Courses
Business Law and Ethics
- BUS–L 100 Personal Law (3 cr.) Effects of law on everyday lives. Topics may include family law, criminal offenses and traffic violations, personal injury and property damage claims, employee rights, landlord-tenant law, consumer rights, debt collection, selected real and personal property issues, wills and estates, selected contract law issues, and forms of business organization (partnership, proprietorship, and corporation).
- BUS–L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.) P: Sophomore standing or Hutton Honors College freshman. L201 is an I-Core prerequisite that is required of all business majors. Emphasis on understanding the nature of law through examining a few areas of general interest, such as the duty to avoid harming others (torts), the duty to keep promises (contracts), and government regulation of business.
- BUS–L 250 Law and the Arts (3 cr.) Examines legal issues of importance to visual or performing artists and persons involved in arts-related businesses. Subject areas may include copyright and trademark law; First Amendment concerns; the right of publicity; advertising law; and selected issues of tort, contract, personal property, and agency law. Legal aspects of organizing a business may also be addressed.
- BUS–L 255 Topics in Business Law (1–3 cr.) Variable topic, variable credit course on issues and trends in Business Law.
- BUS–L 293 Honors: Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.) P: Students must be admitted to the Hutton Honors College or the Business Honors Program with sophomore standing. L293 substitutes for L201, an I-Core prerequisite that is required of all business majors. Emphasis on understanding the nature of law through examining a few areas of general interest, such as the duty to avoid harming others (torts), the duty to keep promises (contracts), and government regulation of business. Credit not given for both L293 and L201.
- BUS-L 302 Sustainability Law & Policy (3 cr.) The primary aim of the course is to provide students with a basic working knowledge of sustainability generally and environmental law and policy in particular, focusing on the United States but put in a global perspective. The course is designed to give students a deeper sense of the important relationship between law, ethics, business, and the natural environment and to encourage them to think critically about how best to manage these relationships. Core course content includes U.S. statutes, regulations, and international treaties dealing with managing waste, air and water pollution, public lands, and global environmental resources. Alternative ways of addressing environmental problems, such as market-based incentives, information disclosure requirements, and voluntary programs will also be considered.
- BUS–L 303 Commercial Law II (3 cr.) P: BUS-L 201or L293 with a grade of C or better. Focuses mainly on the law of ownership, forms of business organization, commercial paper, and secured transactions. For accounting majors and others desiring a broad yet rather detailed knowledge of commercial law.
- BUS–L 311 Law for Entrepreneurs (3 cr.) Focuses on legal issues affecting new and growing businesses. Topics include choosing a legal form for the business; financing-related legal issues; avoiding employment-related liability; contracts and sales; marketing and intellectual property laws; and legal issues concerning business sales, mergers, acquisitions, and liquidations. Completion of BUS-L 201 suggested, though not required. This course is taught once a year, in the fall.
- BUS–L 312 The Ethical Responsibilities of Business (3 cr.) Focuses on legal issues affecting new and growing businesses. Topics include choosing a legal form for the business; financing-related legal issues; avoiding employment-related liability; contracts and sales; marketing and intellectual property laws; and legal issues concerning business sales; mergers, acquisitions, and liquidations.
- BUS–L 315 The Business and Law of Entertainment and Sports (3 cr.) P: (L201 or L293) and (K201 or K204) with grades of C or better. Explores the legal and practical problems facing executives managing for-profit enterprises in or related to the entertainment and sports industry. Emphasizes intellectual property law (trade secrets, trademarks, right of publicity, and copyright), telecommunications regulation, and antitrust law. Examines the nature of sports leagues and associations as well as entertainment guilds. Considers contracts in music recording, stadium financing, broadcasting, and sponsorship of sports and entertainment events.
- BUS–L 350 Online Law (3 cr.) Focuses on the management of legal problems that arise from the use of the Internet and other interactive computer networks. The goals of the course are to increase students’ awareness of the legal issues that arise in a variety of online contexts, familiarize students with the legal frameworks that are evolving in the U.S. and other legal systems to resolve those issues, and guide students in strategies for managing the legal risks inherent in communicating and doing business online.
- BUS–L 355 Topics in Business Law (1-3 cr.) Variable topic, variable credit course on issues and trends in Business Law.
- BUS-L 356 Intellectual Property Law & Strategy in a Global Environment (3 cr.) The course introduces students to the concept of intellectual property (trade secrets, patents, copyrights, trademarks), which accounts for more than two-thirds of the value of large U.S. businesses. It explores the basic framework of legal protection for intellectual property under U.S. and international law, as well as free competition and free speech doctrines that limit the protection of intellectual property and define the boundary between fair and unfair competition.
- BUS–L375 Ethics and the 21st Century Business Leader (2 cr.) P: I-Core. The course is designed to enhance students’ awareness of the ethical dimensions of business decisions and their ability to make reasoned judgments about them. It provides students with basic tools of ethical reasoning and the opportunity to practice these skills and reflect on their responses to ethical dilemmas.
- BUS–L376 Honors: Ethics and the 21st Century Business Leader (2 cr.) P: I-Core and admission to the Hutton Honors College or the Business Honors Program. L376 substitutes for L375, a graduation requirement for all Kelley majors. The course is designed to enhance students’ awareness of the ethical dimensions of business decisions and their ability to make reasoned judgments about them. It provides students with basic tools of ethical reasoning and the opportunity to practice these skills and reflect on their responses to ethical dilemmas. Credit not given for both L376 and L375.
- BUS–L 406 Employment Problems and the Law (3 cr.) Examines current legal problems in the area of employment. Topics include race and sex discrimination, harassment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment at will, privacy issues such as drug testing, and limits on monitoring and testing.
- BUS–L 408 Real Estate Law (3 cr.) P: L201 or L293 with a grade of C or better. Legal problems related to ownership and transfer of real property; attention to landlord-tenant law and the tools of land-use planning (nuisance law, zoning, private restrictions, subdivision control, and eminent domain).
- BUS–L 409 Law and the Environment (3 cr.) Uses of law to deal with problems involving the degradation of our physical environment.
- BUS–L 411 International Business Law (3 cr.) P: L201. Covers the law and practice of international trade, licensing, and investment. Subjects include the legal risks of international business, international public law, international organizations, and private dispute settlement procedures. Also discussed are the risks associated with importing and exporting, foreign licensing and franchising, and foreign investment.
- BUS–M 429 Legal Aspects of Marketing (3 cr.) P: M303. Analysis of statutes, regulations, and legal doctrines applicable to marketing practices. Examination of legal issues encountered by marketers in dealing with consumers, competitors, and other marketplace participants.
- BUS–L 455 Topics in Business Law (1–3 cr.) Variable topic, variable credit course on issues and trends in Business Law.
- BUS–L 470 Research in Business Law and Public Policy (3 cr.) P: Admitted Kelley student, Senior Standing and declared LGLST major or permission of department chair or instructor. Advanced instruction and practice in effectively presenting ideas and factual information. Specific skills taught include: formulating a thesis, developing persuasive arguments, and selecting and using research resources. Students will be expected to submit frequent research-based writing assignments that require the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of diverse sources and perspectives.
- BUS–L 490 Independent Study in Business Law (1–3 cr.) P: Consent of department chairperson and of the instructor. Supervised individual study and research in student’s special field of interest. The student will propose the investigation desired and, in conjunction with the instructor, develop the scope of work to be completed. Comprehensive written report required.
