Introduction to Entrepreneurship Syllabus

Course Description

In this course you will develop a clear vision of what matters most to you as you begin your Introduction to Entrepreneurship. The course will also deliver practical life lessons and some fundamental business tools required to become a successful entrepreneur. This course will help you develop some important mindsets that successful entrepreneurs embrace.

You will complete a number of assignments throughout the semester which will focus on the successful implementation of entrepreneurship. Articles, case studies, videos, journal entries, book reports, and projects will facilitate your development of entrepreneurial skills. This course is not intended to teach you how to start a business. The main focus is developing your Life Plan first before you ever develop a business plan.

Course Outcomes

With the successful completion of the course requirements, you will be able to do the following:

Prerequisites

There aren’t any prerequisite courses to complete prior to taking B 183. However, it is highly recommended that you complete B 183, 283, 383, and 483 in numerical order from lowest to highest as each course builds upon the prior course and prepares you for the next course. Each course fulfills a unique role as noted below:

Note: If B 183 is not required for your major and you are only able to take one entrepreneur course, B 183 may or may not be the course you want to take. Contact the Academic Advising Office with any questions.

Course Requirements

Required Books

You will need to purchase and read the following books for this course:

Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.

Grading Criteria

Below are the assignments you will be completing for this course. Each assignment is given a point value. At the end of the semester your total points earned will be divided into total points possible to give you your percentage grade. Follow the grade scale given later in the syllabus for the letter grade.

  1. Reading and Video quizzes: (145 Points)
    • There will be a 10 question quiz on the readings and videos each week. 
    • (10 pts each/ 140 total)
    • You will complete a 5 point Syllabus Quiz at the beginning of the semester.
  2. Entrepreneur Journal: (150 Points)
    • The Entrepreneur Journal is a blog of your creation, where reflection and personal experiences can be recorded for future use. Write personal insights, lessons learned, and record plans for the future. You will record your own feelings, reflect on LDS Perspectives, other readings, and the video clips you watch each week. (Be sure to read Jeff Sandefer’s article on why entrepreneur journals are so important.)
    • You will submit the URL of your blog to your instructor each week. This is worth 10 points each week.
    • Your final journal entry will be worth 20 points instead of 10. This journal entry will be your last and final entry, so make it count as if it was your last opportunity to share your reflections and experiences.
    • (10 pts each/ 150 total)
  3. Case Studies: (80 Points)
    • There will be four selected case study assignments during the semester. You will participate in a discussion board sharing your number one take away from the case. You will also complete an essay to answer specific questions about the case. You will earn up to 10 points for the written portion and 10 points for the discussion board.
    • (20 pts each/ 80 total)
  4. Entrepreneur Interview: (25 Points)
    • During the semester you will interview one entrepreneur mentor and come up with five good business questions you would like to ask him or her.
    • Please send your mentor your blog URL as a way of introducing yourself and what you have been doing in the class.
    • Be sure you are prepared, and don’t waste their time—make this interview count.
    • Establish a lifelong relationship with your mentor to help you on your entrepreneur journey.
    • You will write about your experience in a 3 page, double spaced paper.
  5. Entrepreneur Book Reports: (90 Points)
    • There are three key entrepreneur books that you are to read during the semester (listed above in the required materials section of the syllabus).
    • They have been selected to help you examine the startup of you, to help you evaluate your fit as an entrepreneur, and finally to help you develop the art of mastery.
    • After reading each book, you will write a book report.
    • (30 pts each/ 90 total)
  6. My Life Plan (60 Points)
    • During the course you’ll assemble the lessons you’ve learned about yourself and your intentions for the future in various online assignments. Your Life Plan includes the following Items: Bucket List of 50 Things, My Top 3 Career Choices & Stars and Steppingstones chart, Core Values Statement, Deconstructing Your Fears list, Personal Board of Advisors, and your Code of Conduct.
    • It is recommended that you print them out and refer to them often. Your Life Plan will need some adjustments along the way as you change and adapt to new opportunities and challenges.
    • (10 pts each/60 total)
  7. Discussion Board Assignments: (30 Points)
    • In addition to the case study discussion boards, you will participate in sharing your insights on three other discussion boards. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts with others students in this class. You will include your post and comment on at least one other student's post. Add value by sharing meaningful insights.
    • (10 pts each/30 total)

All grades are calculated according to the BYU-Idaho grading scale as shown below.

Percentage Range Letter Grade
100% – 93% A
92% – 90% A-
89% – 87% B+
86% – 83% B
82% – 80% B-
79% – 77% C+
76% – 73% C
72% – 70% C-
69% – 67% D+
66% – 63% D
62% – 60% D-
<59% F

Late Work

This is not a “move at your own pace” course. You are expected to submit quality work by the weekly deadlines and due dates. If you turn in an assignment after the deadline you will receive a 10% grade reduction for each day that your assignment is late. After four days, your assignment will not be accepted and you will receive a zero.

Time Commitment

The online class policy is that for every credit hour, an average student should expect to spend three hours of work per week to earn a B grade. For example, in a 3-credit course, this equates to about 9 hours of work each week. For this class, you should plan on spending at least nine hours per week. (You may need to spend more or less depending on your learning style and preferences.)

Online Support Center

The Online Support Center (OSC) is designed to help any students taking online courses at BYU-Idaho. If you have questions about any online course or any feedback concerning online courses, instructors, or your online learning experience please contact the OSC.