UMUC-Europe Syllabus

(For students with little or no legal background. Fulfills the civic responsibility requirement.) An overview of fundamental legal concepts and principles that affect business in the relevant functional and regulatory environments. Emphasis is on the definition and application of legal principles and concepts through illustrative examples and cases. Primary topics include the interplay among business, ethics, and law; legal reasoning and research; the judicial system and conflict resolution; and torts and business crimes. Key concepts relating to transactional aspects of business are defined; these include contracts and business organizations, property, and government regulations in the human resource, marketing, and financial dimensions of business. Important global concepts are discussed. Assignments include conducting relevant research using computer databases and networks (such as LEXIS-NEXIS and the Web) as well as other methods for accessing information. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BMGT 378 or BMGT 480.

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, you should be able to: * Define relevant legal concepts and explain their applications to both commercial and international business transactions. * Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of law in society and its relationship to other disciplines including ethics, public policy, economics, management, marketing, finance and accounting. * Identify and analyze relevant legal principles and regulations affecting business in the context of entrepreneurship, employer-employee relations, competition, consumer protection, corporate financing and governance. * Apply critical thinking, analytic, communication and team building skills through group assignments, case analysis, problem solving, research, presentations and discussions. * Develop applicable skills and knowledge in the relevant cross curricular initiatives including effective writing, information literacy, globalization, computerization, historical perspective, and civic responsibility.

Course Introduction:

This course is designed to provide you with an overview of various legal concepts and principles impacting business. It introduces you to a broad array of information and develops relevant skills encompassing the dynamic nature of the legal environment and its relationship to the transactional and functional aspects of business by incorporating unique instructional methodologies that combine theory with real life case examples of practical application and significance. BMGT 378: Legal Environment of Business consists of the following topic areas: Topic I: The Functional Environment of Business Topic II: The Transactional Environment of Business Topic III: Laws Affecting Financial Management Topic IV: Laws Affecting Marketing Topic V: Laws Affecting Human Resource Management

Grading Information and Criteria:

A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = below 60% Midterm Exam: 30% Final Exam: 30% Written Assignments: 25% *Other: 15% Total: 100% *Includes participation, assignments such as case analyses, current events, problem solving answers, quizzes and projects.

Other Information:

Written Assignments: * Students are required to do either (A) a research paper or (B) a critique of a substantive law journal article applicable to business at the discretion of the instructor. In either case, you should use the Index to Legal Periodicals or its equivalent as the major source for finding the necessary information. * In addition to the above, students may be required to submit selected written case briefs and analyses, solutions to assigned problems, and chapter outlines for designated modules as determined by the instructor. * All written assignments must conform to the appropriate elements of documentation and style found in the Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian or other equivalent manuals of style. Student Requirements: Participation: By registering for this course, you have made a commitment to participate regularly and constructively in course assignments and activities as warranted by the instructional medium. You are expected to conduct yourself professionally and adhere to the general rules of academic etiquette, decency, integrity and respect, subject to the expectations of the relevant learning modality and university policy. You may wish to note that participation counts towards your final grade, which will be determined by the quality, analytic depth, timeliness and responsiveness to all assignments, activities and discussions. Preparation: Read and study the assigned text and other related materials ahead of time. Prepare critical questions and answers on reading assignments for class discussion. Assignments: Submit assignments on time. Points will be deducted for late submission unless otherwise indicated. You are responsible for keeping copies of all your work, including graded examinations and assignments, and you must be able to produce them if needed. Cooperation: Cooperate with your group members and work as a team on assigned projects. Also, cooperate with the instructor to enhance the learning environment by providing constructive feedback on problems raised in class. Research: Conduct research in a timely and professional manner in accordance with the defined expectations. Examinations: Examinations may include multiple choice and essay questions which are based on a given set of facts containing issues that the students will have to identify and resolve based on the following criteria: -Demonstrated ability to identify issues and provide succinct analysis and resolution of the problem. -Your answer should include the following elements based on the given facts: a) issue identification, b) answer c) general rule, d) rationale incorporating relevant case analysis and facts, and e) result. -Logical coherence of your answer and integration of the requisite elements as noted above. Grammatically accurate responses and construction. * Scheduled examinations: Take all examinations on the scheduled date and in accordance with stated requirements, policies or procedures. * Make-up examinations: There will be no make-up exams except in cases of unavoidable circumstances which must be verified, and comply with university policy. * Incomplete: No Incomplete(s) will be given except in cases of bona fide emergencies and with completion of a substantial amount of the course requirements as demonstrated by regular and satisfactory class performance and in accordance with university policy.

Project Descriptions:

Written and other assignments will be evaluated according to the following standards: Term Paper: * A well-defined thesis including the purpose, assumption, or hypothesis of your research. * Differentiation of your paper/project from any current research. * Logical integration of information to support or disprove your thesis. * Organizational consistency, orderly flow, relevancy, and effectiveness of sequential ideas and paragraphs to your central theme. Grammatically correct construction and correct spelling and punctuation. * Timeliness and scope of research. Submit, on the due date, a thoroughly researched term paper with a minimum of ten pages, unless otherwise indicated by the instructor. Your topic must deal with a current aspect of the course, and an initial outline of your research must be submitted to your instructor for his or her prior approval. Your submission should include the following: o topic of your choice o thesis statement o sample outline and bibliography of references, including articles from law journals obtained through the Index to Legal Periodicals, LEXIS/NEXIS, the Internet, and other methodologies for accessing information * The caliber, quality, and depth of research will be judged in part according to the nature of the subject matter and the bibliographic documentation including, particularly, the use of articles from the Index to Legal Periodicals or its equivalent. * The paper should conform to the standards of formatting and documentation, including proper citations and references found in the Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian or other equivalent manuals of style. The final paper must: -be typed, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial fonts with margins no wider than one inch -have footnotes or endnotes with correct citations -have a bibliography of sources used - include, for each entry, the author, title, city and state of publisher, publisher's name, year, and page numbers Briefs: Briefing of cases and Socratic analyses are standard methodologies used in the instructional approach for law courses. You will be required to brief assigned cases on a regular basis. The definition, format, and elements of a brief are explained below. Definition of a Brief: A brief is a succinct and well-organized condensation of essential case information. In briefing a case, organize the relevant information according to the following format: Facts: In no more than a paragraph, explain what has happened. Write it as though you were telling a story to someone who has not read what the case is about. If the case is on appeal, include the ruling of the lower courts. Issue: The issue is the main question the court must decide. It is normally stated in question form. Write the issue as though you were the judge, and you were telling someone what question you must decide in order to resolve a certain problem; specify the issue that the highest court must resolve. The case citation will tell you which court or body is deciding the case. Holding: The holding is what the court has decided in response to the issue. It is simply a matter of writing the word yes or no followed by a few words of explanation if you wish. Rationale: The rationale is the reason for the court's decision. You should be concerned with the decision of the highest court. You may be asked to provide and analysis of the case stating why you agree or disagree with the court's decision. The concurring or dissenting opinion, if there is one, will help you to analyze the case. Rule of Law: The rule of law is what the case stands for if it is to be used as a precedent or rule in future cases. It can be stated in one sentence or so. Format Requirements: Your brief should adhere to the following: * Write no more than one page single spaced. * Put your name in the upper right-hand corner. * Cite the case at the top center of the page. Example of a correct citation: Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989). The "490" refers to the volume which, in this case, is the United States Reports. "228" refers to the page where the case begins, and "1989" refers to the year. * Points will be deducted, or you might be asked to resubmit for grammatical errors or faulty construction. Article Critique: The following guidelines should form the basis of your critique: * Demonstrated ability to think and express one's self critically. * Identification and synopsis of key points in the article expressed in a succinct and substantive manner. * Integration of your criticisms referencing the author or article in context and explaining your analytic views from a pros and cons perspective, identifying salient strengths and weaknesses. * The sequential organization, synthesis, analysis of the information and the coherent and persuasiveness of your argument. * The ability to raise critical questions and provide rational and well thought out alternative points of views.

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

1 The Functional Environment of Business Nature and Scope of the Law Legal and Business Ethics Legal Research Chapter Readings: Chapters 1 & 5 2 The Court System Chapter Readings: Chapter 2 3 Dispute Resolution Chapter Readings: Chapters 3 & 4 4 Public Law and Business: Constitutional Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 6 5 Public Law and Business: Government Regulation Anatomy of Regulation Enforcing and Adjudicating Regulations Chapter Readings: Chapter 7 6 Public Law and Business: Criminal Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 8 7 Midterm Exam 8 Private Law: Torts and Strict Liability Chapter Readings: Chapter 11 9 Transactional Environment of Business Property Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 9 10 Contract Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 10 11 Business Organizations Laws Affecting Business Financing Securities Regulation Chapter Readings: Chapter 12 12 Laws Affecting Marketing Antitrust FTC and Unfair Competition Chapter Readings: Chapters 13 & 14 Research Paper Due 13 Environmental Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 17 14 Laws Affecting Human Resource Management Employer-Employee Relations Statutory Regulations Employment Discrimination Chapter Readings: Chapters 15 & 16 15 International Law Chapter Readings: Chapter 18 16 Final Exam