Note: This course code has changed from B 100 to BUS 100. There may occasionally be references to the old course code or title.

Course Description

This course is designed to help new students prepare for meaningful business-related internships and careers within the context of becoming disciple leaders. Key areas of focus are:

1. How to network effectively using such tools as LinkedIn.
2. Preparing for and conducting effective informational interviews with mentors.
3. Using BYU-I resources to conduct industry, company, and position analyses.
4. Preparing a 4-year graduation plan.

The collective goal at the end of the course is that students will be armed with knowledge, resources, and tools to help them achieve their full potential.

“They will be natural leaders who know how to teach and how to learn. They will have the power to innovate and improve without requiring more of what money can buy. Those graduates of BYU-Idaho will become ... legendary for their capacity to build the people around them and to add value wherever they serve.”

Henry B. Eyring, “A Steady Upward Course”, BYU‐Idaho devotional, 2001

Course Objectives

1. Utilize applicable university student academic and career preparation resources.
2. Consider the impact of integrity and agency in motivating personal academic and career success.
3. Discuss the careers available in a business-related field.
4. Develop networking connections with business professionals.

Required Materials

• All required materials are contained in the course at no additional cost.
• Students should download the Microsoft Suite from Download Microsoft Office | BYU-Idaho (byuistore.com), if they have not already done so.
  • This download is available at no additional cost while they are BYU-Idaho students.
  • It is best to choose "Visit OnTheHub" and download the software to the computer.

Course Navigation

Students should begin each week by reading the instructor's announcement. Then they should work through each activity in order. 

Assignment Expectations

It is expected that students will demonstrate academic honesty and integrity throughout this course (and your life!).

It is also expected that students will demonstrate professionalism by completing their best work and submitting it on or before all course deadlines. Therefore, students are encouraged to preview each lesson at the beginning of the week and ask any questions that arise in a timely manner to ensure they can complete their best work by the deadlines.

Lastly, it is expected that students will learn much and enjoy their time in BUS 100!

Assignment Descriptions

Informational Interviews

Students will interview two people at intervals throughout the semester. They should select people they respect, want to learn from, and with whom they can build a relationship. Each interview will last between 15–20 minutes and can be conducted in person, over the phone, in a web conference, or in a video chat.

There are specific parameters regarding who students may and may not interview included in the instructions. After each interview, students will write a reflection paper to capture what they learned. 

Career Explorations 

As students learn about each career path, they should consider which options are of interest to them and which are not. They should also consider the reasons they like and dislike each option to learn more about best career fit.

Academic Exploration

As students consider their desired career path, they will align their academic plans to help realize their goals. They will complete several academic exploration assignments including using BYU-I tools to create a grad plan.

Industry, Company, and Position Analyses

Since career exploration is a major focus of this course, students will complete two, brief analysis papers to help them explore some career options.

In the first paper, students will explore an industry and company that is of interest to them. An industry is usually made up of many companies who sell similar products or services. Two examples are the airline industry (comprised of many airline companies) and the auto industry. Students will also analyze the strengths, weaknesses, and trends that affect the company for whom they might like to work.

In the last paper, students will explore a specific role they might like to fill for a particular company within an industry. For example, "I would like to work as a financial analyst for Walmart in the finance department in the retail industry." Students will conduct some research to gain a better understanding of that particular position such as the level of education needed, the salary that can be expect, and the job responsibilities.

Discussion Boards

The ability to engage with both classmates and the instructor is a key component to the learning model at BYU‐I because it provides an opportunity to deepen their learning while loving and serving their classmates.

Each discussion board provides the opportunity for students to share their personal thoughts and insights as well as learn from the perspectives of their classmates and engaging with them. In the weeks that contain discussions, students should post their initial response by the midweek due date. Then they should respond to a minimum of two other classmates by the end-of-week due date.

Students should understand that fulfilling the minimum requirement of an initial post and two response posts does not mean they will earn full credit. Since student-to-student interaction is so important to the learning experience, thoughtful and meaningful posts, following all instructions, and completing work on time will ensure full credit. Points will be deducted for posts that do not address all the questions, that do not demonstrate appropriate effort in answering, that are not respectful, or that have spelling and grammar errors.

Springboard

At the end of the semester, students will gather and reflect upon their course assignments such as their résumé, LinkedIn profile, analysis papers, informational interview summaries, and grad plan. It concludes with a reflection on their learning and an action plan. The purpose of this project is to celebrate students' success while reflecting on their efforts and discoveries during the course.

Overall Course Grading

The grade will be calculated by dividing the number of points earned by the total points possible in the course. There are 1000 points possible. Students can see a full list of each assignment and the associated number of points possible. Below is a list of the weightier assignments.

• Résumé assignment
• LinkedIn assignments
• Informational interviews
• Analysis papers
• Grad plan
• Springboard

Important Reminders

Time Commitment

BYU-Idaho designs courses for the average student to spend 3–4 hours per week for each credit of courses to obtain a B grade. Since this is a 1-credit course, and if a person is an average student who desires to earn about a B grade, they should reserve 3–4 hours per week. Students may need to adjust that estimate depending on if they need more or less time (or are aiming for an A grade).

Late Work

All due dates are posted in the course calendar, are displayed at the end of this syllabus, are visible for each assignment from the Module view of the course, and are included on each graded item. Check the course calendar to see the due date patterns in this course. Notice that the due dates for W14 deviate from the usual weekly pattern.

Turning work in on time is a sign of professionalism, and late work reflects poorly on your work as a responsible student. Therefore, any work submitted late will receive a 12% deduction per day. The lowest possible score on work submitted late is 50%.

Note: If students have a rare emergency such as a birth or death in the family, car accident, natural disaster, or hospitalization, they should contact their instructor as soon as the emergency arises to discuss the situation.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

This syllabus is subject to change, based on the demands (learning or otherwise) of this course, the university, and the students in the class. As such it is the student's responsibility to check his or her university email daily and refer to the most current copy of the syllabus on I-Learn.