Master Syllabus: BUS 240 - Business Law

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I. Catalog Description

1. The law of contracts, agency and employment, and the elements of property and government regulation. Law of business organizations, with emphasis on partnerships and corporations and law of sales and commercial paper.
2. Prerequisites:
   1. Courses or Class Standing: Sophomore standing.
   2. Justification: Students entering this course need to have developed college-level= study skills to the point of being able to master large volumes of detailed and precise information, most of which must be obtained through reading.

II. Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should know or be able to: 1. Correctly define commonly-used legal terms with application to business. 2. Distinguish between enforceable and unenforceable contracts. 3. Differentiate between and explain the roles of the Federal and State Courts and Federal and State Regulatory Agencies in the regulation of business activities. 4. Define the various forms of business organization and explain the advantages of each.

Course Materials: Example materials would include Roszkowski, M. E., & Roszkowski, C. L. (2002). Business law : principles, cases, and policy (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, or a similar text

III. Teaching Methods

Primarily through lecture and the discussion of reading materials.

IV. Evaluation Tools

Knowledge examinations.

V. Course Content

1. Typical major course topics will include:
   1. State & Federal Court System
   2. Pleading, Discovery Rules, Evidence Rules, Appeals Courts, etc.
   3. Contract Law- Common Law
      1. Introduction- Definition of Terms
      2. Mutual Assent (Offer and Acceptance)
      3. Consideration
      4. Legality
      5. Capacity and Statute of Frauds
      6. Mistakes and Frauds
      7. Third Party Rights
      8. Discharge and Performance
      9. Remedies
   4. Contract Law- Uniform Commercial Code
      1. Introduction- Differences From Common Law
      2. Risk of Loss- Shipment and Destination Contracts
      3. Breach of Warranty (Implied)
      4. Strict Products Liability
      5. Performance
      6. Remedies
   5. Constitutional Law- Emphasis on Commerce Clause, 1st, 4th, & 5th Amendments
   6. Torts
   7. Crimes
   8. Principal- Agency Law
      1. Nature and Definition of Terms
      2. Respondeat Superior Liability
   9. Business Organizations
      1. Comparison of Various Business Organizations for Various Purposes
      2. Sole Proprietorships
      3. Partnerships- General & Limited
      4. Corporations
         1. Nature and Classifications
         2. Formation
         3. Piercing the Corporate Veil
         4. Shareholders Rights and Responsibilities
         5. Management
         6. Directors Rights and Responsibilities
         7. Issuing New Stock- Stock Watering
         8. Mergers and Consolidations
         9. Corporate Financing- Wall St.
         10. Investor Protection

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