BUSINESS SEMINAR (BUSA 1101)

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

                                                                               

                                                                             

INSTRUCTOR:             Dr. Jeff Gibbs                 jgibbs@abac.edu

OFFICE:                       Conger Hall - 118

PHONE:                        Office:  386-3245

 

OFFICE HOURS:           8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday

Additional hours available by appointment

 

REQUIRED TEXT:         The Economics of Public Issues, Thirteenth Edition, Roger Leroy Miller, Addison Wesley, 2003

 

 

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

Although the subject of economics & business appears complicated, it is actually an essential element of our everyday lives.  Today, we live in a society guided by economic choices and decisions.  An understanding of the history and application of economics will permit us to understand and appreciate our heritage as well as allow us to evaluate the decisions we make.  This course is designed to increase the student's general knowledge of the effects of economic decisions while arousing a genuine interest and concern for economics in the years ahead.

 

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

1.         To provide an overview of the way our individualistic, largely private enterprise economic system works.

2.         To illuminate the serious economic problems faced by our system, and to arouse an interest in these problems that will remain with the student after he/she leaves college.

3.         To help the student develop "clear thinking" by providing him/her with fundamental economic history, concepts, and principles.

4.         To help the student demonstrate applied knowledge of the basic principles of business necessary for decision making in a world governed by choice.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course will focus awareness and exploration of business with special emphasis being placed  on select problems that we all encounter as aspects of our economic system.

 

 

WORKING PAPERS

Working papers are intended to relate what you are learning to things you hear and read in the news.  You will be assigned a topic to research, you will then choose an appropriate article, not more than three weeks old, from a newspaper or magazine.  Write a summary of from2 to 3 pages, applying what you have learned to evaluate and analyze the topic.  On the day topics are due, you will be asked to make a brief oral presentation of your summary to the class.  This should last no longer than four minutes.  Then hand in your summary.  Each Working paper will be worth 10 points.  You will be required to complete at least 4 working papers during the term.  Others may be assigned.  Working papers must be typed and should not exceed three pages, using the outline below.

 

1.         Summary of article

2.         Identification of economic issues

3.         Solutions

a.  Costs

b.  Benefits

 

 

 

 

IF THERE IS ANY STUDENT IN THIS CLASS WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS BECAUSE OF LEARNING DISABILITIES OR OTHER KINDS OF DISABILITIES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME AND DISCUSS THIS WITH ME.

 

 

 

GRADING

Your grade in this class will be based on the following:

 

Working Papers (8)                    80 points

Final Examination                       20 points

 

Total Possible Points     100 points

 

Your final letter grade will be determined by the grading scale below:

 

A = 89.5 - 100 points                              D = 59.5 - 69.4 points

B = 79.5 - 89.4 points                             F = Below 59.5 points

C = 69.5 - 79.4 points

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes.  Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College expects all students to conduct themselves in a responsible manner as individuals who understand that they are accountable for the choices they make as students.  Absence from class for whatever reason does not excuse students from full responsibility for class work or assignments missed

 

STUDENTS MISSING MORE THAN TEN PERCENT (10%) OF THE SCHEDULED CLASS MEETINGS MAY BE WITHDRAWN BY THE REGISTRAR UPON RECOMMENDATION BY THE INSTRUCTOR.  THOSE WITHDRAWN BEFORE MIDTERM RECEIVE THE GRADE OF W, AND THOSE WITHDRAWN AFTER MIDTERM RECEIVE THE WF.   

 

A class roll will be taken on a daily basis and  THE ATTENDANCE POLICY WILL BE ENFORCED IN THIS COURSE.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY

 

This class will adhere to the Academic Dishonesty Policy as stated on pages75 & 76 of the 2002 ABAC Catalog.