BUL 2241 - Business Law I

College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2018 (540)

Course Description

This course introduces students to the legal building blocks for critical business decision making. Students will not only learn the basics of the legal system but will also learn how contracts are created and enforced. Students will delve into constitutional law, principal agent relationships, tort law, government regulation and sustainability issues. Students will obtain the tools for choosing the correct business entity.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. Students will explain the nature and sources of law, court systems, constitutional law, jurisdiction, dispute resolution, criminal law and torts by:
    1. defining the nature and purpose of law, and its origins.
    2. outlining the court systems of the state of Florida and the United States.
    3. describing the effect of constitutional law principles on daily business operations.
    4. identifying the various types of jurisdiction and its role in the court system and litigation process.
    5. defining alternative dispute resolution processes and their value to litigation and business decision making.
    6. delineating between types of torts and criminal versus civil actions.
  2. Students will describe the principles of contract law by:
    1. explaining the essential elements of a contract and how a contract arises.
    2. delineating between the different types of contracts.
    3. explaining the requirements of an offer, the termination of an offer, and the acceptance of an offer.
    4. describing contracts that may be legally void.
    5. defining reality of consent and defenses to it.
    6. explaining the binding character of a promise and the legal requirements of consideration.
    7. defining oral contracts and when they are enforceable.
    8. determining what contracts must be in writing to be enforceable.
    9. clarifying third party beneficiary contracts and assignments.
    10. delineating the conditions under which a contract is discharged.
  3. Students will describe the principles of agency law by:
    1. explaining the creation of the agency relationship.
    2. listing the duties of the agent to the principal.
    3. listing the duties of the principal to the agent.
    4. defining the role of third parties to the agency relationship.
  4. Students will discuss the law of sales of goods (Article 2 Uniform Commercial Code) by:
    1. explaining the nature, legality, and formality of the sales contract.
    2. describing the types of problems that may arise including risk of loss, rights and insurable interests.
    3. defining rights of creditors and when title passes.
    4. clarifying conditions precedent to performance, including sellers' and buyers' rights and duties.
    5. identifying the general principles of warranties.
    6. identifying the Florida statute of limitations and listing statutory and contractual remedies for both sellers and buyers.
  5. Students will determine the risks and benefits of available business structures by:
    1. describing the types of business structures and their formation including partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies.
    2. delineating between business structures and franchises.
    3. defining the risks and benefits of each business structure.
  6. Students will delineate between types of government regulation as it applies to business transactions by:
    1. identifying regulated industries.
    2. analyzing the applicable regulatory laws (i.e. the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Robinson Patman Act).
    3. defining intellectual property and the laws that pertain to it.
    4. describing what constitutes E-commerce and the legal obligations to protect clients' privacy and property from cyber attack.
  7. Students will describe environmental laws and their impact on the business decision making process by:
    1. Identifying those laws that involve environmental regulation including but not limited to those concerning clean air, clean water and sustainable business practices.
    2. defining sustainability and its role in the conduct of business.
    3. analyzing the risk and cost of non-compliance in view of historical data on poor corporate business decision making.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

Revised 7/83 Revised 8/84 DBT 11/21/85 Effective Session 19852 Reviewed C&I 10/23/90 SCN Change 4/2/92 Effective Session I, 1993-94 3 YR C&I Review 8/94 C&I 11-10-98; DBT 12-14-98 Effective Session 19982 Reformatted 11/21/02mr for 3 Year Review 2002. C&I 6/28/05, BOT 8/23/05, Eff 20051(0355), Added Topic #2. C&I 4/24/07, BOT6/19/07, Eff 20063(0380), Delete Topic #2. C&I Approval: 04/24/2007, BOT Approval: 06/19/2007, Effective Term: Summer 2007 (380).
C&I Approval: 08/17/2017, BOT Approval: 09/19/2017, Effective Term: Spring 2018 (540)

Related Programs

  1. Business Administration (BUS-AS) (670) (Active)
  2. Business Development and Entrepreneurship (BUSENTR-CT) (585) (Active)
  3. Business Management (BUSADM-CT) (670) (Active)
  4. Florida Gulf Coast University Construction Management (FGCUCM-TR) (670) (Active)
  5. Funeral Arts (FUNAT-ATC) (640) (Active)
  6. Funeral Arts (FUNAT-ATC) (640) (Draft)
  7. Funeral Services (FUNSE-AS) (640) (Active)
  8. Paralegal Studies (LEGAL-AS) (640) (Active)
  9. Production Systems Management (PROSYS-AS) (645) (Active)
  10. Risk Management and Insurance Management (RISKMGT-CT) (595) (Active)