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Sample Orientation and Syllabus

It's Strictly Business

Introduction

It's Strictly Business is intended to be the first course a student takes in a business-centered degree program. It also may be part of other degree or career training programs that require a basic knowledge of business processes. This Telecourse helps to prepare students to make day-to-day consumer decisions and to appreciate the significant role that business plays in today's global society. The real-life scenarios in each video present documentary-type examples of how individual companies handle the topic of each of the 26-lessons.

All new students must submit a profile with the instructor before starting the course. The best way to do this is to email or fax the instructor an email with the following information:

  1. Name
  2. Social Security Number
  3. Course ID and Section Number
  4. A short paragraph about yourself

This information is confidential. It will not be shared with anyone who is not related to the course.

The next thing you should do is review the Orientation and Syllabus for this course. This is where you find out how taking this course with the aid of the Internet will work. You will need to understand all this information to be successful with this course.

This sample orientation is only one example of what a course orientation might look like. It can be deleted entirely, adopted and/or revised as an instructor wishes.

Orientation Information
Features of this Telecourse Plus

The course is built around a syllabus; a textbook, a 26-video program series, a Telecourse Guide, and Internet activities. This combination of self-paced learning materials with a highly qualified instructor provides an effective, flexible and low-cost educational opportunity for busy students and professionals. Utilizing the Internet, the course pairs the self-study learning materials with instructor guidance to create a "virtual class environment," while retaining access to valuable instructor expertise. The instructor monitors each student’s progress and advises students as appropriate via email, phone and fax.

Email, Phone, Fax

All course communication with the instructor happens through email, phone or fax. You will need to have your own email account and be familiar with its use to communicate effectively.

Course Submissions

Submissions of written materials from the student are handled through email or fax or through your Coordinator or Proctor. Each course and instructor will differ on the types and numbers of assignments required. Detailed information is available as a part of the syllabus.

What is a Class Like?

You must purchase the required materials, such as textbooks and a Telecourse Guide. The required books and class materials are identified in the syllabus along with instructions for acquiring them. The video programs can be leased, viewed on PBS, or borrowed from a library (check with your instructor on how to gain access to the videos). The instructor determines the pace of the class as indicated in the course schedule included in the syllabus. You can work through self-study class materials on your own, at times convenient to you but you must complete the assignments by the time outlined in the schedule. Your instructor will work with you one-on-one via email, phone or fax to evaluate your responses to assignments and to help you privately with any questions or problems.

The syllabus guides you through the course and explains what the course is about, what you should learn in the course, what books and materials you need, what assignments and projects are required, and how you will be graded. The syllabus also includes a schedule of assignments as well as deadlines for their completion.

When you are ready to start, go to the first lesson in the Telecourse Guide, complete your reading assignment, and view the assigned video. Then sign onto the Internet and check your email for any new announcements/course information. Go to your course site. Then go to the web activities and follow the directions for each assigned lesson. When you have completed a web activity, submit the report back to the instructor for grading. You will repeat the process for each assigned lesson in the Telecourse Guide.

It is important that you read the syllabus very carefully. You need to understand the schedule and make sure that you can follow any of the steps for submitting assignments on time. The biggest problem for a distance learner is to stay on top of his or her course work. It is very easy to procrastinate and to forget about a course for which you do not attend in a live class scenario.

This sample syllabus is only one example of what a course syllabus might look like. It can be deleted entirely, adopted and/or revised as an instructor wishes.

Syllabus

It is crucial that you read and thoroughly understand all information in this syllabus. After you have completely reviewed the syllabus, please contact the professor by email, phone or fax if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to business. Through the videos, you meet some very interesting people. They describe their own experiences and illustrate how the world of business works. The videos take you on location inside both large and small companies where you see for yourself the many business principles at work in the real world. In addition, you meet experts in particular aspects of business. These real life examples are designed to give life to your reading assignments and web activities to make the world of business more meaningful to you.

Course Objectives

The goal of It's Strictly Business is to provide students with an "insider’s" view of the concepts and processes involved in business and business operations. The following objectives of the course will be accomplished through the use of a student Telecourse Guide, reading assignments, video programs, writing assignments, and examinations. Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • define the basic concept of business, summarize the types of companies that comprise the world of business, and explain business interdependence and competition.
  • show how business has historically evolved in response to changes in the business environment.
  • explain how business is influenced by various economic factors, define and compare capitalism with the principal planned economic systems used in the world of business, and summarize their influence on international business operations.
  • describe the general structure of the U.S. legal system, identify the laws that are applicable to business operations, and explain the impact of these laws on business activities.
  • summarize the scope and influence of government involvement in business activities.
  • explain the role of business in promoting social responsibility and ethical behavior at all levels in business operations.
  • define the scope and importance of international business, and learn the basic economic, political, social and cultural factors that companies must accommodate to compete successfully in a global market.
  • understand the importance of information in managing a business and to identify the types of information managers need.
  • describe the three basic forms of business ownership, i.e., sole proprietorship, partnership and corporation, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each form.
  • define small business and describe its role in the business community.
  • define the concept and importance of management.
  • understand the importance of a formal organization structure.
  • understand the importance and functions of human resource management.
  • define the concept of and the factors that influence the work environment.
  • describe the relationship between labor and management, the activities of labor unions, and their impact on business operations.
  • define the concept of marketing and describe the marketing process.
  • describe how products and services are defined and developed, and explain their relationship within the context of marketing.
  • define the concept of operations management.
  • understand the importance of pricing.
  • describe the concept of promotion.
  • examine various channels of distribution-the paths that products follow as they physically move from producer to the ultimate user.
  • define the functions and characteristics of money and credit.
  • understand the process of securing and managing short-term financing in various types of businesses.
  • describe the types, sources, and applications of long-term financing used by companies.
  • understand how accounting processes are used to support management planning and control.
  • understand the concept of risk as it applies to business operations.
Course Materials
  • Videos:
    26 half-hour videos. Your instructor will let you know what options your institution has made available for you to view or obtain the required video programs.
  • Textbook:
    Pride, William M., Robert J. Hughes, and Jack R. Kapoor, Business, latest edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
  • Telecourse Guide:
    Woelfle, Robert. Telecourse Guide for It’s Strictly Business, latest edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
  • Kit contains: loose-leaf 3-hole drilled shrink-wrapped textbook and Telecourse Guide packet.
Study Tips

You need highly effective reading comprehension skills to do well in this course. You should also plan to spend a minimum of six hours per week studying in order to be successful.

The Telecourse Guide is essential for successful completion of this course. It provides important information about each lesson, correlates the reading assignments and the video programs, supplies invaluable "Study Guidelines," and includes a representative "Practice Test" at the end of each lesson. Use it fully.

To do well in this course, you must read the appropriate textbook assignments indicated in the Telecourse Guide.

The video programs provide visual and narrative information, as well as analysis of business concepts. To accomplish the goals of this course, you must thoughtfully view the video programs.

Tests and Grades

To be provided by instructor.

Academic Honesty

(Insert your institution's policy.) Students should be aware of disciplinary actions for all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and collusion.

Extra Credit

To be provided by instructor (if applicable).

Final Grade

To be provided by instructor.

Video Programs

You should watch two programs (one hour of viewing) each week.

Questions and Problems

If you have any questions or concerns during the course of the semester, please contact the instructor through email, phone or fax. Your professor will try to respond as soon as possible and alert you to his/her weekly availability (office/home).

Drop Policy

It is your responsibility to drop a course. You must notify the Registrar's office in writing. Failure to do so will result in receiving a performance grade, usually a grade of "F." This grade is figured into your overall grade point average. The last day to drop the class is determined by the date you enrolled. Before you "drop" (withdraw) from a class, you might wish to contact your professor via email, phone or fax. Often the professor can help, preventing the need to drop the class.

Change of Address

If your address changes, you must notify the Registrar's office immediately. Also, please inform your professor via email, phone or fax of your address change.