BUSN 130-D1 Spring 2018
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SPRING 2018│ Business Administration
Title: Entrepreneurship I Catalog Number: BUSN 130-D1
Credit Hours: 3 Instructor: Michelle Neujahr
Course Meets: BLACKBOARD Term: SPRING 2018
Instructor’s Office: Hague Hall 114 Office Hours: T/Th 9-11am and by appt.
Email: mneujahr@smccme.edu Phone: 207.741.5936 office
Required Reading:
Scarborourgh, Norman M., Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Management, 8th Edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall ISBN-10: 0133930386, ISBN–13: 978–
0133930382 [6th or 7th edition of this text will work for this course as well.]
Course Description
This course will explore the foundations and principles of entrepreneurship and the
relationship to small business. The basic concepts of business and the application in
operating a new or existing business will be discussed. Benefits, challenges and key
elements of entrepreneurship, ownership options, planning, marketing, financial plans
and management will be explored. Course homework and projects will focus on
strategic planning, market plan development and the rudiments of the overall
business plan. A business plan will be developed in theoretical exercises and practical
plans for students intending to enter a defined business venture.
Method of Learning
Instructor videos, Blackboard discussion, textbook, selected readings, videos and
podcasts
Course Outcomes
• evaluation of personal qualities and characteristics of the American entrepreneur
• investigation of the basic forms of business ownership
• determination of the planning factors necessary to open and/or operate a business
enterprise
• identification of various financial strategies
• understanding the fundamental components of marketing a small business
• utilization of information, estimates and projections coupled with the logical and
critical thinking to evaluate and solve business problems
• understanding and development of the elements of a business plan.
BUSN 130-D1 Spring 2018
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Course Requirements
Students must complete the following as minimal requirements:
• Regular participation on the Blackboard discussion group [4-5 times a week], this
should include your detailed initial post answering the question of the week and
then comment on your classmate’s posts. Initial posts should be detailed, error free
and demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the course content related to the post.
• Complete all homework assignments on time
• Prepare and post a final video to Facebook
• Successfully complete a business plan
Grading Standards and Student Evaluations
POINTS
20% Business Plan
20% Video Presentation
20% Discussion Board Participation/Online Homework
20% Homework Assignments (8)
20% Online Exams (2)
100% TOTAL
Grading
93-100 = A 90-92 = A– 87-89 = B+ 83-86 = B
80-82 = B- 77-79 = C+ 73-76 = C 70-72 = C-
67-69 = D+ 63-66 = D 60-62 = D- 0-59 = F
Policy on Collaboration
Each student is responsible for maintaining strict standards of academic honesty.
Copying of another’s work and representing it as one’s own work is a serious
academic offense, and will result in a grade of an “F” for the semester.
Late Homework/Papers
Late papers will not be accepted and will receive a zero. All work is to be posted to
Blackboard as a Word doc or PDF. Homework will not be accepted via email.
Participation
Each student is expected to participate in the online group regularly, at least 4 to 5
times a week. Participation will be graded based on the quality of participation, ideas,
insights, and learned outcome demonstrations, not just the quantity.
BUSN 130-D1 Spring 2018
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Online Discussion Requirements – BLACKBOARD & Private Facebook Group
BLACKBOARD –
▪ You must participate in the weekly discussion boards [a minimum of 4-5 times a
week] in order to be successful in this course. Your first post should thoughtfully
answer the discussion question[s] of the week and then you should comment on 3-4
of your classmate’s posts. Comments on classmate’s posts should add value – not
just a ‘great post’.
▪ Each week, in addition to the homework listed in the syllabus, you are responsible
for all the work in each of the WEEKLY content folders. Week 1 begins on August 28,
2017. You will need to post online requirements to the discussion board by Sunday
night at midnight the following week. Each new week begins on Monday and ends
Sunday night at midnight. Please do not wait until Sunday night to do all your
postings. Participation should happen throughout the week.
▪ You are graded each week for your participation in the group. In addition to
weekly assignments you will be responsible for posting questions, commenting on
other students posts and/or adding interesting, relevant content. This is in addition
to the topic question/weekly assignment. Be sure to watch all videos, listen to all
lectures and read all articles posted on Blackboard for that week.
▪ There is a max of 100 points for online assignments and participation each
week
▪ Points are awarded as followed
▪ 0 = No participation
▪ 1-25 = One to two posts not relevant to assignments or class
▪ 26–50 = Do the bare minimum of the assignment [s]
▪ 51–75 = Post assignments that were well done but no other
interaction with the discussion
▪ 76–99 = Posted assignments, interacted with others and added
value to discussions
▪ 100 = Posted assignments, interacted with others and added
value with questions, comments or other content that goes
beyond what was assigned and/or added value to classmates
posts
WARNING – Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken through your participation on the Blackboard discussion
board. Regular participation with the Blackboard discussion board is expected of all
students. By direction of the VP and Dean of Academics Affairs, the following policies
concerning attendance will be followed to the letter:
• If a student does not participate in the Blackboard discussion the first
week of class online, the student will be reported as a “WN” (no-show)
and dropped from the class.
• If a student misses two or more consecutive weeks of participation in the
Blackboard discussion with no communication between student and
instructor the student will receive a grade of “AF” (Administrative Failure).
• If a student misses more than 3 weeks of participation in the Blackboard
discussion at any point in the semester they will be receive a grade of
“AF” (Administrative Failure).
• If a student is not able to engage in the online Blackboard discussion, it is
the responsibility of the student to talk with the instructor about the
absence and missed course work. NOTE: Not participating online does not
relieve you of the responsibility of completing all homework assignments.
Routine lack of participation will be noted and will result in a severe
overall final course grade reduction.
