VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Course Syllabus

Course Prefix & Name: BUL 2241 Business Law 1

Course Description & Prerequisites: Prerequisite: ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or ENC 1210 or GEB 1011 or IDH 1110 or OST 1335

Introduction to law, its social forces and agencies for enforcement; effects of governmental regulation on business and society, including environmental law, community planning and consumer protection; contracts; personal property, including bailment and sales.

Term & Year: Spring, 2008

Name of the Instructor: Michelle Bottex

Class Time and Room Number: M/W 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. EC – 6-217

Contact Info: During day time hours, you can reach me at my office (407) 897-1223. Any other time please email me at my atlas account..

E-mail notification: I will communicate through Atlas, please check your Atlas account regularly.

Office Hours: By appointment only. Please email me to schedule a time.

Course Text and Supplemental Materials: Anderson’s Business Law and The Legal Environment, 20th ed., Twomey, Jennings & Fox, West Legal Studies, 2008.

Course Outcomes:(objectives) At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate and understanding of law; its social forces, and agencies for enforcement, the effects of governmental regulation on business and society including environmental law, community planning and consumer protection; contracts, personal property, including bailment and sales.
  2. Recognize how these laws and legal concepts affect their daily, personal and interpersonal life.

Valencia Student Core Competencies

This course seeks to reinforce the following Valencia Student Competencies:

  • Think clearly, critically and creatively by analyzing, synthesizing, integrating and evaluating symbolic works and truth claims.
  • Reflect on your own and others’ values from individual, cultural and global perspectives.
  • Communicate by reading, listening, writing and speaking effectively.
  • Act purposefully, reflectively and responsibly by implementing effective problem solving and decision making strategies.

Important Dates

No classes Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Holiday

Withdrawal deadline to receive a W 3/14

No classes Mar 31 - Apr. 6 spring break

Withdrawal deadline to receive a WP or WF April 20

Classes end Apr. 20

Final exam Wed. April 23, 2008 7 – 9:30 a.m.

Evaluation Process

Written assignments:

20% two written assignments (10% each)

30% three quizzes (10% each)

20% midterm exam

30% final exam

Grading Scale:

90 – 100% = A

80 – 89% = B

70 – 79% = C

60 – 69% = D

Below 60% = F

Attendance & Withdrawal Policy

Regularity in classroom attendance and punctuality is vital to academic success. Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Students who do not maintain regular attendance and who fall behind in their work may be withdrawn by the professor. A student may withdraw at any time during the term in Atlas. Students will receive a W if withdrawn by March 14, 2008. After this date, if a student withdraws or is withdrawn by the professor for excessive absences or other reasons, the professor will assign a grade of WP (withdrawn passing) or WF (withdrawn failing), based upon the student’s academic achievement in the class as of the last day of attendance. W and WP will not be counted in the grade point average. WF will be calculated as an F in the grade point average.

Policies, Including Makeup Policy, for Examinations and All Other Assignments

Due dates for all assignments are the start of class, otherwise the assignment will be considered late. No e-mailed or faxed assignments will be accepted unless arrangements have been made with the instructor in advance to do so.

If you can not take an exam or turn in an assignment on time, you must notify the instructor in advance, except in exigent circumstances, and request an extension of time, which must be for a valid reason; i.e. personal or family illness, death in the family. If you do not receive an extension on an assignment or exam, you will have 10% of your grade deducted for each day the assignment is late. Make up exams must be taken at times scheduled by the instructor within the same week. All work must be turned in by the end of the last scheduled class session.

Please back up all your homework and e-mail all your assignments to your Atlas account as an attachment. There is no excuse for not having a backup, for your disc failing, or for leaving your homework at home or work.

No handouts will be replaced. This is to encourage you to develop the organizational skills required in the law firm.

All homework must be typed and double-spaced. If it is more than one page, it must be stapled. No cover sheets or folders are necessary.

Students may not tape record the class unless accommodation is necessary. This is to help you develop listening and note-taking skills required in the law firm.

Expected Student Conduct

Valencia Community College is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but is concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia Community College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty to leave the class. Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from Valencia. Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions. You will find the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook.

Academic Honesty Policy

Each student is required to follow the College policy regarding academic honesty. All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the student’s individual thoughts, research and self-expression unless the assignment specifically states “group project.” Any act of academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with College policy as set forth in the Student Handbook and Catalog. If you give or receive an answer to a problem to another student, that is clearly cheating.

It is useful to list specific examples of cheating for your course. Try to bespecific concerning the difference between encouraged collaboration and cheating.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The East Campus Office is located in Building 5, Room 216.

Computer/Equipment Use Policy

Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia

Community College is restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the class materials. Any other use is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use includes, but isnot limited to:

Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically assigned in class.

Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned in class.

Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.

Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of Conduct

Use of computers in all departmental open labs is limited to those activities involved with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to the same restrictionas listed above.

Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately may be subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab. Subsequent offense may be sentto the campus administration for further disciplinary action.

Open Computer Lab: Building 2- Room 304

Valencia ID cards: Valencia ID cards are required for the Library, Testing Center, and IMC usage. No other form of ID at those locations will be accepted. Possession and utilization of a Valencia ID is mandatory to obtain these services.

Disclaimer Statement:This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term. It is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.

Weekly Activities & Assignments

The chapter assigned for that day must be read prior to coming to class.

Week 11/7 Chapter1: The Nature & Sources of the Law Review of syllabus, classroom policies.

1/9 Chapter 2: The Court System and Dispute Resolution

Week 21/14 Chapter 3: Business Ethics, Social Forces & the Law

1/16 Chapter 4: The Constitution as the Foundation of the Legal Environment

Assignment #1

Week 31/21 No Class

1/23 Chapter 5: Government Regulation of Competition and Pricesand Chapter 6: Administrative Agencies

Week 41/28 Chapter 7: The Legal Environment of International Trade

1/30 Chapter 8: Crimes

Quiz #1

Week 52/4 Chapter 9: Torts

2/6 Chapter 10: Intellectual Property Rights & the Internet and Chapter 11: Cyberlaw

Week 62/11 Chapter 12: Nature Classes of Contracts

2/13 Chapter 13: Formation of Contracts

Week 72/18 Chapter 14: Capacity Genuine Assentand Chapter 15: Consideration

2/20 Midterm

Week 82/25 Chapter 16: Legality and Public Policy

2/27Chapter 17: Writing, Electronic Forms, Interpretation

Week 93/3 Chapter 18: Third Persons & Contracts

3/5 Chapter 19: Discharge of Contracts

Quiz #2

Week 103/10 Chapter 20: Breach of Contracts & Remedies

3/13 Chapter 21: Personal Property & Bailments

Week 113/17 Chapter 22: Legal Aspects of Supply Chain Management

3/19 Chapter 23: Nature Form of Sales

Assignment # 2

Week 123/24 Chapter 24: Title Risk of Loss

3/26 Chapter 25: Product Liability

Week 13Spring Break

Week 144/7 Chapter 26: Obligations & Performance

4/9 Chapter 27: Remedies for Breach of Sales Contracts

Quiz # 3

Week 154/14 Chapter 33: Consumer Protection and Chapter 50: Environmental Law & Land Use

4/16 Review for final

4/23 Final Exam Attendance is Required. 7:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Prof. Bottex Syllabus Spring 200

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