BUS301: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Instructor & Contact Information

The People tab in Canvas provides information on the course instructor and you can send a message to your instructor following these instructions. Faculty are expected to: 1) grade and return assignments, with feedback, within 7 days from the date of submission; 2) reply to your Canvas messages within 72 hours; 3) reply several times each week in total in the discussion forums (not to each individual student); and 4) demonstrate the core values of City Vision University.

Course Description

This course will introduce students to entrepreneurship and business planning.  It is suited both to entrepreneurs planning to develop and launch their own businesses as well as to those with established small business ventures that they would like to expand. The course centers around writing a business plan. For this course, students will select either a for-profit business or an earned income business within a nonprofit organization (catering, thrift store, etc.) for which to write their business plan. Most of the assignments in this course will use our Business Plan Final Project Template.

Students are encouraged (but not required) to take BUS101: Introduction to Business before taking this course to be more familiar with basic business concepts.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe what entrepreneurship is and a Christian approach to entrepreneurship.
2. Describe the purpose of a business plan and write a company description.
3. Develop Product Strategy and Customer Research.
4. Conduct competitive research to help determine the business’s strategic positioning and value proposition.
5. Design a marketing plan that includes product, price, place, and promotion.
6. Create plans for operations, management and staffing.
7. Conduct analysis needed for a financial plan.
8. Create a comprehensive business plan integrating all the above components.

Business Degree Program Outcomes

At the conclusion of this degree program, the student will able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply traditional theories and concepts of business management and the ability to do this in depth in one area of specialty: nonprofit management, accounting, technology or general management.
2. Understand their vocation in business and their unique identity and role within their field in a way that maximizes their calling and enables 24/7 Christian ministry.
3. To be able to develop and grow businesses and nonprofit organizations in a way that is socially responsible and that reflects God’s love and purposes for the world.
4. Communicate effectively and professionally in business situations through physical or virtual presence, writing, speaking, listening, and electronic media.
5. Interpret and analyze accounting information for internal control, planning, performance evaluation, and coordination to continuously improve business processes.
6. Integrate and apply Biblical, ethical, legal, economic and business principles into effective managerial decision-making.
7. Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply traditional theories and concepts of a Christian liberal arts education, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to facilitate intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth, pursue their advanced studies, and improve the world in which they live.

BUS301 helps students learn entrepreneurship in order to meet program outcomes 1, 4, and 5 above.

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

• Cowell, Ken (2019). Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream (Illustrated Edition). ClydeBank Media LLC. ISBN: 1945051825.

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

• Grading Scale 

• Deadlines to Drop Courses

• Attendance, Late Policy and Extensions

• Technology Requirements for Courses

• Standards of Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy

• What plagiarism is and how to avoid it 

• Credit Hour Policy, Grading Policy and Other Academic Policies

• ADA Policy, Learning Accommodations & Disabilities Services
• Student Code of Conduct 

• Library Services

• Privacy Policy

• Consumer Disclosures
• Additional policies are listed in our catalog

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: December 15, 2021