SYLLABUS

BUSI 1301

Business Principles Spring 2026

Saturday 10:00 am to 12:40 pm

HLC HLC2 Room 2226

Instructor

Mark E. Harden

Instructor with Austin Community College 2001 to present-

Bachelor of Science English Indiana State University

Master of Business Administration Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

E-Mail:  mharden@austincc.edu

Office Hours

Office hours- Classroom from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm

I’m also available via email.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide to you a broad understanding of the contemporary business environment.  Topics to be covered include entrepreneurship, small business, marketing, production, economics, human resource management, and any other business related topics of interest to the class. 

Text

Understanding Business, The Core, 3rd Edition- ISBN 13: 9781265124076

Other editions (9th, 10th, 11th) are acceptable, although chapter content may not match precisely with lectures.

Grading

Your grade in this course is based upon the following criteria:

Attendance- This course meets once a week.  Attendance is not graded but strongly encouraged. 

Four exams- 200 points each for a total of 800 points

(the final exam is not comprehensive)

Three page research paper on a publicly-traded company- 100 points

Four in-class quizzes for a total of 100 points- You must be present in order to get credit for the in-class exercise-

Extra credit points for attendance.  Points are added to quiz scores.

Grading is based upon the following point scale:

A = 900-1000 points

B = 800-899 points

C = 700-799 points

D = 600-699 points

Course Policies

Student withdrawal policy: If you need to drop this course, formally withdraw from it. Failure to properly withdrawal from this course will result in an earned grade. In rare circumstances, it is possible to receive an incomplete grade. The following is the Management Department’s official policy on incomplete grades:

An incomplete (I) will be granted to a student in rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of I, a student must have completed all examinations and assignments to date, be passing, and have personal circumstances that prevent course completion that occur after the deadline to withdraw with a grade of W.

Academic Freedom Statement: Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.

Scholastic Dishonesty Statement: Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32). Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and my range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an F in the course and/or expulsion from this institution.

Student Discipline Statement: Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from class. ACC’s policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32.

Students with Disabilities Statement: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 14).

GAI Statement: This course incorporates Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), including large language models and image generators. GAI is defined as artificial intelligence systems capable of creating new content based on patterns learned from existing knowledge. As responsible members of the academic community, we should use AI with consideration and intention. To use AI responsibly, students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the instructor for guidance, understanding, and obtaining usage permissions; and critically reading available resources. Key considerations include citing AI as a source, preventing misinformation, avoiding plagiarism, and ensuring fairness while avoiding bias and discrimination. We must also respect intellectual property rights, maintain ethical authenticity, prioritize data privacy and security, and promote transparency and fairness in AI usage. These principles uphold academic honesty and integrity while engaging with AI technology in this course. The assessment of AI-generated content evaluates the quality, authenticity, and relevance of AI-produced content while considering student review and verification, comparison to human generated content, consistency, bias and fairness, appropriateness and relevance to the subject matter, plagiarism review, ethical and legal compliance, cross-validation against multiple AI models, AI transparency and explainability, and feedback from users, such as your professor.  Penalties for academic dishonesty will be enforced, following approved College Guidelines, with exceptions granted only on valid grounds as approved by the instructor.

Readings will include literature on entrepreneurship, small business, marketing, production, economics, human resource management, and any other business related subject matter and material of interest to the class. 

Course subjects include and are not limited to entrepreneurship, small business, marketing, production, economics, human resource management, and any other business-related content and current events of interest to the class. 

By the conclusion of the course students should have a broad understanding of the contemporary business environment, including entrepreneurship, small business, marketing, production, economics, human resource management, and other various business-related topics covered in the class.