RANGER COLLEGE
SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: BUSI 1301 – BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
CREDIT HOURS: 3 HRS/WK LEC 3 HRS/WK LAB: 0 LEC/LAB COMB: 3
Name of Instructor: Cheri Spellmeier, Adjunct Lecturer
Office Location: N/A Correspondence through Blackboard
Cell Phone (254) 592-2891
Email: cevans@rangercollege.edu
REQUIRED TEXT
The required text is Introduction to Business, Fifth Edition, by Jeff Madura.
Since this course is taught through a website, you need frequent access to a computer. It is much
easier to use the course website if you have ready access to a computer that has a high-speed
(DSL) connection. If you do not have frequent access to a high-speed Internet connection, or will
be in a country that has limited high-speed access, it would be difficult for you to do the work
that is required for this course.
LEARNING GOALS
This course provides a general background on the business environment, how business functions
are related, how business managers make decisions, and the factors that influence the success of
a business.
The objectives and goals include developing an understanding of the environmental forces
affecting business ownership, different aspects of management, and an understanding of the
marketing concepts.
BASIC INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCIES
The Basic Intellectual Competencies listed below are components of a process designed to assist
and prepare students for becoming well-educated individuals who are intellectually flexible,
articulate, and have the capacity to become responsible and creative members of society. These
competencies are included in this course, and they are noted by the following numbering system:
B1. Reading: Ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials—books,
documents, and articles—above 12th grade level.
B2. Writing: Ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to
purpose occasion, and audience—above 12th grade.
B3. Speaking: Ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and persuasive
language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience—above 12th grade.
B4. Listening: Ability to analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication,
possess sufficient literacy skills of writing, reading—above 12th grade.
B5. Critical Thinking: Methods for applying both qualitative and quantitative skills
analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to
construct alternative strategies.
B6. Computer Literacy: Understand our technological society, use computer-based
technology in communication, solving problems, acquiring information.
SCANS COMPETENCEIES
READING
1.1
Locate, understand, and interpret written information in text.
WRITING
2.1
2.2
Communicate written thoughts, ideas, and information.
Create documents written as application letters, resumes, and reports.
INTERPERSONAL
5.4
Exercise leadership—Communicates ideas to justify position. Persuades
and convinces others. Responsibility changes existing procedures and
policies.
INFORMATION
6.1
6.2
6.3
Acquires and evaluates information.
Organizes and maintains information.
Interprets and communicates information.
SYSTEM
7.1
Understands Systems—Know how the business organizational system
works-past, present, and future.
THINKING SKILLS
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.6
Creative thinking
Decision Making—Generates alternatives, considers risks and evaluates
and chooses best alternatives.
Problem Solving—Recognizes problems and devises and implements
plans of action.
Reasoning—Discover a rule of principle underlying the relationship
between two or more objects and applies it when solving a problem.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
10.5
Integrity/Honesty-Chooses ethical course of action.
COURSE OBJECTIVE/LEARNER OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this instruction, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the relationships of social responsibility, ethics, and law in business and law
and identify major functions in economics. (B1, B2, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 6, Scans
7, Scans 10)
2. Create a business plan. (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 5, Scans 6,
Scans 9)
3. Describe the organization of a business and the forms of business ownership.
(B1, B2, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 6, Scans 7, Scans 10)
4. Define and apply steps to decision making.(B1, B2, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 6)
5. Identify major functions of management.(B1, B2, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 6)
6. Identify marketing techniques used on retail product advertisement. (B2, B5, B6,
Scans 2, Scans 6, Scans 9)
7. Identify major functions of marketing.(B1, B2, Scans 1, Scans 2, Scans 6)
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
1
Chapters
1
2
2
3
3 and 4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
Topics
Functions of a Business
Syllabus Confirmation Email (see
announcement)
Discussion Board - Introduce Yourself
Review Business Plan – Due in Week 13
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility;
Read Chapter 1 & 2
Quiz - Chapter 1 & 2
Assessing Economic Conditions
Assessing Global Conditions
Discussion Board
Selecting a Form of Business Ownership,
Read Chapter 3, 4 & 5
Quiz - Chapter 3, 4 & 5
Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
Discussion Board
Managing Effectively, Read Chapter 6, 7 & 8
Quiz - Chapter 6, 7
Organizational Structure
Midterm Exam - Chapter 1 - 8 (this test is
online)
Improving Productivity and Quality
Discussion Board
Motivating Employees, Read chapter 9 & 10
Quiz - Chapter 9 & 10
Hiring, Training, and Evaluating Employees
Discussion Board
Creating and Pricing Products,
Read Chapter 11 & 12
Quiz - Chapter 11 & 12
Distributing Products
Discussion Board,
Week
Chapters
13
14
14
15
15
16 and 17
16
Review
Topics
**Business Plan Due
Promoting Products,
Read Chapter 13 & 14
Quiz - Chapter 13 & 14
Accounting and Financial Analysis
Discussion Board
Financing
Expanding the Business,
Read Chapter 15, 16 & 17
Quiz - Chapter 15, 16 & 17
Final exam on Chapters 9-16 (This test is
proctored) You will have to make an
appointment to take this test at one of our
campuses.
**The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of
extenuating circumstances.
ASSIGNMENTS:
You should read the assigned chapters each week. There are discussion questions and quizzes
every other week. You should post an answer to the discussion board question and answer at
least two people. To receive full credit for a response, it must be at least two sentences and add
to the discussion of the topic.
**The quizzes and midterm exam will open up Monday and be due by 10pm on Sunday of
the week assigned.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
In an online course, class participation is important in that it can simulate the type of discussion
that occurs in the class room. The comments posted in the Discussion Room during each week
will be similar to what would have occurred in the classroom in that week. The following types
of class participation count for credit toward the participation grade.
DISCUSSION OF ASSIGNED QUESTIONS
You should be answering all questions that were assigned each week.
You should provide a constructive response that relates to the chapter material, current events, or
personal experience to the discussion board question (by 10pm on Wednesday of the week
assigned). To receive full credit for a response, it must be at least two sentences and add to the
discussion of the topic.
You should reply to at least two other people’s discussion (by 10pm on Sunday of the week
assigned). You may ask a follow up question in response to another person’s discussion or add
additional insight or personal experience. Simply stating, “I agree/disagree” without any
explanation or restating what you wrote in your own post does not constitute an adequate post
and will not earn you credit.
EXAMS AND GRADING
Syllabus Confirmation Email
Quiz 7 @ 30 points each
Discussion 7 @ 20 points each
Response to Discussion 7 @ 6 points each
Business Plan
Midterm
Final
Total points available
8
210
140
42
100
200
300
1000
The following point scale will be applied for grading purposes:
900-1000 = A
800 - 899 = B
700-799 = C
600-699 = D
Below 600 = F
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating, plagiarism (submitting another person’s materials or ideas as one’s own), or doing
work for another person who will receive academic credit are all‐impermissible. This includes
the use of unauthorized books, notebooks, or other sources in order to secure or give help during
an examination, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments, reports, or term papers,
or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it were the student’s own work. It is
expected that all students will maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct.
Students guilty of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students and are subject
to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams or
other academic work, plagiarism, the purchase or use of material prepared by someone other than
yourself, collusion, and the abuse of equipment or resource materials. Disciplinary action may be
taken beyond the academic discipline administered by the faculty member who teaches the
course in which the cheating took place.
ADA STATEMENT
Ranger College provides a variety of services for the students with learning and/or physical
disabilities. The student is responsible for making the initial contact with Ranger College
Counselor. It is advisable to make this contact before or immediately after the semester begins.
ADMISSIONS, EMPLOYMENT, AND PROGRAM POLICIES OF RANGER COLLEGE
ARE NONDISCRIMINATORY IN REGARD TO RACE, CREED, COLOR, SEX,
DISABILITY, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN