2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin

Business Ethics and Legal Studies (LGST)

 

LGST 2000 Foundations of Business Law (4 Credits)

Managerial perspective on the role of law and its relationship to business environment; emphasis on American legal system (history of law, courts and civil procedure), private law (business torts, contracts, corporate responsibilities and business ethics), and governmental intervention (constitutional law, employment law, white collar criminal law and corporate/securities law). Prerequisites: Grade of C- in BUS 1440 and sophomore standing.

LGST 2560 The Constitution & Business (4 Credits)

Current real world issues are analyzed in the exploration of constitutional law as it relates to business and free enterprise. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 2570 Contracts for Business (4 Credits)

This course includes a comprehensive discussion of major contractual topics--including drafting and negotiation - and how they relate to legal and ethical elements of business. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 2910 Daniels Ethics Fellows I: Community Impact (2 Credits)

This course comprises the first half of the Daniels Ethics Fellows curriculum. Over ten weeks, both inside and outside of the classroom, students engage in a rigorous introduction to principle-based ethical reasoning and decision-making. The course culminates in a student-crafted ethics project that must successfully incorporate each of the eight Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative principles and positively impact their community. Along the way, students must: (1) engage in spirited classroom discussions revolving around legal cases with important ethical repercussions, (2) interact with prominent community leaders invited to present on contemporary ethical challenges, (3) collaborate to structure their ethics project on a budget (provided with Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative funds) and within class guidelines, (4) justify and defend their project progress on three occasions to an Impact Council made up of professors and community leaders, and (5) engage in a series of online quizzes designed to evaluate ethical reasoning and growth.

LGST 2920 Daniels Ethics Fellows II: Business Impact (2 Credits)

This course comprises the final half of the Daniels Ethics Fellows curriculum. Over ten weeks, both inside and outside of the classroom, students engage in a rigorous introduction to principle-based ethical reasoning and decision-making. The course culminates in a student-crafted ethics project that must successfully incorporate each of the eight Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative principles and positively impact the business community. Along the way, students must: (1) engage in spirited classroom discussions revolving around legal cases with important ethical repercussions, (2) interact with prominent business leaders invited to present on contemporary ethical challenges, (3) collaborate to structure their ethics project on a budget (provided with Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative funds) and within class guidelines, (4) justify and defend their project progress on three occasions to an Impact Council made up of professors and business leaders, and (5) engage in a serious writing assignment designed to evaluate ethical reasoning and growth. Prerequisite: LGST 2910.

LGST 2960 Employment Law & Ethics (4 Credits)

Designed to offer insight into important employment law issues including employment-at-will, employees privacy rights, employment discrimination and labor law. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3030 The Supreme Court & Your Life (2 Credits)

This course evaluates the most critical ways in which the United States Supreme Court interacts with and affects an individual’s life, career, education, freedom, and future. Over ten weeks, we analyze how: (1) each major section of the Constitution and how it makes its way to the Court, (2) is ultimately interpreted by each of the nine current Justices, and (3) the subsequent repercussions of the opinion. The primary vehicles used for this task are actual Supreme Court cases, federal circuit court opinions, and legal briefs filed by the parties and interest groups on both sides of each dispute. Each of these documents is part of the public record and easy to locate. Because many students are likely to hear, believe, and/or resonate with only one side of each politically-charged divisive case heard by the Court (perhaps because they listen to only one news source or affiliate primarily with people of the same ideological bent), this class will emphasize the importance of seeing both sides of important public policy, legal, and ethical issues before taking a position. This is a valuable skill that is often neglected in college courses but will take a student far in life.

LGST 3100 Business Ethics & Social Responsibility (4 Credits)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to ethical concepts, theories and issues as they relate to business and managerial decision making. A primary focus includes topics such as employee privacy, sales responsibility, sexual harassment, discrimination, intellectual property, whistle blowing, and career/family conflicts. The course is also designed to introduce students to more general approaches or ways of thinking about ethics, and students grapple with some of the basic and fundamental problems of ethics. Cross listed with MGMT 3100. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3200 Ethics & Your World (2 Credits)

This course evaluates the how ethical decision-making can benefit a person professionally, personally, and as part of a community operating under a social contract more generally. This holistic approach evaluates ethics from many different viewpoints such as: (1) a professional calling, (2) happiness versus joyfulness, (3) moral sacrifices, (4) money and ethics, (5) beauty and ethics, (6) popularity and esteem and ethics, (7) priorities, (8) daily motivation, (9) ethical decision-making frameworks, and (10) a consistent and moral worldview. The ethical decision-making frameworks include Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Ethical Egoism, Libertarianism, and the Real Rabbits approach.

LGST 3400 White Collar & Corporate Crime (4 Credits)

This course offers an essential overview of corporate and “white collar” crime. Through the use of real-world case studies, legal and ethical analysis, criminological research and cultural reference materials such as iconic films and books, this course offers insight into the types, causes, and effects of crimes committed by businesses, corporate officers and directors, professionals and public officials. It will foster critical analysis of contemporary efforts to address recurring problems of corruption, bribery, fraud, insider trading, money laundering, collusion and more through the enactment of criminal statutes, international treaties, regulatory disclosure requirements, investigative methods, and litigation. Prerequisite: Undergraduates registering for this cross-listed course must complete LGST 2000. Graduate students are strongly advised to have successfully completed a course in business law.

LGST 3440 The Supreme Court & Your Life: Constitutional Law, Ethics & Policy for the 21st Century (2 Credits)

This course evaluates the most critical ways in which the United States Supreme Court interacts with and affects an individual’s life, career, education, freedom, and future. Over ten weeks, we analyze how: (1) each major section of the Constitution and how it makes its way to the Court, (2) is ultimately interpreted by each of the nine current Justices, and (3) the subsequent repercussions of the opinion. The primary vehicles used for this task are actual Supreme Court cases, federal circuit court opinions, and legal briefs filed by the parties and interest groups on both sides of each dispute. Each of these documents is part of the public record and easy to locate. Because many students are likely to hear, believe, and/or resonate with only one side of each politically-charged divisive case heard by the Court (perhaps because they listen to only one news source or affiliate primarily with people of the same ideological bent), this class will emphasize the importance of seeing both sides of important public policy, legal, and ethical issues before taking a position. This is a valuable skill that is often neglected in college courses but will take a student far in life.

LGST 3450 Impact of Driverless Mobility: Business, Legal & Ethical Implications (4 Credits)

Smartphones and personal computers have changed the world and how we live in it. Now, Driverless Vehicles are poised to profoundly reshape our transportation systems, real estate development, access to goods and services, and our collective ecological footprint. In our “Impact of Driverless Mobility” course, we will consider many of the broad implications of this disruptive technology, including, but not limited to, the many legal, ethical and business considerations. Prerequisite: LGST 2000.

LGST 3510 CEOs and Corporate Governance (4 Credits)

The course examines the current and pressing issue of corporate governance, in its ethical, legal, and social dimensions. Students read the latest views of scholars and experts and gain the perspectives of corporate CEOs and other organization leaders. Topics explored include the history of various governance models, public policy on corporate governance, corporate board functions and responsibilities, the dynamics between CEOs and boards, ethical leadership and corporate culture, ethics and compliance programs, executive liability, nonprofit corporate governance, board and audit committee responsibilities, restructuring and governance, executive compensation problems and solutions, shareholder activism, and corporate governance reforms. Each student will complete four papers or projects during the quarter, which will focus on a single corporate case study. The course projects will be designed to address and research the major dimensions of the course. Guest speakers will include corporate CEOs, board members, corporate general counsel, regulators, and investors.

LGST 3520 Legal and Ethical Issues in Purchasing a Home (4 Credits)

In this course, we will be considering some of the legal and ethical considerations that purchasers, sellers and agents face when buying or selling a home. This course will take students through the process of purchasing a home, from the initial stage of working with a real estate broker (including brokerage agreements and agency law), to submitting an offer/negotiations, understanding the contract terms, contingencies and implications, loan/financing considerations, title review, appraisal, inspections, objections and negotiations, and the closing of the purchase/sale. Prerequisite: LGST 2000.

LGST 3550 Topics in Business Law II (4 Credits)

Law relating to general and limited partnerships, corporations, property, securities law, professional responsibilities and related studies. Accounting students only. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3600 Business and Global Values (4 Credits)

This course explores the current state of globalization and its impact on business. In the context of ethical and legal norms, the course will examine how formal governmental and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), pressure business and affect business strategy and decisions. The course will also examine how business can adapt to comparative values and cultures in the international system, as well as universal values, and analyze issues and cases from both idealist and realist perspectives. Students will apply analytical tools from ethics, law, and public policy in examining leading business cases on the following topics: global terrorism and political risk. Prerequisite: LGST 2000.

LGST 3700 International Business Law (4 Credits)

Introduction to public international law (rights and duties of states and intergovernmental organizations) and to private international law (rights and duties of individuals, businesses and nongovernmental organizations) in international affairs. Key issues include alternative dispute resolution (ADR), privatization, intellectual property, international sales, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, trade (GATT and WTO), and the international facilities that deal with the adjudication and resolution of business and legal issues. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3701 Topics in Legal Studies (1-4 Credits)

Exploration of various topics and issues related to business ethics and legal studies. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3710 E-Commerce Law and Ethics (4 Credits)

Over the past 20 years, changes in technology have been dramatic and far-reaching, and navigating the future will continually challenge the business professional. This course examines the legal and ethical dimensions of online privacy, security, marketing, contracts and intellectual property. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3720 Negotiation & Conflict Resolution in Business (4 Credits)

This course is a rigorous exploration of negotiating business deals. Students will learn to develop strategies in a variety of conflict situations. Students will work closely with the professor and each other in simulations to address negotiation challenges, engage in mediation and arbitration, and become effective masters at resolving conflict. Prerequisites: minimum grade C- in LGST 2000.

LGST 3740 Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium Case Competition Seminar (2 Credits)

The Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium Case Competition — a component of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program — exposes students to a thought-provoking business ethics case on principle based crisis management in business. The competition builds on the principle-based ethical framework central to decision making in a complex business environment. Students in this class will learn how to work in teams in order to collaboratively analyze, present, and respond to various scenarios of businesses in crisis as well as respond to questions posed by a panel of judges. The course challenges students’ ethical reasoning and provides a significant opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of principle-based ethics for business crisis management.

LGST 3790 Entrepreneur & Family Business (4 Credits)

This course covers (1) how an individual starts a business, (2) what you must know to get a new business off the ground and moving towards success, (3) the most current issues involving the creation of value, (4) strengthening and growing family businesses through the process of adopting best practices in governance, coupled with ethical conduct, value based leadership and legal compliance. Students are moved along tracks from which they can both observe and absorb a means to insure success and longevity in operating an individually owned or family owned business. Cross listed with LGST 4790. Prerequisites: LGST 2000.

LGST 3980 Internship (1-5 Credits)

LGST 3991 Independent Study (1-8 Credits)

Independent research/study; requires written report. Prerequisites: LGST 2000 and instructor's permission.

Back to Top