SYLLABUS

BUSINESS 201: BUSINESS LAW

TEXT: College Law for Business by John D. Ashcroft and Janet Ashcroft; Southwestern Publishing Co.

Course Description:

This course is designed to be an introduction to the study of law, as it relates to the field of business, for the future manager. Management students will progress through the topics of the legal system and the environment of business organization, agency relationships, contracts, sales, property, commercial papers, risk-bearing devices and negotiable instruments. These concepts shape the business environment, and their presentation allow the business student to become aware of the rights, obligations, and implications of law in their careers in the field of administration.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the legal environment to the field of business.

2. Identify legal issues that arise in management.

3. Apply the basic tenets of business law to an business scenario and deduce a logical management decision.

COURSE TEXT:

Ashcroft, J., and Ashcroft, J. (1999). Law for Business – 13^th edition. West Educational Publishing Co. ISBN: 0-53-88095-3

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: August 22-24,

Introductions

Course Overview

Lecture: The Essential Functions of Business

The Environment of Business

This lecture is not in your text, and you will need to take notes.

Week 2: August 27-31

Introduction to the Law

Read: Chapters 1-2

Week 3: September 3-7

Procedures and Processes of Law

Week 4: September 10-14

Torts and Regulation

Read: Chapters 3-4

The Business Organization

Read: Chapters 31-36

Week 5: September 17-21

Presentation: Conducting Research from On-line sources

Lecture: Practicing Management: Making a Decision

Handout: A management Memorandum (teaching note)

Management Memorandum (an example)

Exam I: Chapters 1-4, 31 – 36

Week 6: September 24 – 28

Agency and Employment

Read: Chapters 26 – 30

Week 7: October 1-5

Exam II: Chapters 26-30

Week 8: October 8-12

Introduce: Contracts

Read: Chapters 5-13

Week 9: October 15-19

Contracts

Week 10: October 22-26

Exam III: Chapters 5-13

Personal Property

Reading Assignment: Chapter 14 & 15

Week 11: October 29 – November 2

Sales

Read: Chapters 16-19

Week 12: November 5-9

Negotiable Instruments

Chapters 20-25

Due: Management Memorandum

Week 13: November 12-16

Real Property

Chapters 40-45

Week 14: November 19-23

Risk Bearing Devices

Chapters 37-40

Week 15: November 26-30

Feedback: Management Memorandums

11/22-23: Thanksgiving

Week 16: December 3-7

Exam IV due: 12/3 at 5PM

Chapter 14-25, 37-45

Note: I reserve the right to make adjustments to the sequence of activities and assignments for this course, and will make those announcements in class.

Legal Systems and environment

Contracts

Sales

Bailments

Commercial papers

Agencies and employment

Partnership and corporations

Risk-bearing devices

Property

EVALUATION:

Examinations 70%

Homework 20%

Class Attendance/Participation 10%

____

100%

SUGGESTED READINGS:

Keep up with current legal issues via radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and bring them to class for discussion. The television program “The People’s Court” is especially recommended for regular viewing.