Allegany College of Maryland

                                               Entrepreneurship WEB Course Syllabus

                                                                       Fall  2005

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course Title & Number:              Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management  #206

                                                AC 2599     BR 2600      SM2501

 

Text:                                         Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business

Management, Thomas W. Zimmerer, Norman M. Scarborough. 

FOURTH edition, Prentice Hall Publishers

           

Instructor:                                  Penny McIntyre

 

Meeting Times:                          WEB

 

Office Location/Hours:               MWF 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. & 11:00 – 11:20 a.m. @ Everett

 

Phone:                                      Everett:  814-652-9528 for messages

Home:   814-623-8426 (between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. only please)

 

Fax:                                          Everett:  814-652-9775

Home:    814-623-8426

 

E-mail:                                      pennymcintyre@earthlink.net                                    

 

I.          COURSE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

 

A.         PURPOSE:  Course is intended to provide understanding of the complexities of launching a new business.  Topics for investigation include developing a business plan, identifying and marketing to potential customers, financial planning, and legal risks and benefits.

 

B.         OBJECTIVES:  Upon completion of the course students will:

 

1.         have a basic understanding of the nature of management and marketing for a small business

2.                   have an understanding of the forms of business ownership, franchising issues, and buying an existing business

3.                   have an understanding of basic financing, cash flow, accounting for a small business, and know how to develop a business plan.

 

II.                   COURSE POLICIES--in addition to the following policies, published college

            policies in the Student Handbook regarding academic and student conduct apply.

 

When you sign up for a college class, you are taking the responsibility to complete the assignments, ask questions if something is unclear, plan and act proactively rather than procrastinate, and study enough to achieve your personal GPA goals. 

 

 

A.         PARTICIPATION 

You will receive 15% of your overall grade through your participation in an on-line

                                                Discussion Board. Topics will be posted for you to debate or comment on

                                                through ‘entries’ or replies that you will make on a weekly basis.   In order to

                        receive your full participation points, you must participate in EACH FORUM

                        TOPIC by adding threads (starting your own topics) and/or by replying to

                        someone else’s thread.  QUALITY of each written entry, as well as quantity will

                        be considered for grading purposes.  Sloppily written responses, or simply

                        mimicking someone elses respones will receive no credit.  All of your entries

                        for the week must be made prior to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays or a grade of ZERO

                        will be entered for that week’s participation.

 

B.                  STUDY GUIDES --  Chapter Study Guides have been designed to help you get through the text. The Study Guides point out what is, in my opinion, the most important information in each chapter. However, be advised that exams are NOT an “exact match” to study guides in my classes as they may be for other instructors.  Your completed study guides must be turned in to me via the Digital Drop Box in Blackboard, and must be received by me before midnight on the dates listed below (Thursdays). Study guides will be graded, and comprise a significant portion (50%) of your overall grade, so I urge you to do your best to complete them by the stated deadlines. In the event that your completed study guide does not reach me on time, before the date that my Master Study Guides are released for your comparison, you will receive a ZERO* for each guide that misses the deadline.   In addition to that *, you must contact me to make arrangements for me to create a ‘customized/individualized essay exam’ for you to take instead of the regular chapter test.  This is being done to deter students from choosing to skip reading the text and completing the study guides themselves and simply study my master guide for the chapter tests.

 

C.                  TESTS/EXAMS -- Chapter Tests may be completed independently from home via Blackboard. Exams must be submitted via the Digital Drop Box in Blackboard.  Chapter Tests  will be available on Friday mornings, at the end of each week, and must be completed prior to Sunday at 7:00 p.m.  The Midterm and Final Exams will be made available on Monday and will be due the following Sunday. Chapter tests may be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, some short answer and fill in the blanks. Midterm and Final Exams will be ESSAY format. Combined test scores comprise 25% of your overall course grades.   Please note, in section B above, if you have missed the deadline for submitting a weekly study guide you will need to contact me that week and request that a specially customized essay test be created for your potential make-up.

 

D.                  SEMESTER PROJECT   Find and interview a local entrepreneur.  Prepare a 3 page report, then share what you’ve learned about the entrepreneur and his/her business by attaching your report to the Discussion Board for all to view and comment on.   This project is worth 10% of your overall grade.  Projects must be completed by December 4.  

 

E.                  GRADING--Your final grade will consist of 15 Study Guide assignments = 50%; 15 chapter tests and 2 exams = 25% of your final grade; a semester-long project = 10% of your final grade; and class participation = 15% of your total grade. 

 

In determining your final grade, the following schedule will be used:

 

Final Average

A          90 - 100 %   

B          80 - 89 %    

C          70 - 79 %     

D          60 - 69 %    

F          59 % or below  

 

Special arrangements may be made for students who have medically documented learning disabilities.  College policy states that students desiring accommodations must self-identify to your instructor.  It is your responsibility to request accommodations that suit your specific situation.

 

An "X" grade may be granted at my discretion for students who have made progress through diligent efforts, but have not attained proficiency sufficient for a passing grade.  To be considered for an "X" grade you must have:

 

1.         An average score of more than 50% on your tests and,

2.                   participated in at least 90% of scheduled course

 

 

F.         EXTRA CREDIT-- no extra credit or grades of incomplete will be issued.

 

 

G.           TUTORING OR EXTRA HELP SESSIONS--If you encounter difficulties at any

            time during the semester, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I'll be glad to set

            up an appointment with you, in person or over the network.

 

H.            WHEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE - All assignments are due to me on the

            assigned date.  Assignment not completed and/or turned in on the due date will

            be awarded a ZERO.

 

I.               PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING--refer to the Student Handbook.  It is important to

            keep in mind that academic dishonesty, apart from showing lack of seriousness

            and responsibility, is a major offense, which can lead to failure of the course and

            to suspension or expulsion from the College.

 

 

III.         COURSE CALENDAR

 

 

Week

 

Text Reading;

Study Guides;

Assignments

 

Completed Study Guides *

Due Date

To Digital Drop Box

 

Midnight Thursdays

 

Penny’s Master Guide’s & TEST

Release Date

 

Test **

Due Date

 

 

7:00 p.m. Sun.

 

Participation

Through

Discussion *** Board Entries

Deadline

 

7:00 p.m. Sundays

 

Semester

Project

#1

 

Chapter 1

 

 

9/1

 

 

9/2

 

 

9/4

Your

Intro

9/4

 

-

#2

Chapter 2

9/8

9/9

9/11

9/11

-

#3

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

 

9/15

 

9/16

 

9/18

 

9/18

-

#4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

 

9/22

 

9/23

 

9/25

 

9/25

-

#5

Chapter 7

9/29

9/30

10/02

10/02

-

#6

Chapter 8

10/6

10/7

10/09

10/09

-

#7

Midterm Exam

-

10/10

10/16

-

-

#8

Chapter 9

10/20

10/21

10/23

10/23

-

#9

Chapter 10

10/27

10/28

10/30

10/30

-

#10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

 

11/03

 

11/04

 

11/06

 

11/06

-

#11

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

 

11/10

 

11/11

 

11/13

 

11/13

-

#12

Chapter 15

11/17

11/18

11/20

11/20

-

#13

Final Exam

-

11/21

11/27

-

-

#14

Projects

12/04

-

-

12/04

 

#15

Projects

12/11

-

-

12/11

 

#16

Course Evaluations

12/12

-

-

12/14

 

 

Worth

 

50% of grade

 

25% of grade

15% of

grade

10% of grade

 

Please note:  I reserve the right to change any scheduling or policy item during the course of the semester