West Valley Community College

Course Syllabus: Principles of Real Estate

Business Department

 

 

 

Instructor Information:

 Name: Nancy Fisher

Educational Background:

 BA Liberal Studies, San Jose State University

Juris Doctorate, Santa Clara School of Law

California Real Estate Brokers License

On-line Mediation Specialist

Email: use  Angel Email Link

 

 

 Course Description:  090 Principles of Real Estate  

This is a fundamental real estate course covering the basic understanding, background, and terminology necessary for advanced study in specialized courses.  This course is intended to acquaint the student who has little or no training or experience in real estate with the basic theory of real estate.  Its purpose is to enable students to identify, interpret, and solve fundamental problems inherent in the transaction of real property.  This course will summarize information required for the State of California real estate license examinations, however, considerable outside study is advised in order to pass the state examination.  This course also applies toward the educational requirements of the California Real Estate Broker’s license examination as an elective.

 

Prerequisite(s): None

Basic Skills Reading Level: eligibility for Reading 161 or ESL 43

Basic Skills English/ESL Level: eligibility for English 105 or ESL 44

Basic Skills Math Level: the ability to complete simple math problems, including, but not limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of percentages and decimals using a non-programmable calculator.

Basic Computer Skills

Units: 3

Participation Requirements: Approximately 5 - 6 hours weekly

 

 Course Text: California Real Estate Principles 12th Edition. Author: Walt Huber.

 

Student Services:    Printed materials in alternate formats (Braille, audiotape, electronic format, or large print) and other services may be available upon request.  Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.

 

 Class Information:  California Principles of Real Estate is available on-line daily at the student’s convenience. It is available 24 hours a day.

 

Course Objective:  The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with basic terminology and concepts of real property transactions. At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

 

1.         Identify and explain basic terminology associated with real property transactions.

 

2.         Identify and explain basic concepts and principles associated with real property transactions.

 

3.         Understand the responsibilities of a state licensed real estate sales person.

 

4.         Be familiar with the variety of professional opportunities available to state licensed real estate sales persons.

 

 This course is not intended to prepare the student for the California Real Estate Commissioner’s licensing exam.  Additional study may be necessary.

 

 Instructor Policies:

 

Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in the class. Failure to participate will adversely affect a student’s grade. Any student not regularly participating in the class may be dropped from the class by the instructor.  PLEASE NOTE: FAILURE TO PASS WITH A 70% OR BETTER ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THIS COURSE WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE. For example, even if a student passes all of the quizzes, midterm and final but does not pass the homework assignment segment that student will receive a failing grade.

 

Withdrawals: If a student wishes to withdraw from the class it is the student’s responsibility to complete the proper paperwork prior to the final withdrawal date for the semester.  Failure to do so will result in a failing grade.  Please check the student catalog for the last date to withdraw from the course.

 

Student Assessment Methods—Any or all of the following methods of assessment may be used in this course: Class participation, weekly quizzes, Midterm, Final exam, and homework assignments.

 

Grades: You will be graded on the quality of your assignments, online participation, and performance on tests and quizzes. There will be a weekly quiz covering the chapters that have been presented for that week through your reading and lectures. You will be given one week to complete the quiz after which time it will not be available. If you do not take the quiz during the week it is offered you will not be able to make it up. Each quiz will be a combination of multiple choice and/or true/false. You will be tested on information from the text book, homework assignments, and lectures notes. Quizzes will not be cumulative. However, the midterm, will cover the material presented in the class up to the date of the midterm and the final, will include the entire textbook, homework assignments, and course lectures notes. The midterm will be available for one week after which time it will not be available. The final will available for the period of time indicated on the course calendar.  If you do not take the midterm or the final you will not be able to make it up. Therefore, please check the class calendar carefully to make sure that you will be available to take the test during the week they are available before committing to the class.

 

You may choose to take this class for a letter grade or credit/no credit. A letter C grade requires at least a 70% and a Credit requires a 70% or higher for the course material. Students must complete all assignments to receive a passing grade/credit. If you fail to notify the instructor of your election you will be given a letter grade for class scores 80% and above a Credit for scores 70% up to 80% and a no credit for anything less than 70%. In order for the class to apply for the California Real Estate Examination requirement a student must pass the course with either a credit or a C or better grade.

 

Your Total Grade will consist of:

  • Online participation, through homework, and interactive email: 15%
  • Chapter quizzes: 20%
  • Midterm: 25%
  • Final exam: 40%

90% - above = A         80% - 89% = B         70% - 79% = C           60% - 69% = D           59% - below = F

 

Please note that you must receive a 70% for each component of the class in order to pass the course. For example, if you receive a cumulative score of 70% for quizzes, midterm and final exam but do not pass receive enough points to receive a 70% for the homework component of the course you will receive a failing grade.

 

Plagiarism/Cheating Policy: If plagiarism and/or cheating occurs the student will be withdrawn from the course and reported to the College.

 

Weekly Quizzes and Conditions

 

  • After completing the weekly assignment, reviewing the online materials, and completing the homework assignment, you will take a quiz by clicking on the Quizzes icon located under the week’s folder found under the Lessons Tab within Angel. Each quiz will have between 20 and 30 questions.
  • Quizzes consist of multiple choice and true/false questions.  While quizzes are not generally cumulative often subjects are covered more than once in the textbook and so quizzes may cover information that has been covered previously in the text.
  • In order to be successful with this course, complete the homework and review the online materials BEFORE taking the weekly quiz.  Make sure that you have completed the correct assignments BEFORE opening the quiz. Once you have opened the quiz you must complete it or not receive credit for the quiz. You will not be allow access to it again.
  • Quizzes are available ONLY through the Angel web site and only for seven (7) days each. You will given 20 minutes to complete each quiz, 2 hours for the midterm and 3 hours for the final. Upon expiration of these periods your access will be terminated and you will not be permitted re-access. Likewise, once you start a quiz or exam you must complete it. You will not be allowed to re-access the quiz or exam once you log-into the quiz or after the time expires.  No Exceptions. There are no make-ups for quizzes or exams.
  • Dates for the midterm and final will be posted on the course calendar on the Angel site. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes, midterm or final exams and unless otherwise agreed to between the Instructor and the student ahead of time, no late homework assignments will be accepted.
  • By registering and participating in this course, you understand and agree that, without exception, no makeup quizzes or exams will be given. This condition applies to all students without exception.
  • You must read the troubleshooting section located on the college web site www.westvalley.edu under distant learning to make sure your computer complies with system requirements, firewall, pop up and other systems restrictions.

Withdrawal From This Course:

If you drop this course, remember that withdrawal is not an automatic process. Withdrawal is the student's sole responsibility, not the instructor's. Contact the Admissions and Records Office to initiate the Drop process. Please read the DROP procedures carefully in the Schedule of Classes to avoid unnecessary grade penalties.

 

Disclaimer:

To accommodate emergent circumstances, the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus while the course is in progress.  Any understandings between individual students and the instructor, including changes, exceptions, or modifications to requirements or procedures must be in writing.  Any question of interpretation of course requirements or of understandings between a student and the instructor will be resolved by the instructor in the instructor’s sole but reasonable judgment.