Jul 12, 2025  
GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year) 
    
GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year)
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BA 103 - Introduction to Business


Description
This course introduces students to the private enterprise system; the role of business in global markets; establishing financing and managing of businesses; producing and marketing goods and services; careers in business; and the technology used to compete in business.
Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 4
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Accounting, A.B., Management and Supervisions, A.B., Marketing, A.B., Business Administration, A.B., Pathway Degree with Business Concentration, A.A., Pre-Accounting, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University), Pre-Business Adminsistration, A.A. (Western Michigan University), Pre-Business, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University), Pre-Business, A.A. (General Transfer), Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Aquinas College), Pre-Marketing, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University), Pre-Recreation/Sports Management, A.A. (Western Michigan University)
Other Courses Where This Course is a Prerequisite: None
Other Courses Where this Course is a Corequisite: None
Other Courses Where This course is included in within the Description: None
General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:
  1. Describe basic trends in a diverse global business environment, including economic, political, legal, social, technologic, and demographic changes.
  2. Explain the connection between laws, ethics, social responsibility behavior, and morality in the contemporary workplace. 
  3. Explain the concept of entrepreneurship and starting a small business and explain the differences between the sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporate forms of business.
  4. Describe the functions of management and discuss the activities involved in the management process, especially the decision-making situations requiring procedures for the code of ethics, social responsibility, leadership, innovation and change. 
  5. Explain the function of human resources management within companies and its impact on the organization in terms of motivating employees, dealing with unions, recruiting, and keeping the best talent.
  6. Discuss the role of marketing and explain the various elements of the marketing mix including product development, distribution, promotion and the element of pricing goods and services.
  7. Describe the basic functions for, and tools used in, accounting, financial management, operations management, and securities, as well as their relationships within the typical company.  
  8. Use high-quality, credible, relevant sources to support writing. 
  9. Identify quality sources for data and information pertinent to a problem or issue being examined. 
  10. Make connections between academic learning at GRCC and the knowledge and skills necessary for careers of interest. 

Course Outline:
I. Business Trends: Cultivating a Business in Diverse, Global Environments

      A. Taking Risks and Making Profits within the Dynamic Business Environment

      B. Understanding Economics and its Effects of Doing Business in Global Markets

      C. Managing Business Ethically and Setting Corporate Ethical Standards

II. Entrepreneurship: Starting a Small Business

      A. How to Form a Business

      B. Entrepreneurship and Managing a Small Business 

III. Business Management and leadership

      A. Structuring Organizations for Today’s Challenges

      B. Productions and Operations Management

IV. Human Resources Management

      A. Recruiting and Keeping Qualified Employees

      B. Motivating Employees to Produce Quality Goods and Services

      C. Dealing with Unions and Employee-management Issues

V. Marketing

      A. Developing and Implementing Customer-Oriented Marketing Plans

      B. Developing and Pricing Goods and Services

      C. Promotion and Effective Distribution Strategies

VI. Managing Financial Resources

      A. Understanding Accounting and Financial Information

      B. Introduction to Financial Management, Securities Markets, and Investing  Opportunities


Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture and/or Video Presentation: 0-30%

Project application: for example project(s) such as career investigation, career portfolios, simulation, stock portfolio, etc.: 0-40%

Internet exercises and technology-based projects: 0-35%

Direct contact with the local business community: 0-10%

Incorporation of current events in class discussion: 0-10%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None


Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: ARW 100 (IRW97/IRW98), IRW 99
Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None
Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 4
People Soft Course ID Number: 100008
Course CIP Code: 52.9999
Maximum Course Enrollment: 24
High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: None
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA


School: School of Business & Industry
Department: Business
Discipline: BA
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Other (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Master’s Degree must be in a business related field. Professor must possess proven successful business experience.
Major Course Revisions: N/A
Last Revision Date Effective: 20250219T15:51:16
Course Review & Revision Year: 2029-2030



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