Instructor: Crystal M. Reeves

Email: reevesc@lamarapa.edu

Phone: 409-984-6418

Office Hours: Teams Request Only

This course provides a survey of economic systems, forms of business ownership, and considerations for running a business. Students will learn various aspects of business, management, and leadership functions; organizational considerations; and decision-making processes. Financial topics are introduced, including accounting, money and banking, and securities markets. Also included are discussions of business challenges in the legal and regulatory environment, business ethics, social responsibility, and international business. Emphasized is the dynamic role of business in everyday life.

Ferrell, O. C., Hirt, G. A., & Ferrell, L. (2025). Business Foundations: A Changing World (2025 Release). McGraw Hill. ISBN 978-1-264-55815-5.

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

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• Business Functions: Identify key areas like accounting, finance, management, and marketing.
• Ethics & Environment: Analyze business ethics, social responsibility, law, and international considerations.
• Structure & Finance: Explain ownership forms, financial statements, and securities markets.
• Management & Regulation: Outline management functions and the impact of government regulations. 

Transfer successfully into junior level coursework at a four year university.

Communicate effectively in academic and professional settings.

Analyze information, solve problems, and make evidence based decisions.

Work collaboratively and ethically in business environments.

Engage responsibly in civic and community contexts.

Review course schedule

December 9, 2026.

Grading scale: A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = below 60%. 

Quizzes are 50% and Exams are 50%

Important Communication & Course Information

• Please use your official LSCPA email account for all course-related communication with me. Emails from personal accounts may not be received or responded to.
• When contacting me, please include BUSI-1301-71D in the subject line so I can quickly identify your course and section.
• Students are responsible for regularly checking their LSCPA email and Blackboard for course announcements, updates, and important information.

Course Structure and Assignment Schedule

• This is a 14-week online Business Principles course beginning September 1, 2026.
• Course materials, assignments, quizzes, tests, announcements, and other required activities will be available through Blackboard.
• There will be a weekly quiz during each instructional week, except during Thanksgiving Break and the final examination period.
• Unless otherwise indicated in the course schedule, all assignments, quizzes, and tests are due by 11:59 p.m. each Sunday.
• Students are encouraged to complete coursework early and should not wait until the deadline to begin assignments or assessments.
• Thanksgiving Break is November 23–29, 2026. No assignments, quizzes, or tests will be due during Thanksgiving Break.
• The Final Test will be available December 7–8, 2026, and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on December 8.

Critical Course Policies

• No late work will be accepted unless otherwise approved by the instructor in accordance with institutional policy.
• Due dates are provided in advance to allow sufficient time to complete required coursework. Students are responsible for planning accordingly.
• Once an assignment, quiz, or test closes, it may become unavailable and may not be reopened.
• All required coursework must be completed and submitted by the deadlines listed in Blackboard and the course schedule.
• All assignments must be submitted through Blackboard. Assignments submitted by email will not be accepted.
• Students are responsible for confirming that their work was successfully submitted in Blackboard.

Weekly Quizzes

• There will be 13 weekly quizzes during the semester.
• A quiz will be assigned during each instructional week (Weeks 1–13).
• There will be no quiz during Thanksgiving Break or during the December 7–8 final examination period.
• Weekly quizzes are designed to assess understanding of the business concepts, terminology, and material covered during that week's module.
• Unless otherwise indicated, weekly quizzes are due by 11:59 p.m. each Sunday.
• Collectively, weekly quizzes account for 50% of the final course grade.

Tests

• There will be four tests during the semester.
• Tests will assess students' understanding and application of the Business Principles material covered during the designated instructional period.
• Test 1: Covers Weeks 1–3.
• Test 2: Covers Weeks 4–7.
• Test 3: Covers Weeks 8–11.
• Test 4 / Final Test: Covers Weeks 12–13.
• Tests 1–3 are due by 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday indicated in the course schedule.
• Test 4 / Final Test will be available December 7–8 and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on December 8, 2026.
• Collectively, the four tests account for 50% of the final course grade, with each test representing 12.5% of the final grade.

Required Materials

• Students must have access to the required textbook:
• Ferrell, O. C., Hirt, G. A., & Ferrell, L. (2025). Business Foundations: A Changing World (2025 Release). McGraw Hill. ISBN: 978-1-264-55815-5.
• Students should have access to the required textbook no later than the beginning of Week 2.
• If specific software or technology is required for an assignment, students are responsible for obtaining access to it through their personal computer or available LSCPA resources.
• Reliable internet and computer access are required for this online course. Students are strongly encouraged to have a backup plan for accessing Blackboard in the event of unexpected technical problems.
• Computer problems, software issues, or lack of internet access are not considered valid reasons for missing established assignment, quiz, or test deadlines.

Academic Integrity

• All submitted work must represent the student's own work.
• Students are expected to follow all LSCPA academic integrity policies regarding cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized assistance, and other forms of academic misconduct.
• Academic dishonesty may result in academic penalties consistent with LSCPA policy.
• Students are responsible for understanding when outside resources, collaboration, or artificial intelligence tools are and are not permitted for a particular assignment or assessment.

General Expectations

• Do not wait until the last minute to complete assignments, quizzes, or tests. Technical difficulties occurring immediately before a deadline may not provide sufficient time to resolve the issue.
• Students should log in to Blackboard regularly throughout the week to review announcements, course materials, assignments, and upcoming deadlines.
• Students are responsible for keeping track of all deadlines listed in the syllabus and Blackboard.

Email & Voicemail Etiquette

When contacting me, please communicate professionally:

• Include a clear subject line, such as “BUSI-1301-71D – Question About Week 4 Quiz.”
• Include your full name and course number/section.
• Use complete sentences and an appropriate professional tone.
• When leaving a voicemail, clearly state your full name, course number and section, reason for calling, and callback number.

Following these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and successful semester. Please contact me through your LSCPA email account if you have questions or need clarification regarding the course.

Online Attendance and Participation Policy

BUSI-1301-71D is a fully online course. Students are responsible for actively participating in the course and keeping up with all course requirements each week.

• Students must log in to Blackboard every week.
• Students are expected to check Blackboard regularly throughout the week, not only on the day assignments are due.
• It is the student's responsibility to check LSCPA email and Blackboard announcements regularly for course updates, reminders, changes, and important information.
• Students are responsible for keeping up with all weekly readings, course materials, assignments, quizzes, and tests.
• Assignments and quizzes are due by 11:59 p.m. every Sunday unless otherwise stated in the course schedule.
• Tests 1–3 are due by 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday indicated in the course schedule. The Final Test will be available December 7–8, 2026, and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on December 8.
• Students should review the weekly module at the beginning of each week to understand the readings, assignments, quizzes, tests, and deadlines for that week.
• Students should not depend on individual reminders from the instructor. All deadlines are provided in the syllabus and/or Blackboard, and students are responsible for keeping track of them.
• Students are responsible for verifying that assignments, quizzes, and tests have been successfully submitted in Blackboard before the deadline.
• Simply logging in to Blackboard does not mean that course requirements have been completed. Students must actively participate and complete the required coursework.
• Students are encouraged to work ahead when course materials are available and should not wait until Sunday to begin coursework.
• Technical problems should be reported as soon as they occur. Waiting until immediately before a deadline to report a computer, internet, or Blackboard issue may not provide enough time for the issue to be resolved.
• Students should contact the instructor promptly through their LSCPA email if they have questions or need clarification about course requirements.
• Failure to regularly participate or complete required coursework may affect the student's academic progress and will be handled in accordance with LSCPA attendance and withdrawal policies.

Success in an online course requires consistent participation, time management, and personal responsibility. Students are encouraged to establish a weekly routine for reviewing course materials and completing assignments and quizzes.

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.