Black Hills State University College of Business and Technology
Department of Management and Marketing
Course Syllabus-Fall 2007
Course Number And Title:
BADM 350, Legal Environment of Business and Contracts, 3 Cr. Hrs.
Class Meeting Time:
4:00 PM-7:00 PM Wednesday
Classroom: CB 206E (SDSMT)
Prerequisites:
None
Instructor:
Ken Schallenkamp MBA, J.D.
Office:
MH 330
Office Hours: Mon. & Fri. 10:00 ARE—10:50 AM; Tue. & Thu. 2:00 PM—2:50 PM.
Telephone Numbers:
Office: 605-642-6269
Fax: 605-642-6273
e-mail: kenschallenkamp@bhsu.edu
Required Text:
West’s Business Law, Alternate Edition, 9th Ed. by Gaylord A. Jentz , Roger L. Miller, Frank B.
Cross
Supplemental Materials:
None
Course Description:
This course focuses on the legal environment of business. Specific areas covered include: an
introduction to the law in general, the common law of contracts, torts, intellectual property, a
brief introduction to criminal law, and governmental regulations in the form of administrative
law.
Course Objectives:
This course introduces students to a more detailed coverage of important areas of law for
businesses. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Identify the major sources of American law.
2. Distinguish between torts and crimes and identify the elements of negligence.
3. Summarize the laws governing the protection of intellectual property.
4. Explain the basic difference between criminal and civil law.
5. Summarize the essentials of criminal liability and the classification of crimes.
6. Describe the circumstances under which U.S. courts can exercise jurisdiction over
Internet cases.
8. Explain the relationship between the law and ethics.
10. Explain the nature and classification of contracts.
11. Identify the elements of contracts as well as contract formation.
13. Explain how breach of contract occurs and identify some of the remedies for breach.
15. Identify when title (to goods) passes and which party bears the risk of loss.
16. Discuss performance requirements of sales contracts as well as remedies for breach.
17. Identify warranties and other product liability theories.
22. Identify key elements of administrative as well as antitrust law.
Special Features of The Course:
In order to develop individual legal research skills as well as individual written communication
skills, student will prepare two written reports to be submitted to the instructor. Additional
information relative to the reports will be disseminated in class.
Course Evaluation Process:
Activities assigned during the course provide the opportunity for each student to earn and
accumulate points according to the following schedule:
Participation
Individual Reports (2)
Three Exams
Total
10 pts.
50 pts. (25 pts each)
300 pts. (100 pts each)
360 pts.
Letter grades will be assigned based on accumulated points as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
324 pts.
288 pts.
252 pts.
216 pts.
Less than 216 pts.
A 90-80-70-60% (A-B-C-D) scale will be used in this course. All grades will be used in
computing the final grades and extra credit assignments will not be given.
Attendance Policy:
Regular attendance and participation each day is expected of each student. Each student is
expected to have read the assigned materials and completed any homework assignments prior to
the beginning of each class period. Also, it is the responsibility of each individual student to
enroll and withdraw from this class, and to understand the rules and procedures for doing so.
You can’t participate if you are not present with your classmates. A class missed cannot be made
up. Discussions involving the instructor and fellow classmates, once completed, are gone
forever. By missing class you will have missed an important element of the course and the class
will have been deprived of your input. Participation points will be earned through pop quizzes,
peer review from discussion groups, and in other participation activities, which I will conduct
during the term. I reserve the right to assign these specific points, equitably, in the best interests
of the class and the individual students.
Make-Up Policy:
Maximum points on any assignment may be earned only if the assignment is turned in on or
before the due date (unless otherwise stated by the instructor). Normally, assignments must be
handed in during class on the day they are due. Any assignment handed in late will have its score
progressively reduced commencing on the due date. If you anticipate being absent, your
assignment must be submitted before the due date.
Those students who are absent due to a school-sanctioned event (including National Guard) or a
health-related issue should speak with the instructor to arrange alternate dates for submission of
assignments and/or completion of exams.
Late Withdrawals:
Other than situations involving an emergency or extended medical problems, withdrawals with a
grade of W will not be approved by the Dean in any semester after the published date to
withdraw, generally Friday of the 12th week. If a student wishes to withdraw after that date with
a grade of F, he/she will be permitted to do so.
Incompletes:
Except for the conditions stated below, a grade of incomplete will not be approved by the Dean.
Students must have:

completed approximately 75% of the required work in a course, including homework,
exams, projects, and papers.
 a valid and documented medical condition or personal situation that prevents him/her
from completing the remaining coursework by the end of the semester.
Substandard performance up to the time of the request is NOT a valid reason for giving
an incomplete.
Other Policies:
Plan on taking the exams on the days they are scheduled. If you have a valid excuse such as
illness, emergency, or involvement in a university sponsored activity, a make-up exam will be
permitted only if prior arrangements have been made. In such cases the make-up exam must be
taken no later than one week after the original exam was given.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating you will, at the discretion
of the instructor, receive a reduced or failing grade on that project or exam.
The class schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change. This includes any
additional or deletions to the syllabus.
Once again, no extra-credit will be given in this course.
ADA Statement:
Reasonable accommodations, as arranged through the Disabilities Services Coordinator, will be
provided students with documented disabilities. Contact the BHSU Disabilities Services
Coordinator at 642-6009 (room 123 in the Student Union) for more information.
Academic Freedom and Responsibility:
Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated
solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic
standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception the data or views offered in any
course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for
learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe
that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or
conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the chair of the department in which the
course is being taught to initiate a review or the evaluation.
Final Exam:
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 4:00-6:00 PM
Appendix 1
Tentative List of Topics/Chapters to Be Covered—BADM 350
Ch 1—Introduction to Law
Ch 2—Jurisdiction and Venue (pp. 28-38)
Ch 5—Torts and Cyber Torts
Ch 7 –Intellectual Property
Test 1
Ch 8—Criminal Law
Ch 9—Nature and Terminology of Contracts
Ch’s 10 & 11—Agreement and Consideration
Test 2
Ch 12—Capacity and Legality
Ch 16—Performance & Discharge
Ch 17—Breach of Contract & Remedies
------------------------------------------------Ch 19—Sales & Lease Contracts
Test 3 (Wednesday, Dec. 19, 4:00-6:00 PM)