GB310The Next Big Things on our Canvas course main page

Course Description: Part of a two-course online sequence introducing non-business students to basic concepts, practices,

and analytical methods the market enterprise system uses. This course is a basic overview of essential economics, business

law, finance, and accounting topics. The description provided in the course catalog does not reflect the actual breadth of

subject areas presented in this course, and it is inaccurate. The course will introduce students to fundamental economic

principles and present critical legal topics that are a significant concern to businesses. However, most of the course will be

devoted to finance and accounting.

This course delivers all of its content online, and I designed it for a broad campus audience of students who are not majoring

in business nor working towards a Certificate in Business. Rather, the audience for this class wants to understand essential

business concepts so they can work more effectively with co-workers within for-profit firms and make better decisions as

employees, entrepreneurs, citizens, regulators, or researchers. This course will help you explore how businesses make

decisions that impact their firms, individuals, and society as a whole.

Requisites: Sophomore standing or higher; not open to business students. My only assumption about your ability to master

this material is that you can do algebra.

There is, however, a very important informal prerequisite for this course, and that is patience. As an online class, there

is a tremendous dependency on technology, and as we all know, technology can fail. You must recognize this going into the

class and accept that there will be problems. The best way to address them is with a patient, calm, and determined demeanor.

In other words, do not flip out when there is some technological hiccup. We will get through them.

Credits: GB310 is a three-credit course. I have kept the course's structure, integrity, and rigor consistent with in-person UW

courses. You will fulfill the course credits by completing fourteen content modules. Each module contains required videos,

chapters, and preparatory materials. Though there are many do nothing, learn nothing, easy online courses where everybody

gets an A, this course is definitely not one of them. Please adjust your expectations accordingly.

Course Structure, Format, Organization & Activities: This course is delivered in one introductory and fourteen content

modules. In general, each module will provide you with a variety of learning experiences:

• Readings

• Video lectures

• Assessment Preparation documents containing key terms, concepts, equations, and practice problems (where

applicable) to prepare for the exams.

You will work independently, doing the readings, watching the lectures, and working on practice problems. The video lectures

are closed captioned, and text transcriptions are also provided. The readings and videos do not entirely substitute for one

another. By design, each medium contains some information the other does not. The only way to learn all the material is to

fully engage in both the readings and the videos to prepare for the exams.