McCoy College of Business TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

BA-1310.252

Introduction to Business Spring 2025

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces freshmen to business principles, functional areas of business, professional career expectations, and previews what students will experience in the McCoy College of Business. It surveys accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing, and information systems, both as individual components of an organization and collectively as part of an organization's strategy. Students learn about leadership, individual professional conduct, and the ethical and data-driven decision-making expected in college and the business and professional world.

COURSE MATERIALS:

The course materials used in this course are all covered by the BookSmart Program. Specific instructions for accessing the materials will be discussed in class.

Textbook

The texts used in this course are available through the Cengage – MindTap – Inclusive Access Platform: MindTap

Courseware

PathAdvisor

Quinncia  ISBN 9781737565321

Suitable Handshake Top Hat

Technology

Except for exams, a laptop or tablet is NOT required for this class. Notes can and should be taken using paper and pencil. Your phone may be used for participation but other use of technology during class is unprofessional and strongly prohibited. Failure to adhere to this guideline may result in you being asked to leave the classroom.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Explain the functional areas of a business and conceptualize a business enterprise as a functioning system.
• Discuss career roles in accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing, and information systems and analytics.
• Examine the role of accounting, finance, economics, law, management, marketing, and information systems and analytics in the business organization and explain key business concepts using business terminology.
• Compare and contrast the domestic and global contexts in which businesses operate. Identify and explain the domestic and international considerations for today’s business environment: social, economic, legal, ethical, technological, competitive, and international.
• Discover critical thinking skills to identify and comprehend business problems .
• Recognize appropriate conduct, social responsibility, personal responsibility, and accountability in business and professional settings.
• Describe the importance and effects of ethical practices in business and be able to analyze business situations to identify ethical dilemmas and ethical lapses.
• Prepare to become an integral part of a learning community within the McCoy College of Business to facilitate a successful academic and social transition to college life. 
  
  SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BRING INTO THIS COURSE:
  As a freshman that has declared business you are expected to bring the following:
  
  
• An interest in learning the careers associated with and the functional operations of business.
• An expectation to begin engaging in activities that will build your professional development.
• A goal to graduate and successfully obtain a career that will start you on meeting your life’s goals.
  
  
  PREREQUISITES:
  None
  
  COURSE POLICIES:
  1. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:

• This course is a combination of lecture and co-curricular experiential learning.

   

   

  2. ATTENDANCE:

• Students are expected to be in class each class period. Failure to attend class or any of the required co- curricular activities must be approved prior to the date of the event or documented justification must be provided.

   

   

  3. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• This course focuses on providing students with numerous opportunities to experience and engage in a variety of educational activities. Through readings, videos, discussions, and participation at co-curricular events with the McCoy College of Business it is expected that students will achieve four goals:

   

  1. Learn the different functional areas of business and basics of business operations.
  2. Learn the expectations of being a McCoy College business student.
  3. Solidify their interest in business and their area of major study.
  4. Begin preparation for their professional development and obtaining an internship.

Course grades are determined by completion of and demonstrated mastery of the activities below:

Attendance: It has been determined that attendance is the most important determinant of academic success.

In-Class Participation: Participation will be assessed during class through Top Hat. Failure to participate will result in no credit.

Quizzes: 14 quizzes associated with the required reading.

Career Readiness: 19 including three individual assessments (two of them done twice - at the beginning and end of the semester), 8 Suitable activities (four co-curricular events), 1 Emerging Leaders Certification, and 6 Quinncia activities.

Assignments: 21 assignments associated with the weekly topics.

Videos: 75 videos. Each video has embedded quizzes for the student to complete. Videos typically last less than five minutes with only a few exceptions.

Activities: 19 activities provide students with small hands-on projects for helping to explain and provide real world application of topics presented in class.

Grade Evaluation: 

The student’s final grade will be strictly determined as follows:

COURSE OUTLINE

Final Exam: Friday May 2, 2025. Start Time: 8:00 AM

Extra-Curricular Activities: Most extra-curricular activities occur multiple times during the course of semester. Although some of them have an extended due date, it is important that you schedule them before the due date to avoid missing the dates and not being able to complete them.

Attend Business Leadership Week: February 17-21, 2025 Develop and Lead: March 2, 2025

Professional Advancement: April 13, 2025

Attend at least one Career Fair: Due by April 13, 2025

Attend a McCoy College Student Organization Meeting: Due by April 27, 2025

Eligible Career Fairs

On-Campus Job Fair                                                                        Wednesday, January 22, 1 – 3 p.m.

Internship Fair                                                                                 Tuesday, January 28, Noon – 3 p.m.

Part-Time Job Fair                                                                           Wednesday, February 5, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Construction & Concrete Industries Career Fair | Day 1             Thursday, February 13, 1 – 4 p.m.

Construction & Concrete Industries Career Fair | Day 2             Friday, February 14, 1 – 4 p.m.

All Industries Career Fair                                                               Tuesday, February 18, Noon – 3 p.m.

Business & Communications Career Fair                                     Wednesday, February 19, Noon – 3 p.m.

Engineering & Technology Career Fair                                         Thursday, February 20, Noon – 3 p.m.

Part-Time Job Fair                                                                           Tuesday, March 4, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Teacher Job Fair                                                                              Wednesday, April 2, 10 a.m. – Noon

Summer Job & Volunteer Fair                                                      Thursday, April 3, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Eligible McCoy College Student Organizations

Accounting Club

American Marketing Association Beta Alpha Psi

Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization Data Analytics Club

Entrepreneur and Innovation Group - EIG@TXSTATE Financial Management Association

Hispanic Business Student Association Information Technology Students of America McCoy College Ambassadors

National Association of Black Accountants

Net Impact (McCoy College Bobcat NET IMPACT) Society for Human Resource Management Student Economics Association

Women in Business Association