INSTRUCTOR:  R.  C.  (Bob) Chrisman                               (503)526-0562

    e-mail: rchrisma@xprt.net

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This seminar will integrate topical course material from the student's certification area, and relate topical material to the larger world, business and societal issues. (1 credit).

CLASS SCHEDULE: Spring, 2006 – Computer Mediated. 

TEXT: There is no required text for this course.  Resource material for this course will be from the internet (sites will be posted).

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  By the end of the course students will:

•     Understand the basics of utilitarian ethics and Kant's universality of ethics.

•     Be able to explain the basic concepts of Machiavelli's "The Prince" to modern business.

•     Practice critical thinking skills.

•     Demonstrate the ability to engage in academic dialog in an online environment.

•     Be able to apply ethical theories to the student's chosen field of study (accounting, human resources, business, etc.).

•     Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to discuss ethical delimnas.

 INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY: I earned a bachelor’s degree in human relations with double majors in psychology and sociology, intent on going into personnel administration when I "grew up." As the son of a World War II warrant officer, I realized a dream and followed President Kennedy's challenge to serve my country by spending the next four years at sea as a naval officer.  After my service I began my 25+ career in human resource administration as a personnel assistant for a school district.  I was recruited by Stanford University Medical Center where I served as employment manager and assistant personnel director.  I then went on to serve in several health service organizations as personnel director, director of labor relations, associate administrator, and vice president-human resources; a career of over twenty years.  Concurrent with this career I completed the coursework for a master's degree in general systems theory, focusing on human resource systems, at San Jose State.  I was invited to teach a graduate course in personnel administration at San Francisco State University, and fell in love with leading the learning process.  I decided to improve my teaching skills and earned a master's degree in education at Heritage College, Toppenish, WA.  I have had the privilege of leading courses in business administration, computers, and adult learning for the past ten years.  I continue my own quest for learning and have completed the coursework for a doctorate in educational leadership at Gonzaga University (through week-end and summer courses).  I have also earned a certificate in online teaching from UCLA (all courses were online, so I know what it’s like to be on your end of this cyber experience.

 

OTHER STUFF:

 

Assistance: If you require any specific instructional accommodations or assistance, please notify me at your earliest convenience.  Students with physical or learning challenges, or special needs, please discuss them with me at any time, but preferably at our first meeting.

Students with disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term.

Academic honesty: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated Any student found to be engaging in either of these activities at any point in the course will receive a failing grade for the course and may be subject to further college sanctions.

plaAgiaArize, plaAgiaArism

1.   To use and pass off as one's own (the ideas or writings of another).

2.   To appropriate for use as one's own passages or ideas from (another).

verb, intransitive

To put forth as original to oneself the ideas or words of another.

The American Heritage7 Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 8 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company

 

Note that it is quite appropriate to quote the work of others in academic work, just ensure that the author(s) is given credit in citations and references.

 

Incompletes: A grade of incomplete is given only in emergency situations.  The student must request an incomplete in writing and must receive the instructor's approval.  All work must be completed within time limits set by the instructor.  If work is not submitted by the due date, a grade will be calculated only on work previously received by the instructor.

 

Academic freedom: Collegial discourse should be a place where individual thought can be expressed without fear of retribution, ridicule, or attack.  Disagreement is encouraged, and will be rewarded when succinct, relevant and articulate.  Critique is encouraged, along with consideration, courtesy and respect.  The authors of the text, as well as the instructor, are humans.  As such, we are imperfect and subject to making mistakes.  Students will be honored for illuminating such mistakes. 

Copyright:  Students are advised to honor all copyrights, and specifically to not download or copy material from the internet except for educational puposes.