Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | BUS-2210-VO01 - Small Business Management

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Marie O'Brien
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Nick Molander

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course explores the practical aspects of organizing and managing a small business. It is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to make informed business decisions. Topics include the basic concepts of accounting, finance, cash management, taxes, business law, government regulations, staffing, and marketing.

Essential Objectives

1. Develop a business plan that accounts for market analysis, appraisal of products and services, marketing strategies including key performance indicators (KPIs), organizing and staffing, and financial analysis. 
2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business, starting a new business, or acquiring a franchised business. 
3. Describe and apply techniques of asset management including fixed assets, inventory, accounts receivable, and cash flow. 
4. Apply marketing practices to product pricing, advertising, and sales promotion for small business. 
5. Discuss federal and state laws and regulations and taxes affecting small businesses. 
6. Discuss the ethical considerations inherent in decision-making in small business management. 
7. Describe the opportunities and challenges small businesses face in competing in a global marketplace. 
8. Illustrate the controlling function of management through the use of financial statement analysis and KPIs. 
9. Demonstrate effective business writing and communication skills. 

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations, along with free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials.

Fall 2025 textbook/book details will be available on 2025-05-19. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

BUS-2210-VO01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

For Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Allowed: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges technology, including generative AI, plays a supportive role in learning and feedback. During our class, we may use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT in certain specific cases. You will be informed as to when, where, and how these tools are permitted to be used, along with guidance for attribution. Any use outside of these specific cases constitutes a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

If you use AI it must be clearly stated the part of the assignment generated with AI assistance and properly cited. It is strongly advised to establish an account in CCV's licensed version of AI CoPilot.
Generative AI tools can be helpful for brainstorming, research, and editing help. However, they are not appropriate for generating text to be submitted for any assignments in this class. Microsoft Copilot (using your CCV rmail and password to sign in) is the AI tool recommended for this course in part because you can generate a link to the query. ALL uses of AI MUST be documented in a postscript with links to the query included.

Methods

• Demonstrate Your Learning discussions
• case studies
• multimedia presentations and resources
• readings, writing, and inquiry-based research
• professional work-based learning experiences
• interviews

Evaluation Criteria

Mastery of Essential Objectives, level of participation, and overall quality of work including written mechanics.

Discussion Forums-Demonstrate Your Learning:

Demonstrate Your Learning forums/assignments should be substantive and well cited. For full credit your post must be substantive (aim for 300/350 words and properly cited) I require two quotes written in bold taken from the Module's readings, the case study provided, the article and/or outside related material. Properly cited. This is your opportunity to prove to me that you have read and understood the material.

For full credit you must reply to two classmates' post substantively at least 100 words.
Demonstrate Your Learning must be submitted by the due date. No late submissions will be accepted.

Weekly Assignments: Assignments encompass real-world application and case studies as well as outside readings. Evaluation is individualized to the student via instructor comments. Assignments have three dates: 1. The date that the assignment is a available. 2. The date the assignment is due. and 3. The last date for submitting the assignment. All assignments have an automtic one week extension past the due date. There is a 10 point deduction in the earned grade. After that date the "0" remains.

Final Project: The Final project is the Business Plan where students integrate and synthesize elements of the course information. The final project ideally will fulfill a professional, business need for the student.The final project is due December 15, 2025. There are no extensions beyond this date.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

To earn full participation points for the week, students should:

• Read the assigned material and demonstrate an understanding of those resources in your assignments and posts. Readings and resources should be cited using APA format.
• Post an original response to the weekly prompt(s) before Friday at midnight (11:59 PM) and a minimum of two responses to peers before Monday at midnight (11:59 PM). You are welcome to post early and/or more frequently, as your schedule allows, but you will not receive full credit if you do not meet these minimum requirements and/or deadlines.
• Posts should be substantive and demonstrate college-level writing. A substantive post is well-developed, a minimum 300 words, and references the reading or another appropriate source. Include two quotes in bold face and properly cite APA format. A substantive post is NOT one or two sentences of general statements or unsupported opinion.
• Make sure that assignments are visible in the Canvas classroom. I will not open links to view your work.
• All assignments must be submitted in MSWord unless directed otherwise.

Attenance Grade:

0 absences = 100%

1 absence = 85

2 absences = 70

3 absences = 55

Missing & Late Work Policy

Demonstrate Your Learning/ Discussion forums

Must be submitted on time on or before the due date. No extensions permitted. This is your virtual classroom. You must be present and participate. The class will move onto the next week's work after the due date.

Assignments/Papers:

You have an automatic one week late extension for assignments. You will receive a 10 -point deduction in your earned grade. After the extension date the “0” will remain.

Quizzes

Must be completed within the week due.

Final Project

Must be submitted by December 15, 2025.

No extensions or incompletes are granted for this class.

Get in touch with me if I can be of help.

Marie A. O'Brien Faculty, CCV CEO, NextLevel, LLC 8 Tamshell Dr. Kent, CT 06757 860 355 2360 mao05190@ccv.vsc.edu or the InBox

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.