Lincoln Memorial University
BUSN 440.YO The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 
 BUSN 440Z  Senior Writing Requirement
 Course Syllabus Fall 2004 - 3 credit hours

Instructor: Dwayne A. Gibson,

Telephone: 423-869-6348 or 1-800-869-0900 x6348

Office: DeBusk 320               E-Mail:  DGibson@lmunet.eduor lmudag@yahoo.com

Office Hours
Monday and Wednesday from 11.50am until 12.50pm - Harrogate and 3.00pm until 4.00pm - Cumberland
Virtual Office Thursdays 5.00pm until 7.00pm via e-mail, if you prefer a phone conversation e-mail a number where  you can be reached.  By Appointment - Anytime

Semester, Days, Time, and Meeting Place:
Fall 2004, W- 4.00-6.45, Cumberland

Textbook and Other Materials:  Business Law Today:  The Essentials, 6th Ed., Miller & Jentz, Thomson-Southwestern, 2002. ISBN: 0-324-12096-6

Class Web Site:
http://www.dwayne.gibson.name/lmufall2004/

Course Description:  Survey of legal issues directly relating to business including the court system, legal forms of business, torts, contracts, strict and vicarious liability, product liability, and federal and state regulation of business activities.  3  credit hours.

This class will help students to develop a level of understanding of:

the U.S. court system
the major legal systems of the U.S. and the world
government regulation of business
business formation
torts 
business crimes
contracts and remedies for breach
the U.C.C. and contracts
product liability

As well as a level of practice experience in:

working in small groups
analyzing legal decisions
analyzing and forming legal arguments
informal and formal presentations

SPECIAL NEEDS
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all qualified students enrolled in this course are entitled to “reasonable accommodations “.  Any student with a disability requiring accommodation's should make an appointment with the Vice President for Student Affairs (423-869-6393) to discuss specific needs."

General Education Competencies - 
Specific Competencies/Evaluation: Writing: To communicate effectively using standard written English. Students may be expected to answer essay test questions. In addition, students may be required to write an essay or term paper.

Reading: To analyze, summarize, and interpret a variety of reading materials. Exams are based on classroom lecture and discussion as well as required reading in the text.

Integrated Learning: To think critically and make connections in earning across the disciplines. Students are expected to integrate facts and critically apply these through data analysis, theory application, interpretation of information and problem solving. This will be evaluated through scheduled tests and classroom discussion.

Creative Thinking: To elaborate upon knowledge to create new thoughts, processes and/or products. Students are expected to think creatively from information presented in the classroom and from research done in the library. This will be evaluated as a part of scheduled tests.

Ethics/Values: To demonstrate an awareness of ethical considerations in making value choices. Students should become aware of ethical considerations in both general and business issues. They are expected to take responsibility for and show commitment to their studies and to understand the consequences of serious unethical behavior such as cheating or copyright infringement.

Teaching Methods:
Lectures:
Important material from the text and outside sources will be covered in class. Students should plan to take careful notes as not all material can be found in the texts or readings. Discussion is encouraged as is student-procured, outside material relevant to topics being covered.

Assignments:
Problems, cases, and readings will be periodically assigned to help support and supplement material found in the text. These assignments may require the application of various software packages

Quizzes:
Occasional scheduled or unscheduled quizzes will be given to help ensure students stay up with assigned material.         Quizzes cannot be made up, no exceptions!!!     

Exams:
Two objective type tests (multiple choice/true-false, essay), will be given. Each test may also include short answer questions and/or a hands-on writing sample.  On test dates,  students are required to attend. 
No make-up test will be given without prior approval of the instructor.

Method of Evaluation and Grading: 
The final grade will be determined according to the following table:

Attendance Policy: It is the belief of the instructor that performance is directly related to class attendance and participation. Failure to attend and participate will result in reduced performance.
 
Missed Classes: The student is responsible for obtaining material, which may have been distributed on class days when he/she was absent. This can be done through contacting a classmate who was present or by contacting the instructor during his office hours or other times. Missed or late quizzes can not be made up under any circumstances but with good cause and adequate notice, an early quiz may be given. One quiz (lowest score) will be dropped at the end of the semester. There are no make-up exams. Only official excuses will be accepted.

Any uncoordinated, unexcused missed exam will result in a score of 0 for that exam.

Certification of Academic Integrity:  It is the aim of the faculty of Lincoln Memorial University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.  The attempt of any student to present as his/her own any work which he/she has not honestly preformed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a very serious offense and renders the offender liable to severe consequences and possible suspension.

Cheating.  Dishonesty of any kind on examinations or written assignments, illegal possession of questions, the use of unauthorized notes during an examination, obtaining information during an examination from another student, assisting others to cheat, altering grade records, or illegally entering an office are instances of cheating.

Plagiarism.  Offering the work of another as one’s own without proper acknowledgement is plagiarism; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical material taken from books, magazines, encyclopedias or other reference works, or from the themes, reports, or other writing of a fellow student has committed plagiarism.