BA121 Introduction to Business
Lake Superior State University
Fall 2004
Monday and Wednesday 6-7:20
Office Hours: MWF 11-12 and TR 1-3
Linda Schmitigal, Instructor
lschmitigal@lssu.edu
Textbook: Nickels, et al,
Understanding Business, 6th
edition, Irwin McGraw Hill
Objective: This course is a survey course which introduces students to many
aspects of business practice. Content areas of Economics; Entrepreneurship;
Finance; Personal Finance; Accounting; International Business; Marketing;
Management; Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility; Technology Systems; and
Career Exploration will be studied and discussions held relative to current
practices and events and how they affect each topic area.
Grading:
Six quizzes at 50 points each
Career Paper
Final Exam
300
50
100
450
Assignment: Due on specific days throughout the semester is a short, one-page
summary of an article relating to the topics listed below. Find 10 articles
searching the web and write a summary. Select web sites that have credibility
such as news, government, think-tank, or company sponsored web sites. If you
are in doubt about the credibility of a site, ask me! Each paper is worth five
points, adding up to equal a quiz grade. At the end of the semester, your grade
will be calculated by taking the six out of seven best quiz grades, your career
paper plus the final exam.
Topics to research
(one paper per topic)
BA121 Intro to Business Syllabus Fall 2004
Economics or Economic Policy
Global/International Markets
Ethics or Social Responsibility
Laws affecting business or forms of
business ownership
Entrepreneurship
Management (motivation, teams, etc.)
Human Resource Management
Marketing
Technology system (security, acceptable
use)
Financials
1
Career Paper: You will select a career from the Occupational Outlook
Handbook at bls.gov (Bureau of Labor Statistics). From the handbook you will
find information to answer the following questions.
1. What is the nature of the work, 2. Describe the Working Conditions, 3.
What is the current Employment, 4. What Training and Other
Qualifications are required, 5. What is the Job Outlook, and 6. What is the
average Earnings.
Create a 2-page, double spaced report in your own words answering questions
1-6. All information is available from Occupational Outlook Handbook. Grading
is based on completeness and grammatical accuracy. Your paper will be read to
the class.
Do Your Own Work: Someone else doing your assignments for you is cheating
and will result in disciplinary action which may include failing this course.
Learning occurs only when you do your own work. All papers/assignments must
be turned in on time. NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED. NO MAKEUP EXAMS
Tentative Schedule:
August 30
Introduction to the course, Prologue
Part 1 - Business Trends/Economy
Chapters 1-2-3
September 8
First paper due—Economics, Wednesday, Sept 8
September 13
Second paper due—Global/international, Monday, Sept 13
Quiz - Chapters 1-2-3, Wednesday, Sept 14
September 20
Chapter 4
Third paper due—Ethics or Social Responsibility, Wednesday,
Sept 22
Chapters 5 - 6
September 27
Fourth paper due—Entrepreneurship, Monday, Sept 27
Fifth paper due—Laws affecting business or ownership,
Wednesday, Sept 29
Quiz Chapters 4-5-6 and Legal Appendix, Wednesday, Sept 29
October 4
Chapters 7 - 8
BA121 Intro to Business Syllabus Fall 2004
3
October 11
Sixth paper due — Management, Monday, Oct 11
Chapters 9
Quiz Chapters 7-8-9, Wednesday, Oct 13
October 18
Chapters 10-11
October 25
Seventh paper due—Human Resource Management, Monday,
Oct 25
Quiz, Chapters 10-12, Wednesday, Oct 27
November 1
Chapters 13-16
November 8
Eighth paper due — Marketing, Monday, Nov 8
Quiz 13-16, Wednesday, Nov 10
November 15
Chapters 17-18
Ninth paper due — Technology, Monday, Nov 15
November 22
Chapters 19-21
Tenth paper due — Financials, Monday, Nov 22
November 29
Chapter 22
Quiz 17-22, Wednesday, Dec 1
Review for exam
December 6
Career Papers due
December 13
Final Exam—Comprehensive, Monday, Dec 13, 8-10
Bring note taking materials, pencils, and scantrons for quizzes to every class.
Outcomes—What will students gain from this course.
Outcome One. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of business-core subjects. Graduates will
know specific functional areas of business and how these areas are integrated. They will
understand the economic, legal, political, and global environment of business.
Outcome Three. Graduates will demonstrate skills in research, communications, and critical
thinking
State Standards meet by this course
1.2.1
analyze the relationship between ethics and the law and describe the sources of law,
structure of the court system, classifications of procedural law, and classifications of
substantive law
1.2.8 describe the major types of legal entities, include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and
corporations.
1.3.1 demonstrate an understanding of assessing personal strengths and weaknesses as they
relate to career exploration and development
1.3.2 identify career resources to develop an information base that includes global
occupational opportunities
BA121 Intro to
Business
Syllabus Spring
2002
5
1.5.1 demonstrate an understanding of the role of international business, analyzing its impact
on careers and doing business at the local, state, national, and international levels
2.1.5 explain social responsibility in business; select and justify a social responsibility
strategy
2.1.6 promote ethical business behavior in the workplace
3.1 explain fundamental business, management, and entrepreneurial concepts that affect
business decision making
4.10 demonstrate knowledge of design, operation, and maintenance of technology systems for
information technology careers.