Introduction to Business, Ethics and Entrepreneurship

 

Course Information

 

Course Number: BUS 1203

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Description: This course provides a survey of entrepreneurship and business fundamentals. Through the framework of the business model canvas, the course explores the fundamental considerations of planning, launching, owning, and managing a successful small business enterprise.

Course Outcomes:

• Analyze and evaluate the opportunities, rewards, risks, and ethical considerations as they apply to the creation of a new business venture.
• Evaluate and apply an understanding of business fundamentals as they relate to different business types and the business life cycle.
• Analyze and apply major concepts from the business model canvas framework to develop, describe, and visualize how small businesses create value to meet customer needs.
• Analyze the roles and functions in the effective management of a small business.
• Evaluate and apply the important characteristics and traits of entrepreneurship as they apply to starting a small business.
• Evaluate another person's work using performance criteria.
• Evaluate a scenario, identify the best answer, and engage with others to explain your
  rationale.

Instructional methods utilized in this course include:

• Lessons
• CYKs
• Module Quizzes
• Discussion Posts
• Mastery Assignments
• Midterm and Final Exams 

 

Course Materials

All readings and materials necessary to complete required exercises are provided within the course platform. 

 

Course Length

This is a self-paced course allowing students to learn according to their personal schedules. Overall, it is estimated that the course will take approximately 149 hours to complete.

It is recommended that students work through the course at a comfortable pace that allows regular, incremental (daily and/or weekly) progress. If assistance is needed with scheduling time in this course, students may refer to the weekly schedules provided in the course documents, located on the course page. Please note, there is no penalty for late assignments as this is a self-paced course. However, if a student is enrolled in a course through a school or institution, s/he is required to finish the course according to the academic calendar of the respective school or institution.

Minimum Passing Grade

To earn college credit for this course, students must earn a minimum average grade of 70% or higher. If a high school student receives less than 70% in this course, it is up to the school offering the course to grant high school credit for its completion.

 

Grading Policies

Grade Weighting

• Participation (Check Your Knowledge Quizzes): 10% 
• Module Quizzes: 20%
• Discussion Posts: 10% 
• Mastery Assignments: 30% 
• Course Exams: 30% 

 

Assignment Grading Descriptions 

• Check Your Knowledge - CYK quizzes are located at the end of each lesson.  They are composed of multiple choice, multiple answers and/or true/false questions. These quizzes are auto-graded quizzes designed to help the student test their understanding of the lesson content.  Students may take these quizzes as many times as desired to help prepare for the module and mastery assignment quizzes.  It is required that students earn 100% on each quiz before proceeding to the next lesson in the course. The CYK quizzes can be taken as many times as needed to earn 100%.
• Discussion Posts: Twice in the course, students will be prompted with a case study in which they will have to select the best solution to the given problem. Students will be prompted to defend their selection using evidence from the materials learned in the course and will be asked to analyze and evaluate other solutions developed by their peers. 
• Module Quizzes: Multiple-choice quizzes that are auto-graded. Students may use notes and refer back to lessons using a separate browser or the printable versions of lessons. Quizzes are not timed. Students may take only once.
• Mastery Assignments: 
  • Written Mastery Assignments: A final, rubric-based research paper or project for students to complete. This is a cumulative project that students will build throughout the course during the mastery assignments. Students should submit a final project with revisions that reflect the feedback they received on the prior assignments.
• Course Exams: Proctored, multiple-choice exam that is auto-graded. Students may take this only once.  

 

Mastery Assignments

Use the following information to know in which module the Mastery Assignments are located. 

• Mastery Assignment 1: Module 3
• Mastery Assignment 2: Module 8 
• Mastery Assignment 3: Module 12 

 

Grade Discrepancies

Grades are awarded for a student’s individual academic work during each semester based upon the student’s mastery of the content. Students who wish to appeal a grade to the Academic Services Team must submit this form to start the appeals process. Moreover, students caught violating the Academic Integrity Policy must file an appeal if they disagree with the assessment of their actions.

Upon the receipt of the appeal, the following process will be enacted:

1. Grade appeals will be sent to TEL management and the instructor of the course for evaluation. A thorough investigation will take place using all evidence provided from the rubric, assignment instruction, notes from the instructional team member, and other relevant outsourced information.
2. Once evaluated, this result will be communicated to the student.
   1. If the appeal is approved, the grade will be changed, and the student will be notified.
   2. In the case of an academic integrity appeal, the student can either accept the assessment and subsequent action or they can restart the course.

Note: While TEL will endeavor to follow the foregoing appeals process, it retains absolute discretion to deviate from this process when TEL determines such deviation is justified under the circumstances. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to create due process or contractual rights for students.

 

Exams

In this course, students will complete a midterm and a final exam, both of which must be proctored. The exams in this course are proctored by HonorLock, which is a browser extension that monitors student performance and progress while taking an exam. Students will be required to bring a form of identification with them when starting the exam. While Honorlock will record the student’s computer webcam, speakers, and desktop, all security and privacy protocols/requirements will be followed.

 

Technical Requirements

This course is delivered 100% online, and students are required to have access to a computer or laptop — along with consistent access to the Internet — to access course material and complete assignments.

Required technology:

• Desktop or portable computer, including Windows PC, Macintosh OS, or Chromebook (tablets, cell phones, and iPads are not supported)
• Google Chrome Browser
• Working built-in or external webcam, speakers, and microphone
• Internet speed must be at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended.  Test Internet speed

To access detailed information about the minimum hardware requirements necessary to take full advantage of TEL courses, visit the course home page.

 

Disability Services Statement

TEL is committed to providing equitable student access to course content and materials by providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. TEL also complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students who need special accommodations must make their requests by contacting the TEL Support Team. TEL’s Support Team will coordinate reasonable accommodations upon registration and before the course begins. Students over the age of 18 taking college-level courses require a 504 for special accommodations.

Any student seeking to request academic accommodations on the basis of a documented disability should contact the TEL Support Team at disabilityservices@tel-education.org to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

 

Additional Information

Please review the following documents before continuing on to the course material. 

• Academic Integrity Policy 
• Accessible PDF of the Course Syllabus 

 

Return to the Syllabus Module

To return to the syllabus information and expectations page, click the link provided here.