Syllabus

DESCRIPTION

This course is designed for any student interested in building a web-based business. Students will go through the necessary steps to select, build, and launch an actual web-based business. They will use current industry practices and products to design, host, and market their web business. They will be taught how to choose the appropriate legal structure and the basic rules and regulations they need to comply with. Students will use pay-per-click, search engine optimization, and social networking to drive traffic to the business. They will optimize their ad campaigns and websites so each are more successful. The web business and the pay-per-click campaign will be evaluated at the end of the semester to determine how much the students learned from his/her experience about how to increase the success of the web business.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Textbook/Required Materials

A textbook is not required for this class. All material is found online or in I-Learn.

Hosting for semester (Website and domain nome) $40; Adwords Campaign $50.

Objectives

Successful students will:

  1. Be able to systematically choose between numerous online business ideas.
  2. Create an online business including building the website, choosing a host and domain name.
  3. Have an understanding of administrative and tax issues that the students will have to address in starting an online business.
  4. Development and run a search engine pay per click campaign.
  5. Have an understanding of the main components of search engine optimization.
  6. Install and use web analytics to help track the success of marketing efforts for the online business.

Basic Expectations

In this course, you will build and run your own web-based business. To help you be successful, you will study other websites and many articles that will give you ideas and help you implement the best solution for your business. Based on your study, you will write some essays and have many discussions with your classmates. Your study and class participation is critical to your success.

In addition, you will have 6 projects that will incrementally lead to the final product of your web-business.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Assignments

To be successful in the course, you will need to be engaged nearly every day. Due dates occurs throughout the week — not only at the end of the week.

We will be focusing on the following topics each week:

The typical structure of this course will have items due Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,. The following is what you can anticipate for the majority of the course:

There will be 6 projects due throughout the course. These projects are related to setting up your web-business so that it will be successful. Read about them and learn what the requirements are for each. Look out for these projects so you are not caught by surprise when they are due.

Time Commitment

The online class policy is that for every credit hour, you should expect to spend 3 hours of work per week. This course is a 3-credit course, therefore you should plan on spending about 9 hours per week.

POLICIES

Grading

Quizzes 300 pts
6 Projects 400 pts
Weekly Reflections 120 pts
Assignments and Essays 200 pts
Discussion Boards 390 pts
TOTAL 1410 pts

NOTE: No rounding--if you get 89.999999%, that is a B+.

Late Work

Late assignments will be marked down by 20%

No work accepted more than one week late.

If an assignment is late due to a medical emergency or family tragedy, contact your instructor.

Grading Scale

93-100 A 80-82.9 B- 67-69.9 D+
90-92.9 A- 77-79.9 C+ 63-66.9 D
87-89.9 B+ 73-76.9 C 60-62.0 D-
83-86.9 B 70-72.9 C- <60.0% F

Participation

This course requires a lot of participation with your instructor and other students in your class. To be successful, you will need to share ideas. Your classmates and instructor will provide valuable ideas and lessons for you in your business. One or more discussion board opportunities are available each week. The scoring requirements are below.

Please Note: For a post to be considered for credit, it must be a “significant” post. A significant post is one that contains at least 4 sentences (each sentence cannot be only a few words). It also contains information and comments that contribute to the conversation and moves the learning forward.

Here is the grading rubric for discussion boards:


** Unprepared to open the discussion… 1/3 grade deduction i.e. B+ to a B.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

University Policies

Academic honesty is required and any violation with be dealt with according to the University Academic Honesty Policy.

Policy on Sexual Discrimination/Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.

Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, 496-1158. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.

Personal Conduct
All of your correspondence with the teacher or other classmates must be respectful. Writing something disrespectful or "venting" is unprofessional and not becoming of a university student. In addition, it is not in accordance with the Honor Code of BYU-Idaho and you will be subject to discipline accordingly. You are invited to re-read the BYU-I Honor Code and the "Principles of Personal Honor." http://www2.byui.edu/StudentHonor/