Business Law: Contracts, Liability, and Regulation

Ends tomorrow! Get one of our best deals with Coursera Plus for $199 (usually $399). Save now.

Business Law: Contracts, Liability, and Regulation

This course is part of Business Law Specialization

Instructor: Cheng Yu Hou

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Recognize common legal issues in contracts, liability, regulation, and dispute resolution.
Use business law concepts to spot risk, ask better questions, and make informed decisions.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Business Law Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Learn how U.S. business law shapes everyday decisions about contracts, liability, regulation, ethics, and dispute resolution. In this course, you’ll build a practical foundation for recognizing legal issues, understanding where legal rules come from, and knowing when a business situation calls for deeper review or professional guidance.

You’ll explore the sources of U.S. law, the structure of the court system, constitutional limits on government regulation, and the role of administrative agencies. From there, you’ll examine ethics and corporate social responsibility, intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, product liability, and the core elements of enforceable contracts. You’ll also learn how contract defenses, breach, remedies, public policy, litigation, arbitration, and mediation affect business outcomes. Designed for learners who work with agreements, policies, vendors, employees, customers, or organizational risk, this course makes business law approachable without oversimplifying it. By the end, you’ll be better prepared to spot legal risk, ask stronger questions, and make more informed business decisions.

Business decisions are shaped by more than individual rules--they depend on where legal authority comes from, which court can hear a dispute, and how government agencies regulate business activity. In this module, you’ll examine sources of law, court structure, constitutional limits, and agency powers. By the end, you’ll be able to recognize how legal systems shape business risk and decision-making.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 assignment

5 videosTotal 28 minutes

Instructor Introduction and Course Overview4 minutes
The Nature and Sources of Law6 minutes
The U.S. Court System6 minutes
Constitutional Foundations of Business Law6 minutes
Administrative Law And Regulatory Agencies6 minutes

4 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Course Outline10 minutes
Supporting Reading: The Nature and Sources of Law5 minutes
Supporting Reading: Constitutional Foundations of Business Law5 minutes
Review: Module Key Concepts5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Practice Assessment: Module 120 minutes

Business risk is not limited to breaking the law--it also includes ethical judgment, harm caused outside contracts, product-related injuries, and failed agreements. In this module, you’ll examine legal and ethical obligations, tort liability, strict liability, product liability, and contract formation. By the end, you’ll be able to evaluate common business risks and recognize when legal issues require closer review.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility in Law5 minutes
Torts - Intentional and Negligent6 minutes
Strict Liability and Product Liability6 minutes
Introduction to Contract Law6 minutes

3 readingsTotal 15 minutes

Supporting Reading: Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility in Law5 minutes
Supporting Reading: Strict Liability and Product Liability5 minutes
Review: Module Key Concepts5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Practice Assessment: Module 220 minutes

Business contracts matter only when they can be enforced, performed, and resolved when disputes arise. In this module, you’ll examine contract defenses, performance standards, breach remedies, public policy limits, and litigation and ADR options. By the end, you’ll be able to evaluate contract problems, anticipate legal change, and choose appropriate paths for resolving business disputes.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Contract Enforceability and Defenses6 minutes
Contract Performance and Breach5 minutes
Public Policy and the Law5 minutes
Dispute Resolution and Litigation5 minutes

3 readingsTotal 15 minutes

Supporting Reading: Contract Enforceability and Defenses5 minutes
Supporting Reading: Public Policy and the Law5 minutes
Review: Module Key Concepts5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Practice Assessment: Module 320 minutes

Business law becomes most useful when you can connect legal rules to real decisions. In this final module, you’ll bring together sources of law, courts, regulation, ethics, liability, contracts, public policy, and dispute resolution. By the end, you’ll be able to evaluate business scenarios, recognize legal risk, and make informed recommendations about next steps.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Cheng Yu Hou

University of California, Santa Barbara

3 Courses446 learners

Offered by

University of California, Santa Barbara

Explore more from Business Essentials

University of California, Santa Barbara
Business Law: Employment, Securities, and Emerging Trends
Course
University of California, Santa Barbara
Business Law: Commercial Transactions and Organizations
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.