Title: Advanced Business Law
Course code: Bus 6 – section 1267, Acctg 26 – section 1045
Credits: 3
Prerequisite:Business 5
Instructor:Catherine Halliday-Roberts
Email:
Website:
Course Description
This course covers advanced topics in agency, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, torts, legal procedures and other advanced topics.
Required Materials
Metger, Mallor, Barnes, Business Law and the Regulatory Environment, 15thEdition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin Publishing, 2013, ISBN: 1-1218-1073X.
Available online at:Santa Monica College Bookstore
Methods of Presentation:
Directed reading, lectures correlating to the assigned chapters (that are presented in each unit and on my website), homework assignments, threaded discussions, PowerPoint presentations within each unit, quizzes and exams.
Methods of Evaluation:
Your grade will be based on your overall percentage at the end of the semester. I do not grade on a curve because I believe that it is unfair to do so. The grading system that I do use makes it possible for the entire class to earn an A, B, etc.
Grading Criteria
10% / Assignments25% / Quizzes
65% / Unit Examinations
Grading Scale
A / 100 - 90%B / 89 - 80%
C / 79 -70%
D / 69 - 60%
Fail / 59% and below
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of doing business as a partnership, a corporation and a limited liability corporation
- Delineate issues related to agency law
- Detail how legal procedures can be used to remedy problems related to partnerships (limited and general), corporations, LLCs and administrative agencies
- Articulate the legal process for forming, operating, and dissolving partnerships, corporations and LLCs
- Compare and contrast limited and general partnerships
- Delineate management’s and owners’ legal responsibilities and liability for the various types of businesses
- Research and report on business cases and evaluate legal judgments by determining relevant issues and by incorporating legislation and prior case law
- Break down and apply the laws that regulate business
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Given a case study related to agency, partnership and corporate law, the student will research regulations and prior case law and will apply them by analyzing and prescribing appropriate remedies.
- Compare and contrast the legal issues related to the formation, operation and dissolution of partnerships, corporations and limited liability corporations.
Homework Assignments:
A.Reading Assignments:
Date
/Chapter (Pages)
September 16 – September 20
/35 (2-16)
September 23 – September 27
/36 (19-33)
September 30 – October 4
/37 (37-53)
October 7 – October 11
/38 (56-69)
October 14 – October 18
/39 (73-87)
October 21 – October 25
/40 (91-108)
October 28 – November 1 /41 (112-126)
November 4 – November 8 /42 (129-146)
November 11 – November 15 /43 (149-177)
November 18 – November 22 /44 (180-206)
November 25 – November 29 /45 (210-247)
December 2 – December 6 /46 (251-282)
B. Written Assignments:
Available at 15, 2013.
All written homework assignments must be posted in your Dropbox by the following due dates before 10:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time:
Chapter
/Due Date
35 /September 20
36 /September 27
37 /October 4
38 /October 11
39 /October 18
40 /October 25
41 /November 1
42 /November 8
43 /November 15
44 /November 22
45 /November 29
46 /December 6
I will not accept homework assignments that are turned in late! Your overall percentage in the course will drop by 1% FOR EVERY ASSIGNMENT that is not turned in on or before the due date. Moreover, your homework assignments will amount to 10% of your overall grade and, if the assignment is not thorough and thoughtful, it will receive only partial credit. Homework assignments are graded as follows:
3indicates that you covered all of the important points and that your work displayed thoughtful analysis
2indicates that you covered the main points but that you missed some of the issues and/or your analysis was not as thoughtful as it could have been
1indicates that your work was not adequate because you missed some important points and most likely presented insufficient information
0indicates that you turned in the assignment late or not at all
C. Instructions for Using the Dropbox
To use the Dropbox, first complete the assignment in Microsoft Word and save it to your personal computer. In the body of the assignment, include the question, fully written out (simply copy and paste the question and then answer it). Next click theDropbox tab in the course toolbar at the top of course page, and then click the Dropbox link that appears after selecting the Dropbox tab.Click the Submit an Assignment link. Access the Submit to Basket dropdown list to select a basket for submitting your assignment to your instructor. Select the Basket that corresponds with the Assignment you are submitting, ie., if you are submitting HWA for Unit 1, select the Basket entitled "Unit 1: HWA." In the Text box, enter a note to the instructor saying that you are submitting the assignment. Click the Add Attachment tab. Choose the appropriate document from your computer. Then click the Submit tab to send your assignmentto the Dropbox where your instructor can grade it, make comments, and return in to your Dropbox. Homework assignments submitted in the Dropbox are automatically date-posted.
Quizzes
You will have twelve (12) quizzes. All quizzes must be completed by the following due dates before 10:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time:
Chapter
/Due Date
35 /September 20
36 /September 27
37 /October 4
38 /October 11
39 /October 18
40 /October 25
41 /November 1
42 /November 8
43 /November 15
44 /November 22
45 /November 29
46 /December 6
Each quiz will consist of true-false, yes-no, and multiple choice questions and there will be 20 questions per quiz. You will be given 1 quiz per week. Your quizzes will be valued at 25% of your final grade in this course. Your lowest quiz score will be automatically discarded. If you do not complete a given quiz you will receive a zero (0) on that quiz. If you miss just one quiz, the 0 received will be dropped since it will constitute your lowest quiz score. If you miss more than one quiz, the subsequently missed quiz(zes) will be scored with a 0 and will lower your quiz average by approximately 9% for each quiz missed.
You will not be allowed to make up a quiz. Please make sure you consult the announcements and corresponding weeks of this semester as listed in the eCollege course so that you can plan to complete the quizzes on time.
Examinations:
You will be given 3 examinations. All exams are due before 10:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on the following dates:
Exam
/Due Date
1 /October 6
2 /November 3
Final /December 8
If you do not take an exam within the dates allowed, you will receive a zero (0). You will not be allowed to make up a missed exam. You should note that if you do miss any of the exams, it will be very difficult for you to earn higher than a D in this course. The exams will vary in the amount of questions asked.
- Your first examination will be on Chapters 35 - 36. This exam will be given in the third week.
- Your second examination will be on Chapters 37 - 40.This exam will be given in the seventh week.
- Your final examination will be on Chapters 41 - 46. This exam will be given in the twelfth week.
Incomplete Policy and Drop Policy:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented evidence as described in the Student Handbook. For a student to receive an incomplete, he or she must be passing and must have completed a significant portion of the course. If you decide to drop the course, it is your responsibility to take care of the paperwork.Call the SMC phone registration system or call admissions at (310) 434-4474.
After the first or second week of the course, I will drop all students who have not participated in the course or who have minimally/non-substantively participated. If you wish to remain in the course, you must substantively participate from the outset. Note, however, that my policy to drop non-participating students does not in any way relieve you of your responsibility to drop the course. If you have not participated and do not wish to receive a W or an F, you are advised to drop yourself, rather than relying on my drop policy.
Code of Academic Conduct and Reporting Policy:
Santa Monica College, as a community oriented, open-door, educational institution whose purpose is to educate and enlighten members of the community who seek knowledge, cannot and will not tolerate academic dishonesty. In order to uphold the academic integrity of the institution, all members of the academic community, faculty and students alike, must assume responsibility for providing an educational environment of the highest standards, characterized by a spirit of academic honesty; therefore, under no circumstances will academic dishonesty be tolerated at this institution.
- Academic Conduct Defined:
Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act of or assistance in deceiving, including fraud or deception, in any academic exercise. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer: (1) using testing aids such as calculators, tape recorders, or notes on any examination; (2) allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade in any of the following: testing, field trips, or attendance. (3) falsifying or attempting to falsify attendance records and/or grade rosters; (4) claiming the words, ideas or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise (plagiarism), including the use of commercial term paper companies; (5) changing answers on a previously scored test, assignment, or experiment with the intent to defraud; (6) copying another student’s paper or answer sheet or allowing another student to copy from one’s paper or answer sheet during an examination; (7) inventing information for the purpose of completing a laboratory experiment or case study analysis with the intent to defraud; or (8) giving and/or taking information during an examination by any means including sign language, hand signals, secret codes, or electronic transmission.
- Student Responsibilities
The ultimate success of this code of academic conduct will depend in large part on the degree to which it is willingly endorsed and supported by students. In order to achieve this support, the following recommendations are made to the students of Santa Monica College: (1) each student is responsible to conduct himself/herself in a manner that encourages learning and prohibits academic dishonesty; and (2) each student is responsible to act with fairness towards other students in the classroom, including the notion that students should not seek an unfair advantage over other SMC students when completing an assignment, taking an examination, or engaging in any other kind of academic activity.
- Consequences for Violating Academic Conduct
Given an alleged violation of academic honesty, any or all of the following actions may be imposed: (1) the instructor may assign a failing grade to the examination or assignment in which the alleged cheating or plagiarism occurred; (2) in more serious instances, the instructor may assign a failing grade for the course, upon consultation with the Department Chair; (3) the instructor may dismiss the student from the class or activity for the present and/or following class session; and/or (4) in more severe incidents of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to impersonation, stealing exams or research papers, or repeated violations, the College disciplinarian may suspend or recommend expulsion of a student from the College.
- Faculty Responsibilities
In order to maintain an environment free of academic dishonesty, the following recommendations are made to faculty regarding their responsibility to uphold the academic integrity of Santa Monica College: (1) make every attempt to conduct a classroom in a manner that encourages honorable behavior and learning to ensure student success and discourage academic dishonesty; (2) inform students of the course requirements, grading procedures, and expectations for acceptable academic conduct and behavior; (3) inform students of the SMC policy on academic conduct and the consequences to be implemented if any behavior counter to the policy occurs; and (4) inform students of their right to due process should they wish to contest a cheating allegation.
- Reporting a Violation
Given an incident of academic dishonesty, a faculty member is encouraged to adhere to the following procedure: (1) inform the student of the nature of the alleged violation and the impending course of action; and (2) complete the Academic Dishonesty Report Form and submit, along with any related evidence, the first copy to the College disciplinarian and the second copy of the form to the student within ten (10) working days of the allegation. The College disciplinarian will, in turn, send copies to the campus ombudsperson and the department chair, and place a copy in the student’s disciplinary records as defined in the Student Conduct Appeals Procedures. This information shall remain a part of the student’s records for up to two years, providing there are no further acts of misconduct.
- Appeal Procedure
Given an alleged violation of academic honesty, a Santa Monica College student has the right to appeal the action taken by the faculty member through the appeal procedures established by the College:
- Whenever the penalty for academic dishonesty involves a failing grade for an examination, an assignment or the course, the accused student has five (5) working days after notification of the allegation and penalty to appeal it. He or she shall be provided the opportunity for a conference with the campus ombudsperson (or designee), faculty member involved, and department chair (or designee). Such a conference will be arranged by the campus ombudsperson (or designee) at the request of the student, and notice will be given to all participating members at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled appointment.
- If the conference yields no informal resolution satisfactory to the student, the student may file a formal Petition of Grade with the Dean of Admissions and Records. Such a filing must be made within ninety (90) calendar days following the filing date of the Academic Dishonesty Report Form. For further information regarding this procedure, please refer to the Grade Appeals process as outlined in the Santa Monica College Administrative Regulations.
Course Expectations
Everyone comes to the class with different expectations. This online course DOES duplicate the content of the traditional course, but NOT the delivery. An online course relies on self-directed students to complete the assignments, readings, and threaded discussions on their own time schedule while meeting the posted deadlines. Students who perform at their potential, welcome change and are willing to assume responsibility, make decisions, and express opinions, are successful in this online course.
It is very easy to fall behind in an online class. There are no scheduled on-campus or on-line class periods. The entire course is asynchronous and can be accessed at your convenience. Your only requirement is to complete assignments and exams as scheduled on the syllabus. You must be a self-directed student who can plan your schedule to accommodate the deadlines outlined in the syllabus. Cyber students are often in multiple life roles and time is a valuable commodity.
You are expected to visit the course website several times a week--ideally, once a day. Once there, you will find announcements, lecture material, assignments, and exams. You are also expected to check your SMC e-mail account at least once a day as that is how I will communicate with you about any course-related issues or concerns.
As stated above, I do NOT accept late submissions of homework, quizzes or exams. The only circumstance where a late submission will be permitted is (1) in the event of a family or personal medical emergency; (2) with appropriate documentation. Also note that inability to access the internet is not an excuse for failure to timely submit work. The only circumstance where you will be given an extension for lack of internet access is if e-college is responsible for your internet difficulties and you have submitted a helpdesk ticket, documenting your inability to access the course site. I will then verify with eCollege whether they are at fault for your difficulties. The fact that your own internet service provider is down is not a valid excuse. In such an event, you will need to seek internet access elsewhere, such as a library, coffee shop, or SMC computer lab.