Course Syllabus

Course Information

ISGS 4303/501: Business, Law, and Culture (3201)

Fall, 2010
Class Meeting Time: W 7 – 9:45 PM
Class Location: GR 2.530

Professor Contact Information

Dr. Dachang Cong dccong@utdallas.edu

Office Location: GR 2.210 972-883-2297
Office Hours: 10 – 11 AM, Tu., and 4:30 - 6:30 PM Wed. And by Appointment
The School of Interdisciplinary Studies
The University of Texas at Dallas

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

There are no pre-requisites.

Reading, critical thinking, and writing skills are essential.
Every student should have a college writing guide.

Course Description

This course seeks to understand the interactions between business, law, and culture from an
interdisciplinary perspective. The course examines business culture, legal culture, and the overall legal
and regulatory environment of American business. It highlights the turmoil at Wall Street and studies the
Great Recession. The course also probes business stories including the Enron fiasco. Risks and frauds
will be studied. The instructor encourages students to display original ethnography and develop solutions
to the business tangles, legal complexities, ethical dilemmas, and cultural contradictions in the post-
bubble economy. The course emphasizes communications skills and critical thinking skills.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able:

1. To gain a thorough understanding of the American business and legal environments from an
interdisciplinary perspective.
2. To identify and describe new realities and new changes in American business, law, and
culture.
3. To offer critical and constructive comments on American capitalism, especially on corporate
governance.

Course Syllabus Page 1

Required Textbooks and Materials

Levit, Steven, and Stephen Dubner.

SuperFreakonomics.
Prins, Nomi.
It Takes a Pillage.
Rosoff, Stephen, Henry Pontell, and Robert Tillman
Profit without Honor.

Suggested Course Materials

The instructor will suggest a number of web sites, TV programs, and movies.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

I Orientation Aug. 25
Reading American Cultures with Anthropological and Sociological Perspectives
Doing Fieldwork

II Culture, Society, and Business (1) Sept. 1

Wall Street and Economic Crisis (1)

Prins, It Takes a Pillage, Intro. and Chapter 1.

III Culture, Society, and Business (2) Sept. 8

Wall Street and Economic Crisis (2)

Prins, It Takes a Pillage, Chapters 2, 3, and 4

IV American Values on Business Sept. 15

Culture, Society, and Business (3)
Wall Street and Economic Crisis (3)

Prins, It Takes a Pillage, Chapters 5, 6, and 7

*Topic (50 words) for term paper due

V Deciphering the Downfall of Enron Sept. 22

American Legal Culture (1)
Wall Street and Economic Crisis (4)

Prins, It Takes a Pillage, Chapters 8 and 9.

VI Economic Thinking and Behavior (1) Sept. 29

American Legal Culture (2)

Levitt and Dubner, SuperFreakonomics, Intro. and Chapter 1.

**Midterm Exam

Course Syllabus Page 2

VII Economic Thinking and Behavior (2) Oct. 6
American Legal Culture (3)

Levitt and Dubner, SuperFreakonomics, Chapters 2 and 3.

VIII Economic Thinking and Behavior (3) Oct. 13

American Legal Culture (4)

Levitt and Dubner, SuperFreakonomics, Chapters 4.

IX Economic Thinking and Behavior (4) Oct. 20

American Legal Culture (5)

Levitt and Dubner, SuperFreakonomics, Chapter 5

X Frauds and Risk (1) Oct. 27

Government Regulation

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 1, 2, and 3

XI Frauds and Risk (2) Nov. 3

Law and Punishment
Multinationals

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 4 and 5

XII Frauds and Risk (3) Nov. 10

Business Ethics
Business Law

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 6 and 7

XIII Frauds and Risk (4) Nov. 17

The Story of Madoff
Technology and Law

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 8 and 9

***Take-home exam questions to be distributed

XIV New Realities Nov. 24

New Challenges
Frauds and Risk (5)

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 10 and 11.

XV Conclusion Dec. 1
Frauds and Risk (6)

Rosoff, Pontell, and Tillman. Profit Without Honor, Chapters 12 and 13.

Course Syllabus Page 3

XVI Term Paper and Take-Home Exam Due Dec. 9

Grading Policy

Each student is required to write a term paper about a business fraud, an economic/financial crisis, an
ethical dilemma, a career conundrum, a legal challenge, or a state of workplace turmoil. The paper is
based on original/ethical fieldwork. He or she is also required to complete two exams (essay questions).

1) Term paper 50% of final grade

2) Exams 40% of final grade
3) Class participation 10% of final grade
Poor attendance and late work will cause a reduction in the final grade. The instructor will make
a decision on the reduction according to the degree/nature of poor attendance and belatedness.

Course & Instructor Policies

Electronic gadgets should not be used in class to distract attention and disrupt learning.
Class attendance is essential. Late work will impact on the grade negatively.

For UTD rules and regulations, please visit

http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 4