subscriptions (recommended)
Course Format: Open discussion seminar format.
o Seminar Schedule: 1615-1745 Jan 30, Feb 20, Mar 13, Apr 10, and May 8
Absence Policy Requirements: Class discussion and interactions are an important part of the seminar.
Attendance is required. If you are absent from one of the seminar sessions, a one-page single spaced report
summarizing the main articles in the current week’s edition of Business Week is required. If you miss part of a
session, you are responsible for a pro-rated paper. Students enrolled in a class that overlaps our meeting times
must come when their class ends (or contact me for alternative arrangements if it overlaps the entire period).
Blackboard
Blackboard is used to post policy and course information. Consult the Blackboard site for guidance on
the format for seminar and portfolio reports, and for various events/activities. I will post an
announcement when I change or add information on the site.
Individual Meetings
Individual meetings with the instructor are held between the seminars to develop, review, and provide
feedback on portfolio plans.
Course Semester Requirements to receive credit for the semester
 Satisfactory Progress on the Activities and Reports required for the Portfolio including:
o Progress Report - This report itemizes your progress on activities and reports required for the
Portfolio. The Progress Report Excel template is available on Blackboard.
o Business Honors Seminar Report. This report analyzes the current problems and issues
affecting our local, national, and global business environments during the current semester. It
will become one of the items in your Portfolio. See Blackboard for format guidance,
 Completion of the required number of portfolio reports based upon your graduation date
 Completion of Absence papers for missed sessions
ADDITIONAL ITEM: In addition to university sanctions against cheating, plagiarism and other forms
of academic dishonesty and unethical conduct, the College of Business Administration may take action
to remove from the business major any individual who has participated in such activities.
Cumulative Number of
Portfolio Papers Due (By
Planned Graduation Date*
DATE
Topic/Event
Jan 20
Total number of Portfolio Papers Due for Review
Jan 30
CLASS – Visitor and Introductions
Dates
to
Know
Feb 20
DEADLINES
Feb 4 11:59 Last day to Drop, Add, and Change grading basis
of classes – or to Withdraw from university
CLASS
Feb 24
Mon
Total number of Portfolio Papers Due for Review
Mar 13
CLASS
Mar 17
Mon
Apr 10
Apr 21
Mon
Total number of Portfolio Papers Due for Review
May 8
Final
Exam
Period
CLASS
Total number of Portfolio Papers Due for Review
BOOK SCHOLARHIP TO BE PROCESSED BASED ON
WHETHER YOU ARE CURRENT ON YOUR PAPERS THROUGH
THIS DATE
CLASS -- Semester reflections on current events and lessons
learned during the semester
Progress Report and Business Honors Seminar Report Due at
End of Final Exam Period by email (Note: Seminar Report
counts as one portfolio item.)
GRADUATES: BOUND PORTFOLIO DUE IN OFFICE TO GET
STOLE
May/
Aug
2014
11
Dec
2014
Dec
6
May/
Aug
2015
2
12
7
3
1
14
8
4
1
16
9
5
1
Port.
Due
11
6
2
2015
0
*Subtract one for each semester of upper division that you were not a member of the honors
program (i.e., a seminar report was not prepared).. For example, someone entering as a senior
in fall 2013 and who plans to graduate in May 2014 would need on Jan 20 11 papers minus 2
for the two semesters when the person was not enrolled in the honors program.
2