BUS 160: Business Law and the Legal Environment I

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2020
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

A study of law, with an emphasis on the law's relationship to business. Topics covered include the legal environment of business, court procedures, jurisdiction, torts and crimes in the business environment, intellectual property, principles of contract law, commercial transactions, and ethical business practices. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • explain the business legal environment
  • define express warranty and implied warranty as defined in UCC
  • list remedies of breach of warranty and outline differences between UCC sales and Common Law contract
  • define and identify the torts most likely to be encountered in the business environment
  • define products liability
  • identify and list the elements of various tort causes of action, and explain the defenses available thereto
  • identify and explain certain aspects of the U.S. Constitution and understand how they apply to business issues
  • analyze and explain business related legal problems from a contract perspective
  • recognize business related problems, formulate and assess solutions
  • explain business related rules of law using legal terminology
  • exercise various legal applications in the area of "critical thinking" by requiring such outcomes as the ability to independently analyze, synthesize, explain, assess, anticipate and/or define problems, formulate, and assess solutions, and apply principles to new situations, etc.
  • identify the basic classification of the Common Law
  • outline and define the jurisdiction of the Courts of California
  • distinguish between subject matter jurisdiction and other types of jurisdiction, including but not limited to in rem and in personam jurisdiction
  • identify public policy that affects the business organization
  • define and explain the types of contracts used in most commercial transactions
  • recognize the elements necessary to create a valid contract
  • list the remedies for breach of contract
  • define "sale" as classified in article 2 of UCC

Major Course Content

  1. The Legal Environment of Business
    1. Introduction to law and legal reasoning
    2. Courts and alternative dispute resolution
    3. Court procedures
    4. Constitutional authority to regulate business
    5. Ethics and business decision making
  2. Torts and Crimes
    1. Intentional torts
    2. Negligence and strict liability
    3. Intellectual property
    4. Criminal law and cyber crimes
  3. Contracts and E-contracts
    1. Nature and terminology
    2. Agreement - offer and acceptance
    3. Consideration
    4. Capacity and legality
    5. Genuineness of assent   
    6. The statute of frauds
    7. Third party rights
    8. Performance and discharge
    9. Breach of contract and remedies
    10. E-contracts
  4. Domestic and International Sales and Lease Contracts
    1. The formation of sales and lease contracts
    2. Title, risk, and insurable interest
    3. Performance and breach of sales and lease contracts
    4. Warranties and product liability

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

The assigned textbook reading and various written handouts given out during the course of the semester.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Written essays and other written projects assigned by the instructor.
Example: Submit an essay describing both the elements of and the defenses to the tort of negligence.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Submit an essay describing both the elements of and the defenses to the tort of negligence.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture