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BULE 303: The Legal Environment of Business Master Syllabus
Enterprise Hall 4400 University Drive, MS 1B1
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: (703) 993-1880
Fax: (703) 993-1867
Instructor:
George Mason University Email:
Course Website:
Class Meeting Times & Location:
Recitation Meeting Times:
Office Hours:
Office Location:
Course Description
This course surveys the legal environment of business, emphasizing legal concepts and legal reasoning to prepare students to recognize legal problems and formulate appropriate responses. Topics include business ethics, torts, crimes, contracts and other topics.
Required Textbook
The required textbook, Miller and Cross, “The Legal Environment Today,” with MindTap access, is included in the course fee. Students do not need to purchase any extra material for this course, as an electronic version of the textbook, plus the web-based student resource center (MindTap) is included in the course fee.
Technology Requirements
Students are required to maintain a laptop that meets the requirements of the College of Business laptop policy (https://business.gmu.edu/undergraduate-laptop-requirements). Per that policy, students will take designated assessments using Honorlock extension and app, which requires a functioning laptop camera and microphone. Additionally, the laptop must meet the following minimum system requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 11 or higher, MacOS 13 or higher
- Browser: Google Chrome version 136 or higher
- Internet Speed: 1.5 Mbps download, 750 Kbps upload
Canvas
This is a course management website that students may access from https://canvas.gmu.edu; sign in using your GMU e-mail username and password. The course site contains the syllabus, course content, and a course grade book. If you experience technical problems with or have difficulty logging on to Canvas, contact the IT Support Center at (703) 993-8870 or support@gmu.edu.
Approach to Learning
Lecture, class discussions, readings, and assignments
Costello College of Business Mission
The mission of the College of Business is to create and deliver high-quality educational programs and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni who participate in these educational programs contribute to the wellbeing of society. High-quality educational programs require an environment of trust and mutual respect, free expression and inquiry, and a commitment to truth, excellence, and lifelong learning. Students, program participants, faculty, staff, and alumni accept these principles when they join the College of Business community. In doing so, they agree to abide by the following standards of behavior:
- Respect for the rights, differences and dignity of others
- Honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community
- Accountability for personal behavior
Integrity is an essential ingredient of a successful learning community. Ethical standards of behavior help promote a safe and productive community environment, and ensure every member the opportunity to pursue excellence. College of Business can and should be a living model of these behavioral standards. To this end, community members have a personal responsibility to integrate these standards into every aspect of their experience at the College of Business. Through our personal commitment to these Community Standards of Behavior, we can create an environment in which all can achieve their full potential.
Costello College of Business Learning Goals
- Our students will demonstrate an understanding of the social, global, ethical, and legal contexts of business and will be able to reflect on the role of the individual in business.
- Our students will demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply knowledge of professional skills necessary for success in business including effective business writing.
- Our students will demonstrate technical and analytic skills appropriate for success in business.
- Our students will demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply knowledge of core business disciplines including accounting, finance, information systems, management, marketing, and operations management.
- Our students will demonstrate knowledge and skills appropriate for specialization in their majors.
- Our students will demonstrate an understanding of how research in the business disciplines contributes to knowledge and how such research is conducted.
Course Objectives
- Students will be able to identify fundamental legal concepts from constitutional law, US court system and ADR, administrative law, tort law, criminal law, contract law, agency, employment law, and business organizations.
- Students will apply legal concepts through legal reasoning and analysis to business related legal issues.
- Students will examine the impact of the regulatory environment on business.
- Students will analyze business behavior based on ethical theories.
Methods of Student Evaluation
MindTap assignments, in-class assignments, writing assignments, and exams
Student Responsibilities
- Students should complete reading assignments prior to attending class (strongly recommended), attend all classes, complete all assessments, and participate in class discussions.
- Students should engage in class conduct which respects the rights and opinions of classmates and the professor, and reflects a professional demeanor.
- Email communication for this class is professional correspondence, and students should use proper grammar and tone, complete sentences, correct spelling and capitalization, as well as a respectful tone (including respectful question as well as where you have already searched for the answer).
Class Protocol
- Electronics – Use of laptops and cell phones during in-person class is prohibited, including texting and checking emails/messages. If you carry a cell phone, please be sure to turn it off during class.
- Recording – Recording (audio, photography, or video) of class lectures is prohibited without express permission of the instructor and, if granted, may only be done so for personal use and not shared with others. Sharing of recorded lectures is also prohibited.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University. If you are seeking accommodations, please visit https://ds.gmu.edu/ for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Disability Services is located in Student Union Building I (SUB I), Suite 2500. Email: ods@gmu.edu Phone: (703) 993-2474.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for registering with Disability Services and communicating about their approved accommodations with their instructor in advance of any relevant class meeting, assignment, or exam.
Academic Standards
Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment forward into professional practice.
As members of the George Mason University community, we are committed to fostering an environment of trust, respect, and scholarly excellence. Our academic standards are the foundation of this commitment, guiding our behavior and interactions within this academic community. The practices for implementing these standards adapt to modern practices, disciplinary contexts, and technological advancements. Our standards are embodied in our courses, policies, and scholarship, and are upheld in the following principles:
- Honesty: Providing accurate information in all academic endeavors, including communications, assignments, and examinations.
- Acknowledgement: Giving proper credit for all contributions to one’s work. This involves the use of accurate citations and references for any ideas, words, or materials created by others in the style appropriate to the discipline. It also includes acknowledging shared authorship in group projects, co-authored pieces, and project reports.
- Uniqueness of Work: Ensuring that all submitted work is the result of one’s own effort and is original, including free from self-plagiarism. This principle extends to written assignments, code, presentations, exams, and all other forms of academic work.
Violations of these standards—including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating—are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with university policies. The process for reporting, investigating, and adjudicating violations is outlined in the university’s procedures. Consequences of violations may include academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, and other measures necessary to uphold the integrity of our academic community.
The principles outlined in these academic standards reflect our collective commitment to upholding the highest standards of honesty, acknowledgement, and uniqueness of work. By adhering to these principles, we ensure the continued excellence and integrity of George Mason University’s academic community.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for understanding how these general expectations regarding academic standards apply to each course, assignment, or exam they participate in; students should ask their instructor for clarification on any aspect that is not clear to them. Violations of these standards, in this course, include, but are not limited to: unauthorized collaboration; uploading any of the instructor’s materials, assignments, exams, or any audio, photo or video of class lectures or discussions; and utilizing any unallowed website, online service, generative artificial intelligence (AI), app, or resource to assist with coursework.
FERPA and Use of GM Email Addresses for Course Communication
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of education records for eligible students and is an essential aspect of any course. Students must use their GM email account to receive important University information, including communications related to this class. Instructors will not respond to messages sent from or send messages regarding course content to a non-GM email address.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for checking their GM email regularly for courserelated information, and/or ensuring that GMU email messages are forwarded to an account they do check.
Title IX Resources and Required Reporting
As a part of George Mason University’s commitment to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities.
Accordingly, all non-confidential employees, including your faculty member, have a legal requirement to report to the Title IX Coordinator, all relevant details obtained directly or indirectly about any incident of Prohibited Conduct (such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based stalking, dating/domestic violence). Upon notifying the Title IX Coordinator of possible Prohibited Conduct, the Title IX Coordinator will assess the report and determine if outreach is required. If outreach is required, the individual the report is about (the “Complainant”) will receive a communication, likely in the form of an email, offering that person the option to meet with a representative of the Title IX office.
For more information about non-confidential employees, resources, and Prohibited Conduct, please see University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence. Questions regarding Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator via email to TitleIX@gmu.edu, by phone at (703) 993-8730, or in person on the Fairfax campus in Aquia, 373.
Student opportunity: If you prefer to speak to someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential employees in Student Support and Advocacy (SSAC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Services (SHS), and/or the Office of the University Ombudsperson.
Grading
| Score Percentage | Grade |
| At discretion of professor | A+ |
| 92 – 100% | A |
| 90 - 91% | A- |
| 88 - 89% | B+ |
| 82 - 87 % | B |
| 80 - 81% | B- |
| 78 - 79% | C+ |
| 70 - 77% | C |
| 60 - 69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Repeat Policy
This course requires a minimum grade of C to satisfy Costello College of Business degree requirements, and students will not be permitted to make more than three attempts to achieve a C or higher in this course. Registration in this course will be prohibited after three attempts that resulted in a grade lower than C. If you have questions about this policy, please contact an academic advisor at: https://business.gmu.edu/undergraduate/current-students/academic-advising/
Notification About Cancelled Class Sessions or Changes to Syllabus
This syllabus does not constitute a contract. If the professor finds it necessary to cancel a class session, or make any changes to the syllabi/course schedule, students will receive an email to their GMU email account. In the event class is cancelled due to inclement weather or other reason, class may be held virtually, at the normally scheduled time.
Topics Covered
Introduction to Law and Legal Systems
Business Ethics
Court Systems in the U.S.
Constitutional Law and Business
Business Crimes
Organizing Non-corporate Forms of Business
Organizing Corporations
Regulation by Administrative Agencies
Regulation of Business through Tort Law
Contract Formation
Contract Performance & Remedies for Breach
Regulation of Employment Relationships
Regulation of Employment Discrimination
Regulation of Agency Relationships