BUSI 603 is Liberty's MBA course in entrepreneurship. Its written work is an original business plan in two parts of 13 to 15 pages each, seven weekly group forums (a researched thread on a business plan topic with three academic references, then two 250-word replies analyzing group members' plans), and three short reflection journals on interviews with Christian entrepreneurs.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 603 Entrepreneurship, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI603.
What BUSI 603 covers
The catalog description: This course is directed toward preparing those considering starting or acquiring a business. Students will examine the managerial, technical and financial challenges of entrepreneurship. In-depth studies of the entrepreneurial requirements for success and the methods of entering a business are covered.
The course prepares those considering starting or acquiring a business, examining the managerial, technical and financial challenges of entrepreneurship, the requirements for success and the methods of entering a business. The text is Allen, Launching New Ventures: An Entrepreneurial Approach.
Four quizzes (200 points) have no guide here. Both parts of each forum, thread and replies, must be submitted by the deadline to earn credit for either. Week 1 runs Monday to Friday and Weeks 2 to 8 run Saturday to Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Allen, Launching New Ventures (2016). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 603 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group Discussion Board Forum 1 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 2 | Group Discussion Board Forum 2 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 3 | Group Discussion Board Forum 3 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 3 | Reflection Journal 1 | 10 | Not set in the guide; answer the reflective questions |
| 4 | Group Discussion Board Forum 4 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 5 | Group Discussion Board Forum 5 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 5 | Reflection Journal 2 | 10 | Not set in the guide; answer the reflective questions |
| 6 | Group Discussion Board Forum 6 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 6 | Business Plan Part I | 150 | 13 to 15 pages of content, not including the cover page, table of contents, references or appendices |
| 7 | Group Discussion Board Forum 7 | 60 | Thread not set in the guide; replies at least 250 words |
| 7 | Reflection Journal 3 | 10 | Not set in the guide; answer the reflective questions |
| 8 | Business Plan Part II | 200 | 13 to 15 pages of content, not including the cover page, table of contents, references or appendices |
Week 1: Group Discussion Board Forum 1
Post your research on the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans in 250-word replies with 2 new references each. How to write BUSI 603 Week 1 Group Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Group Discussion Board Forum 2
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 2 Group Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 3: Group Discussion Board Forum 3
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 3 Group Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 3: Reflection Journal 1
Reflect on the first interview with a Christian entrepreneur and the devotional, using the reflective questions in the directions. How to write BUSI 603 Week 3 Reflection Journal 1.
Week 4: Group Discussion Board Forum 4
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 4 Group Discussion Board Forum 4.
Week 5: Group Discussion Board Forum 5
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 5 Group Discussion Board Forum 5.
Week 5: Reflection Journal 2
Reflect on the second Christian entrepreneur interview and devotional using the reflective questions. How to write BUSI 603 Week 5 Reflection Journal 2.
Week 6: Group Discussion Board Forum 6
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 6 Group Discussion Board Forum 6.
Week 6: Business Plan Part I
The first 13 to 15 pages of your original business plan: concept, team, industry and market, product development, operations and organization. How to write BUSI 603 Week 6 Business Plan Part I.
Week 7: Group Discussion Board Forum 7
Research the week's business plan topic with 3 academic references, then analyze 2 group members' plans. How to write BUSI 603 Week 7 Group Discussion Board Forum 7.
Week 7: Reflection Journal 3
Reflect on the third Christian entrepreneur interview and devotional using the reflective questions. How to write BUSI 603 Week 7 Reflection Journal 3.
Week 8: Business Plan Part II
The second 13 to 15 pages of your business plan: executive summary, marketing, financial, growth, contingency and harvest plans, and a timeline to launch. How to write BUSI 603 Week 8 Business Plan Part II.
How BUSI 603 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The seven group forums are 60 each (420), Business Plan Part I is 150 and Part II 200, the three reflection journals 10 each (30), quizzes 200 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Group Discussion Board Forums (7) | 420 |
| Business Plan Part I | 150 |
| Business Plan Part II | 200 |
| Reflection Journals (3) | 30 |
| Quizzes (4) | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Module/Week one begins on Monday and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday. Modules/Weeks 2-8 begin on Saturday and end at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach BUSI 603
Choose your business concept in Week 1: each weekly forum researches one part of your business plan, so the forums become the plan's first drafts.
Each part of the plan is 13 to 15 pages of content, not counting the cover page, table of contents, references or appendices.
Questions students ask
What is in BUSI 603 Business Plan Part I?
Cover page, table of contents, the business concept, founding or management team, industry and market analysis, product or service development plan, operations plan, organization plan, bibliography and appendices, in 13 to 15 pages of content; due in Week 6.
What is in BUSI 603 Business Plan Part II?
Cover page, executive summary, table of contents, marketing plan, financial plan, growth plan, contingency plan and harvest strategy, timeline to launch, bibliography and appendices, in 13 to 15 pages of content; due in Week 8.
Working through BUSI 603 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.