Business Law Minor

Summary

A minor in business law provides students with practical knowledge of the complex legal issues that govern the business environment. The minor teaches students the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and manage legal and ethical issues in a wide array of settings including contracts, management, employment and human resources, construction, banking, international business, and intellectual property. It is also excellent preparation for students who plan to attend law school. 

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Minor

Total Credits

18

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

Business, Management, and Administration

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Program Requirements

Core

Application of law to business settings; the American court system; alternative dispute resolution; ethics and the social responsibility of business; fundamentals of legal reasoning; sources of law; constitutional, criminal, tort, and contract law; business associations.

Prerequisites: none

Fundamentals of contracts, the law of sales under the UCC; the legal liability of accountants to clients and third parties. Formation of contracts; statute of frauds and parol evidence rule; contract performance; remedies for breach of contract; scope of UCC Article Two; sales warranties; remedies for breach of contracts.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

Federal employment discrimination laws; sexual harassment; first amendment rights; employee safety; workers' compensation; privacy; wrongful termination; federal laws governing the right to organize and bargain collectively; emerging issues.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

Introduction to the personal computer as a productivity tool for business majors. Using Microsoft Office suite, students learn to be productive with document processing, spreadsheets, electronic presentations, and databases. Cannot be used toward any major or minor in Computer Information Science.

Prerequisites: none

Electives

Choose 6 Credit(s).

Legal aspects of United States global trade policies, regulation of imports, contracting in the global marketplace, international marketing concerns, structure of various international organizations and treaties. Legal aspects of international licensing and technology, transfers risks of nationalization and expropriation, international dispute resolution, comity, the Act of State, and sovereign immunity doctrines.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

Legal aspects of checks and promissory notes, forgery and the use of counterfeit currency. Discusses the Federal Reserve check collection process, electronic banking, the purchase and sale of commercial paper, debtor and creditor rights, securities regulation, fundamentals of collateral foreclosure, the federal bankruptcy code and insurance law.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

This class examines major intellectual property legal issues particularly as they apply to business, technology, innovation and digital media. Topics covered include patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, intellectual property crime, free speech, the internet and social media, innovation and other emerging issues.

Prerequisites: none

The course introduces students to the legal framework for environmental protection in the United States. Students will study the principle treaties, common law, constitutional principles, statutes, and regulations that govern environmental regulation. They will also explore issues of land use and planning, clean air and water laws, sustainability, and emerging environmental legal issues.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

Legal responsibilities of architects, engineers and contractors in dealing with each other, the project's owner, sureties and subcontractors. Special emphasis on performance problems, forms of business association, legal relationships with independent contractors, the AIA contract documents, mechanics liens, AAA Construction Arbitration Rules, dispute avoidance, claims management and collection strategies.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

This course examines the theory and practice of negotiation and trains students to be effective, strategic and ethical negotiators. Topics covered include theories, style and techniques of negotiations and dispute resolution; contract negotiation and dispute resolution; alternative dispute resolution; and ethical aspects of negotiation and dispute resolution. Students will develop negotiation skills through cases and activities.

Prerequisites: BLAW 200

Seminar topics may include women and the law, legal aspects of entrepreneurship, mergers and acquisitions, legal rights in computer software, investigating sexual harassment claims, copyright on the internet, immigration law, steps to become an IPO, privacy rights on computer networks, case studies in deregulation, legal aspects of leveraged buyouts, corporate takeover and ESOP's, complying with NAFTA.

Prerequisites: none

Study tours are lead by Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty members and provide students the opportunities to visit epicenters of international law to experience the development and implementation of international law and its effect on businesses.

Prerequisites: none

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Prerequisites: none

Policies

Admission Requirements

Open to all majors. Students who are non-Business majors or those who are not seeking a four-year degree may take up to 24 credits in the College of Business. Transfer students must complete at least 50% (one-half) of their minor coursework at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Graduation Requirements

Students pursuing the Business Law minor must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 ("C") on the total courses required to complete the minor.