BUL 2131 - Legal Environment of Business

College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2024 (630)

Course Description

This course introduces a broad range of legal topics and investigates how the law relates to the American business community. Students will have the opportunity to learn terminology and concepts by applying them to real world situations. The topics covered include the structure of the American legal system, alternate dispute resolution, constitutional law, administrative law, criminal and civil liability, consumer protection, creditor's rights and bankruptcy, employment regulations, securities and antitrust regulations, intellectual property law, contracts, business organizations, environmental and property laws, ethics, and the legal environment of international trade.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will be able to explain legal concepts affecting business by:
    1. describing the structure of the American Legal System.
    2. describing key concepts including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Consumer Protection, Creditor's Rights, and Bankruptcy, Securities and Antitrust Regulations, Agency and Employment, Intellectual Property Law, Contracts, Business Organizations, and International Trade.
    3. constrasting criminal and civil liability.
    4. illustrating the relationship between ethics and the law.
  2. The student will analyze the applicability of various laws in real world business scenarios by:
    1. relating how the structure of the American Legal System affects business.
    2. discussing benefits and limitations of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR).
    3. explaining the significance of United States Constitutional Law as the foundation of the legal environment.
    4. correlating the functions and limitations of administrative agencies as enforcers of governmental regulations..
    5. distinguishing between criminal and civil liability.
    6. connecting the relationships between Consumer Protection, Creditor’s Rights, and Bankruptcy.
    7. categorizing applicable Securities and Antitrust Regulations.
    8. linking Agency and Employment law and how the same applies to professional and organizational conduct.
    9. discussing the various ways in which government regulates Intellectual Property.
    10. correlating Environmental and Property laws to determine when and how same is applicable in business.
    11. explaining the major concepts in creation, execution, and enforcement of contracts.
    12. explaining procedures involved in the formation and dissolution of each form of business entity.
    13. deducing how International Trade laws interact with various organizational structures and governments.
  3. The student, when presented with a given scenario, will evaluate the applicability of various laws by:
    1. determining which law applies.
    2. assessing how the law is applied.
    3. predicting all potential legal outcomes.
    4. reviewing the formation, practices, procedures, and termination of various business entities.
    5. assessing the importance of International Law in dealing with disputes arising from the globalization of society and business.
    6. assessing the various ways in which government regulates both the public and private sector business communities.
    7. contrasting between criminal acts and tortuous conduct to understand the impact of each upon both the individual and various business entities.

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

DBT 5/17/94 Effective Session 19941 C&I 11/10/97; DBT 12/14/98 Effective Session 19982 3 Year Review 2002. 3 Year Review 2006.
C&I Approval: 07/21/2023, BOT Approval: 09/19/2023, Effective Term: Spring 2024 (630)

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. Risk Management and Insurance Management (RISKMGT-CT) (595) (Active)