Catalog Description

Formerly known as BUS 48
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Fundamental legal principles pertaining to business transactions. Introduction to the legal process. Topics include sources of law and ethics, contracts, torts, agency, criminal law, business organizations, and judicial and administrative processes. (C-ID BUS 125) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Analyze major legal principles associated with tort, contract and agency law.
  • CSLO #2: Analyze actual cases in an effort to solve legal problems by recognizing legal issues and applying applicable law.
  • CSLO #3: Describe situations involving legal ethics issues.

Effective Term

Fall 2020

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the historical development of the law, operation of the court system and sources of commercial law.
2. Explain the social, political and ethical implications of the law and their application to actual and hypothetical business transactions.
3. Distinguish between torts and crimes and describe the purpose of criminal and tort law.
4. Evaluate when a promise is enforceable, the elements of a contract, performance, and the remedies available in the event of breach.
5. Distinguish between contracts governed by the Uniform Commercial Code and those governed by the common law of contracts.
6. Analyze cases. Identify issues and apply the appropriate legal rules to the fact patterns to reach defensible legal conclusions.
7. Demonstrate the ability to utilize the internet to research legal issues and utilize other computer skills to enhance effective business communications and presentations through the use of appropriate business and legal terminology. Analyze whether a source is a reliable source for legal information.
8. Perform legal research, to include evaluating and interpreting a court citation and locating a court case on an assigned topic.
9. Categorize the types of government agencies, powers and functions, controls through congressional action, executive action, and the courts.
10. Differentiate the relationship between state and federal systems, jurisdiction, and the importance of alternate dispute resolution methods to the participants
11. Demonstrate how cases progress through the court system from problem, to filing, to trial, and appeal.
12. Appraise the relationship between law and ethics.
13. Describe the various agency relationships and the duties and liabilities of agents and principals.
14. Describe the Constitutional basis for federal governmental regulation of business, including limits of government power.
15. Explain a corporation’s legal structure and differentiate it from other forms of business organization, the meaning of limited liability for the owners; describe the relationship of the various stakeholders.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable
          • UC Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Classroom Discussions
            • Example: 1. After studying the social, political and ethical implications of the law, discuss how to apply these to actual and hypothetical business transactions. (Obj 2)
          • Essay Examinations
            • Example: 1. Sample Essay Exam Question: Explain the doctrine of stare decisis and its purpose. (Obj 5) Rubric Grading.
          • Objective Examinations
            • Example: 1. Sample Question: The law presumes that anyone entering a contract has _____. A) nothing better to do B) legally surrendered negotiation C) the legal capacity to do so D) something to gain or receive (Obj 4)
          • Skill Demonstrations
            • Example: 1. Sample: Analyze the rights and responsibilities of all parties in the hypothetical situation given and submit your analysis to the instructor: Mary saw her husband, Bob, and another woman eating dinner at a restaurant. Mary stormed into the restaurant yelling "you no good two-timing pigs!" She then threw a glass of water in her husband's face and stormed out. Bob was so shaken he accidentally took another man's coat. The other man, Gary, had a severe asthma attack triggered by this disturbing episode, but his inhaler was in the coat which Bob took, and Gary died. (Obj 6)

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lecture:

          1. Lecture and classroom discussions focusing on application of rules of law to day-to-day situations. Students are expected to use their regularly assigned reading and lecture notes to participate. Group projects are based on legal hypothetical situations and require students to synthesize abstract principles into concrete forms. (Objectives 1-3)

          Distance Learning

          1. Following an on-line lecture on the relationship between law and ethics. Students will compare and contrast the two and post their results for an on-line discussion. Students are expected to comment on a minimum of five other student posts. (Objective 12)

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. Read court opinions and provide written analysis of an actual legal controversy, identifying the legal principles including a critical analysis of a court's ruling. 2. Read the chapters on contracts to negotiate and draft a partnership agreement or contract for a hypothetical business.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. Working in a team of three students, representing opposing interests, negotiate and sign a hypothetical contract. (Further instructions to be provided by the instructor) 2. Working in a team of four students, role play as attorneys representing a client in a court controversy. (Further instructions to be provided by instructor)

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Required Materials

          • Business Law: Text and Cases
            • Author: Clarkson, et al
            • Publisher: Cengage Learning
            • Publication Date: 2018
            • Text Edition: 14th
            • Classic Textbook?: No
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.