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DR. BRUNER
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Dr. Gordon C. Bruner II
Office: Rehn Hall, Suite 229
Office Phone: 453-4341

e-mail: gcbii@siu.edu

CB Webcourse FAQ

At the end of the course, those who have studied the assigned material, passed the tests, and interacted with me should be able to do the following:

• Understand the major psychological and sociological variables that shape consumer behavior.
• Understand the major stages in the consumer decision process.
• Understand how a knowledge of consumer behavior enables marketing management to be more effective.

What Happens After I Register?

After registration, students should:

• Purchase the DVD MegaPack for the course that is composed of 3 DVDs and 1 CD. The DVDs have videos of Dr. Bruner teaching the on-campus version of the course. The CD has PowerPoint presentations that parallel the videos on the DVDs. The CD also has three presentations with questions and answers that help in preparation for the tests.
• Purchase a textbook on the topic of Consumer Behavior. While the majority of what you need to know will come from the disks, the book allows a students to read in more detail about things mentioned in the lecturea. The book will also deal with some "optional" topics not covered in the presentations.
• Be allowed to access the secure course website. Among other things, students may view the course syllabus which lists the suggested order in which chapters should be read. It is also possible to take "practice tests" at the website. That secure site is also where students who are registered for the credit version of the course will take the exams from which grades are determined.)
• Registered students will also have easy access to me through e-mail that will promptly be answered. Questions are likely to come up as you go through the material. You can be confident that I will respond to you in a timely fashion. For example, you may be interested in reading more about some topic that is raised in the lectures or in the text. I will be glad to identify that material for you and, if possible, make it available to you on-line.
• Upon request, a formal certificate will be given after the course has been finished. Those who choose to take the tests covering the three sections of the course and pass them can receive a special certificate indicating satisfactory completion of the course. Those who do not choose to take the formal exams may take some "practice tests" at their convenience during the session and earn a certificate that simply states they completed the course.

What Kind of Credit Can I Receive For Taking This Course?

People can choose between two versions of the course: one for formal, college credit and one for noncredit.

• The credit version is appropriate to take if you want this course to count towards a degree at a university in the U.S. and many other countries. For example, if you later come to SIUC and want to be a Marketing major then by taking (and passing) the credit version of Consumer Behavior you will not have to repeat it again here.
• In contrast, those who take the noncredit version of the course can request a certificate of completion from SIUC but it can not be used as part of the degree requirements at SIUC or most other U.S. schools. Taking the noncredit version of the course makes the most sense when one is primarily interested in learning the material from a respected professor and institution in a flexible, non-classroom manner. For example, many people already have degrees or jobs but simply want to know more about the topic and are not interested in receiving formal, academic credit.

What Do I Need to Take This Course?

To be successful in completing this course you must have the following:

• access to a computer that runs a current version of Windows and can play DVDs.
• access to a computer with an Internet connection for sending/receiving e-mail as well as viewing material at the course website. For those taking the credit version of the course, it is very important to have a fast, relibale connection when it comes time to take the exams online. You do not want your connection to fail in the middle of an exam.
• ability to read and write in English.
• time to devote to the course (2 to 4 months).

If you choose to take the noncredit version of the course there are no formal prerequisites. You are not required to have taken any other particular college courses before you register for this course. However, a basic knowledge of psychology, sociology, and marketing would be very helpful in understanding the course material. If you want to take the credit version of the course then you must be at the "junior" level or higher in your academic ranking. That means the SIUC registrar may ask you to provide evidence that you have accumulated at least 56 hours of college credit.
 

What Are the Qualifications of the Professor and the University?  

• Dr. Bruner is a full-time, tenured, Professor of Marketing at SIUC. His teaching and research specialty is consumer behavior.  (For more information about Dr. Bruner's background and research, see this page).
• SIUC is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Doctoral Granting University (the most prestigious category) and is accredited by several organizations.  Most important to the College of Business is that it was reaccredited for all of its degree programs by the AACSB.  Not only does SIUC have many more business degrees than most universities, but each of them have been accredited. Students should be very careful about taking business courses for credit from any organization that has not received AACSB accreditation. The "seal of approval" of that organization helps confirm that a college of business has qualified professors, courses, programs, and resources.

Registration for the noncredit version of the course can be done at any time. While there are some official deadlines for registration in the credit version, for practical purposes it can be done just about anytime as well.
 

How Do I Register?

Enrollment for each term will be limited to the first 10 people who register and pay the required fee. Payment can be made in the form of a credit card, a check, or a money-order. (Using a credit card will be the fastest and easiest way to pay fees; the transaction occurs on a "secure server" to make the process as safe as possible.) Please click the button below when you are ready to begin the registration process.