College of Business and Entrepreneurship
FHSU BBA Program at SIAS International University
Course Syllabus
GBUS 204 Business Law I ~ Break Out Sessions
Spring 2015
Class Instructor: Dr. Brian Swanson
Instructor Name: Prof. Olivia Blessing
Office Number: Peter Hall C101
Email: blessing.olivia@outlook.com
Office Hours: TBD
Course Prerequisites
Sophomore Standing and Permission or No Prerequisite needed
Course Description
This course provides an introductory overview of the law’s role in American society today. We will
study the basics of the law with a particular emphasis on the way business and law work together and in
tension with one another. The material covered will likely be relevant to you regardless of your particular
career objectives. The law holds profound implications for leaders in all of the business disciplines, as
well as for our role as citizens.
Course Materials
Text. Essentials of Business and Online Commerce Law, Cheeseman, Henry R., (ISBN 0-13-144047-0).
BBA Program Objectives
Objective
How Objective will be Evaluated
Demonstrate understanding of the functional Not covered
areas of business: accounting, finance,
management and marketing.
Demonstrate the ability
effectively in written form.
Demonstrate the ability
effectively in oral form.
to
communicate Homework and exams will assess written communication
to
communicate Participation in class discussion
Demonstrate the use of appropriate analytical Homework, exams, and discussion will assess the student’s
tools in decision making and problem solving.
ability to analyze and propose a solution to a problem
Demonstrate an understanding of teamwork,
team contributions and team development
within organizations.
Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of
leadership, key leadership traits and behaviors,
and different approaches to successful
leadership within organizations.
Demonstrate an understanding of global
business issues.
Demonstrate an understanding of current
information technology
Demonstrate an understanding of the legal
environment and of social responsibility and
ethical issues facing businesses today.
Group activities and in-class assignments
Not covered
We will discuss textbook material as well as current events
related.
Not covered
Homework, exams and discussion will assess the student’s
ability to analyze ethical issues and alternative courses of
action
Course Objectives
Students successfully completing this course will be able to do the following:
Legal History and Theory
 Identify and describe the sources of law that govern personal and business activities.
 Name, describe, and compare the various methods of dispute resolution.
Torts




Differentiate between an intentional tort, negligence, and strict liability.
List and describe several intentional torts.
List and explain the elements necessary to prove negligence.
Define the doctrine of strict liability and describe its application in business law.
Contracts
 Define a contract and identify its elements.
 Explain the elements of a contract and their importance.
 Demonstrate the ability to identify deficiencies in a contract.
 Discuss contract performance, breach, and remedies for breaches of contract.
 Discuss contracts within the context of e-commerce.
 Write a basic contract employing its necessary elements.
International Law
 Describe the significance of foreign legal regimes for business managers.
 Define and apply the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
 Describe the law’s strategic potential as a source of competitive advantage.
Property



Define and differentiate intellectual, real, and personal property.
Describe and differentiate the methods of acquiring and transferring ownership of intellectual,
real, and personal property.
Define and explain a bailment and its various types and liabilities.
Business Organizations
 Describe an agency relationship and define the agent, the principal, and their duties.
 Discuss the agency relationship as it involves third parties.
 Define, describe, and differentiate sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, and
corporation.
Ethics
 Define ethics.
 Identify and describe various ethics that are a part of business decisions.
 Describe how law and ethics intertwine.
Course Delivery and Structure

This is a “participatory lecture” course. Each lecture class is approximately two hours in length,
twice a week. There is also a one-hour breakout session per week. Attendance is required for all
lectures and breakout sessions. To test your understanding of the material presented during the
course, I will employ the following means of assessment: Quizzes, In-Class Assignments, Written
Homework Assignments, Written and Oral Examinations.

Reading. Reading the assigned chapter is a must and will increase your understanding of the
material and your enjoyment of the class. You will be responsible for the assigned reading
material before class begins. All assigned reading material is subject to being covered in an
examination.

Oral Participation. I require you to participate in class. It is imperative that you have read the
material before class begins and are prepared to express your thoughts verbally.

Attendance. Class attendance is required. For excessive absences or tardiness, points may be
deducted. This applies to both lectures and breakout sessions. Further details on attendance will
be discussed in class and be posted on Blackboard.

Extra Credit. Extra credit MAY be available during the semester in the form of supplemental
projects. An announcement will be sent IF any extra credit is made available. The instructor
wields exclusive discretion as to whether or not extra credit will be provided in a given semester.
Grading and Evaluation

Below are the anticipated opportunities to earn points in the course and their respective
percentages of the overall possible number of points. While these should be constant, the

instructor may modify these percentages as necessary. The instructor will give proper notice to
students if this situation occurs.
Coursework will be evaluated on a total points system. Points are earned by performance on
participation, attendance, Class activities, quizzes and examinations. Points are lost due to
inadequate preparation for and participation in class. All points will be given equal weight when
determining a grade for this course. A letter grade will be assigned based upon the points
accumulated. Grades will be determined as follows:
Activities
Points/Events
Attendance, Classwork
& Participation
20 points
Breakout Session
20 points
Midterm Exam
20 points
FINAL EXAM
40 points___
Total
100 points

90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
59% or less
Scale
A (superior)
B (good)
C (average)
D (minimum passing)
U (unsatisfactory)
The letter grade may be rounded up at the instructor’s discretion based on factors such as
attendance, participation in both lecture and breakout session, and a demonstration of significant
effort towards the course.
Course Policies
Electronic Devices. Electronic devices include anything that is powered by an electrical current. You are
welcome to use electronic devices in class so long as they are not disruptive to your classmates or to me. I
will be the sole judge as to what is “disruptive”, and I will use a subjective standard. You are not
permitted to use recording devices of any kind unless you have acquired written permission from me. You
are not permitted to use any device for translation purposes for quizzes or examinations.
Blackboard. You MUST know how to use Blackboard for this course. Blackboard is critical for
completing many homework assignments as well as accessing class announcements and supplementary
materials. I will use Blackboard for general communications and announcements as well as wechat and
your given email addresses.
Reminders of key dates, posting of assignments, and posting of grades will be done in Blackboard.
Regularly check your grades to assure these have been correctly posted. If you find a problem, you must
notify me immediately so that any error may be corrected while both our memories are fresh.
Cheating. Cheating by any means will result in a 0 on the exam or assignment, as well as in any other
disciplinary protocols set forth by FHSU policy. The exact details of this policy will be discussed at
length during the first class and posted to Blackboard.
Amendment of Syllabus. I retain the right to amend this syllabus, in whole or in part, at any time during
this course.
Syllabus Not a Contract. This syllabus is not a contract; rather, it is an outline of what is most likely to
take place within the course and how your coursework will be assessed.
College Policies
Any College of Business policy that is not contrary to the policies above is incorporated into this syllabus.
University Policies and Services



Academic Honesty: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/academichonesty.asp
Attendance: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/classattendance.asp
Withdrawal: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/withdrawalpolicystatement.asp
Course Schedule
Tentative Schedule (likely to change):
Week of
March 2
March 9
Mar 16
Mar 23
Mar 30
Apr 6
Apr 13
Apr 20
Apr 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
Jun 1
Jun 8
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#1
#2
#3
Topic Covered
Prepare for Next Class ________________
Introduction
Read Ch 1 Constitution
Chapter 1
________________
Chapter 1
Read Chapter 2 Constitutional law
Chapter 2
______________________
Chapter 2
Read Chapter 3 Courtroom
Chapter 3
______________________
Chapter 3
Read Chapter 4 Torts
Chapter 4
_________
______________________
Chapter 4
Read Chapter 5 Business Crimes
Chapter 5
_______
______________________
Chapter 5
Read Chapter 6 Ethics
Chapter 6
___________________
________
Chapter 6
Read Chapter 7 Contract Formation
Chapter 7
_______
____________________________
Chapter 7
Read Chapters 8, 9 Contract Breach
Chapters 8, 9 ______ Read Chapters 10, 11 Contracts_________
Chapters 10, 11
Midterm review Ch. 1-9
Midterm Review
Midterm Study _____________________
MIDTERM
Midterm Evaluation____Read Chapter 12 Warranties/Liability ___
Chapter 12
Read Chapter 15 Bankruptcy
Chapter 15
Read Chapters 16-17 Corporations______
Chapters 16, 17
Read Chapter 19-20 Agency/Employment
Chapters 19, 20
____________________________
Chapters 19, 20
Read Chapters 22, 23 Property/Intel Prop
Chapters 22, 23_______Read Chapter 25 International Law______
Chapter 25
Review all Chapters covered this semester
Final Exam Review _____________________________________
WRITTEN FINAL EXAM
ORAL FINAL EXAM GROUP 1
ORAL FINAL EXAM GROUP 2