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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Legal Environments

Course Title:	Legal Environments - BU515
Department:	Business Administration—Master's
Instructor:	Kenneth "Micheal" Townsend, MBA, BS, AA E-Mail Vita
Prerequisites:	Bachelor's degree

Course Objectives:
BU515 is designed to give graduate business students an understanding of the legal environment within which business must operate. The course is an introduction to the law and includes the following topics: nature and source of the law, the operation of the judicial system, selected Constitutional provisions which are frequently involved in litigation, corporations, mergers, securities, trade regulation and bankruptcy. Additional topics may be covered at the instructor's discretion.

Required Textbook:   Online Bookstore
The textbook for this class is Business Law, Twelfth Edition, by Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, and Langvardt. McGraw-Hill, Inc, 2003/2004. ISBN: 0072885122 (Amazon or Barnes and Noble or at local university bookstores.)

Other Requirements:
1.) There will be two exams (one midterm and one final). The format of the tests will be multiple choice and/or essay and will cover the material that has been presented in the text and lectures up to that point. Specifics of exam length and coverage will be dealt with prior to exam dates. The exams will be completed no later than the last day of the week on week four and eight respectively. The exams will not be allowed to taken earlier than beginning of that week as well unless authorization is given by the instructor for that student for extenuating circumstances.

a.) Exam one will cover chapters 1 through 8.
b.) Exam two will cover chapters 9-12, and 23, and 24.

Hint: Exams will be taken online and graded by computer unless the questions are essay. The best way to prepare for exams is to read all assignments and to prepare for all assignments ahead of time. The easiest way to make a poor grade on an exam is to get behind and stay behind early.

2.) There will be several written assignments as well for this class. The material that shall be covered will come directly from readings in the text. The readings will be of specified length and should be properly documented. This class will take eight weeks to complete. At the end of week one, two, three, five, six, and seven, there will be a written assignment due. At the end of the fourth and eighth week, there will be no written assignment due because of exams. Late assignments will be penalized two points a day for the first five days and one letter grade for each day after that. Any questions concerning this policy need to be directly aimed at your instructor to avoid confusion.

3.) Each of the written assignments with the exception of the last one should be approximately five to six pages in length (no less) double spaced and cover the material as presented in the text book. The assignments are outlined below. They are due no later than the week they are given and no earlier than the week they are given as well. Grammar is very important as well as structure. By this point in your college career, none of us should have a lot of problem with this. Deductions may be taken for poor grammar, syntax, structure, as well as, principle gaps. Please make sure that all assignments are presentable in a business situation. Make believe that I am the president of your company and the reports are meant to be used in our business.

Written Assignments:
a.) Written assignment number one--Chapters 1 and 2--"Explain the reason for the need to take a course in legal environments for the MBA program." Where applicable add pertinent information from the text, your work situation, or other sources. Documentation must be consistent. Every outside source should be documented and plagiarism will not be tolerated on any assignment. Whatever type of format used is fine for this and other assignments, but always be consistent. If you use, APA for one part, use it for all parts and all assignments.

b.) Written assignment number two--Chapters 3 thru 5—These are very important chapters as far as the course is concerned. The specifics include the US Constitution, independent checks on the government and states, ethics and ethical theories, and crime. Choose a topic from each of these important issues and write about it for this assignment. Pay very close attention to documentation.

c.) Written assignment number three--Chapters 6 thru 8. Discuss the following topics: personal rights, property rights, negligence, liability, and unfair competition. Make sure you hit the important topics and also that you use proper documentation when applicable.

d.) Written assignment number four--Chapters 9 thru 11. Discuss at least two topics noted in this lesson and writing about them. Use proper documentation as needed.

e.) Written assignment number five--Chapters 12, 19 and 20. Discuss elements of consideration, sales contracts, third parties and third party losses, product liability law, and the no privy defense. Where there is overlap, note it. Make sure you include proper documentation as needed.

f.) Written assignment number six--Chapters 23 and 24. For this lesson, the assignment counts more. Choose a topic or topics and an important aspect of legal environments for scrutiny. Do this in an in depth manner. This assignment should be longer have more sources than the other five. This assignment should have no less than six sources at previously noted in this class.

Instructor Availability:
I am available periodically at the e-mail address above. Please e-mail any questions. That is the reason that I am here. I will try to do everything I can to help you as much as possible. Please do not wait until the end of class to get help. It will be too late. Anytime your grade falls below C, I will try to contact you about it. If I do not, or fail to get a hold of you, please contact me through e-mail.

Attendance Requirements and Submission Deadlines:
You must submit all assignments on time as listed above. Other interactions are encouraged, but not necessary. Late assignments will result in point deductions as noted above. Late exams will only be allowed to be remade if the student has an excuse that was excused before the exam. Warnings are given about exams prior to the beginning of the course. It is in the best interest of anyone wanting to "miss" an exam to get an excuse from myself or to take the exam just prior to the due date to ensure no problems. Interactions will be made with instructor via message boards and e-mail. I am not planning any chatting one on one with myself or the class, but you are welcome to do so among yourselves. If you do need me for "chatting", please e-mail me and we will set something up. I need as much warning as possible. This is not my only class. Questions need to be completed prior to these sessions so be ready. The only requirements for attendance are the assignment deadlines given above.

Grades and Distribution (points):
First five written assignments: 60 points each
Midterm exam: 100 total points
Final exam: 100 total points
Final written assignment: 100 total points
Total points available: 600 total points for the class

Grading Scale:

A	Excellent	90-100	540-600
B	Above average	80-89	480-539
C	Average	70-79	420-479
D	Below average	60-69	360-419
F	Failing grade	Below 60	0-359