• Skip to Content

Kelley School of Business Indiana University
  • Programs
    • Undergraduate
    • Full-Time +Flex MBA
    • Kelley Direct Online MBA
    • Online Master's Degrees & Certificates
    • +Kelley
    • 3/2 MBA
    • MS in Accounting with Data and Analytics
    • MS in Finance
    • MS in Healthcare Management
    • MS in Information Systems
    • MS in Management
    • PhD
    • Executive Education
    • Indianapolis Programs
    • International Programs
  • Faculty & Research
    • Research & Publications
    • Faculty Directory
    • Departments & Majors
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Courses
  • Recruiters & Corporate Relations
    • Graduate Career Services
    • Undergraduate Career Services
    • Indianapolis Career Services
    • Alumni Career Resources
    • Corporate & Foundation Relations
    • Indianapolis Corporate & Foundation Relations
  • Alumni
    • Who We Are
    • Get Involved
    • Career & Professional Development
    • Awards
    • Alumni Legacies
    • Events
    • Giving
    • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Dean's Welcome
    • Administration
    • Kelley Women
    • School Profile
    • History
    • Visit Bloomington
    • Visit Kelley Indianapolis
    • Contact
    • Directory
    • Social Media Directory
    • Rankings
  • More
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Directory
    • News & Events
    • Give
    • Kelley Store
Undergraduate
  • Why Kelley?
    • Rankings
    • Global Opportunities
    • Faculty Support
    • Alumni Network
    • Living Learning Center
    • Career Services
    • Social Impact
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Students
    • Current IU Students
    • Transfer Students
    • International Students
    • Visit Us
    • Virtual Tour
  • Academics
    • Majors, Minors, & Certificates
    • Learning Goals
    • Workshops
    • Study Abroad
    • Business Honors
    • Academic Advising
  • Scholarships
    • Undergraduate Scholarship List
    • Scholarships for Direct Admit First-Year Students
    • External Scholarship List
    • Additional Financial Resources
    • Scholarships for Current Kelley Students
    • Scholarships for Prebusiness Students and Transfer Students
  • Student Life
    • Student Support
    • Student Organizations
    • Professional Fraternity Council
    • Kelley Student Government
    • Women's Council
    • REACH
    • Events Calendar
    • Newsletter
  • Pre-College
    • Kelley Sprint Case Competition
    • Women's Leadership Institute
    • MEET Kelley
    • Choose Business
    • Up-Next Business Academy
  • Current Students
    • Degree Requirements
    • Minors Outside of Kelley
    • Enrollment
    • Academic Support
    • Forms & Applications
    • New Student Orientation
    • Contact Us
  • Parents
    • Supporting Your Student
    • Academic Resources
    • Career Resources
    • Questions?
  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Academics
  5. Majors, Minors, & Certificates
  6. BUS-X170 How Business Works
  • Majors, Minors, & Certificates
  • Learning Goals
  • Workshops
  • Study Abroad
  • Business Honors
  • Academic Advising

Start building momentum before classes begin

Your first Kelley School course—BUS-X170 How Business Works—provides the foundation for your smooth transition to the Kelley School of Business and your future academic success. You’ll learn about real-world business practices in a variety of disciplines, from operations and management to marketing and finance.  

Offered online during the summer before your first semester, this course gives you:

  • A head start on your business education
  • Valuable early access to Kelley faculty
  • An understanding of faculty expectations
  • Familiarity using IU technology

This course is for new Kelley students. Direct Admits are pre-enrolled in the course X170. You'll see it on your schedule at New Student Orientation.

Intro to BUS-X170: How Business Works

How Business Works helps students transition to the Kelley School of Business and builds a foundation for success. Offered online during the summer before the first semester, this course gives students an understanding of real-world business practices in a variety of disciplines, from operations and management to marketing and finance.

What students say about BUS-X170

Curious what BUS-X170 is like? Discover what Kelley School of Business students enjoyed most about this course.

Jenna Burd, BS’23
Hailey Hudson, BS’23
Neliya Nyirenda, BS’23

You'll join the class online in a live virtual classroom: all you need is a computer with Wi-Fi, a microphone, and a webcam. The course will utilize Zoom, TopHat, Canvas, and Microsoft Teams. The course offers plenty of flexibility in terms of when you can engage with the learning materials, as well as flexibility for students in time zones around the world.

Course activities will begin with a live, interactive introduction to the course. You will have the option of watching the recording on your own time, if you prefer. You will receive the Zoom link a few days prior to this date. No other prior action is needed. This link will allow you to join the discussion and get better clarity about course requirements.

All webinars will be recorded. Attendance at live sessions is encouraged, but it is not required. You will work in teams and need to have the ability to interact with your teammates via a digital connection. Accommodations will be made for Camp Kelley attendees.

Need help with Zoom or Top Hat? Find help here:

  • About Zoom at IU
  • Top Hat Guide
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Canvas

You are pre-enrolled in BUS-X170 as a Direct Admit to the Kelley School. The courses as a part of your fall credit hours and counts as a part of your fall flat-rate tuition. No summer tuition is assessed. For information on IUB's flat-rate tuition, see the IU's Cost and Financial Aid.

Aligns with intersession dates and first class will be on Monday, August 4th at 1-2:15 p.m. ET.  A Zoom link and class information will be emailed to registered students prior to that date.  If you cannot attend live or need to leave class early, you can review recordings of all live class sessions, which will meet weekdays.

What kind of computer/technology is needed?

A computer with Wi-Fi, a microphone, and a webcam

How much time is required for this course?

This course requires approximately twelve hours of work per week.

What are the benefits of taking BUS-X170?

  • Getting up to speed on all IU classroom technology
  • Exposure to Kelley faculty from different disciplines
  • Interdisciplinary understanding of “How Business Works”
  • Exposure to I-Core faculty (you may see one or more of your instructors again)
  • Introduction to IU research databases and materials
  • Intensive summer bridge to your IU/Kelley experience
    • Research shows that students who participate in a summer bridge experience are more successful in their first semester at college
  • The course is part of your fall credit hours and counts as a part of your fall flat-rate tuition. No summer tuition is assessed. For information on IUB's flat-rate tuition, see the IU's Cost and Financial Aid.

What if I am traveling or working during some of the course?

You can access this course anywhere, as long as you have access to Wi-Fi and a computer. If you are going to be traveling for more than one week without access to Wi-Fi, you may want to drop this course.

What am I missing if I cannot take this course due to conflicts?

You will not be penalized in any way if you are unable to take this course due to traveling or other unavoidable conflicts. This course is not required for any student.

Can I take both BUS-X170 and an Intensive Freshmen Seminar (IFS) course?

Unfortunately, no. Students will have to make a choice between BUS-X170 and IFS due to the conflicts in timing and the workload in each of these intersession courses. You are welcome to talk with an advisor to get recommendations regarding which course would best fit your situation.

What if I need to drop this course?

You may drop this course, after your NSO date, by going to your Student Center. Please refer to the IUB official calendar for drop dates/deadlines for intersession courses. If you have additional questions about this process, email x170@iu.edu

If I can’t take X170 now, can I take it in the fall?

The course runs only during the few weeks prior to the start of the fall semester, and is for new Kelley students.

 

Meet Your Instructors

Led by a team of six faculty members (and an IU resource librarian) from various functional areas of business, BUS-X170 gives you an opportunity to interact with instructors you may see again during I-Core or throughout your academic career at Kelley.

  • Gary Arave (Resource Librarian)
  • Bryce Bow (Co-Lead Instructor)
  • Joe Fitter
  • Gerry Hays
  • Jeanette Heidewald (Co-Lead Instructor)
  • Kent Rerko (Co-Lead Instructor)
  • John Talbott

Social media

  • Facebook for the Kelley School of Business Full-Time MBA Program
  • Twitter for the Kelley School of Business
  • Linkedin for the Kelley School of Business Full-Time MBA Program
  • Blog for the Kelley School of Business Full-Time MBA Program
  • Instagram for the Kelley School of Business Full-Time MBA Program
  • Youtube for the Kelley School of Business Full-Time MBA Program
  • Accessibility
  • College Scorecard
  • Privacy Notice
  • Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University