Butler Community College
Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math Division
Jared McGinley
Revised Fall 2015
Implemented Spring 2016
COURSE OUTLINE
Business Ethics
Course Description
BA 220. Business Ethics. 3 hours credit. This course will enable the student to gain an
understanding of what is meant by the concept of “business ethics” and why its study is
important for all types of organizations. The student will gain an understanding of
fundamental issues such as morality, legality, responsibility, utilitarianism, rights and
justice.
Required Materials
Boatright, J.R. Ethics and the conduct of business. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall.
* - For complete textbook information, refer to https://bookstore.butlercc.edu
Butler-assessed Outcomes
The intention is for the student to be able to
1. Demonstrate understanding of ethical decision making in organizations based on
best-practices business ethics models.
Learning PACT Skills that will be developed and documented in this course
Through involvement in this course, the student will develop ability in the following
PACT skill area(s):
Analytical Thinking Skills
 Problem solving - By applying skills learned in lessons, readings, and
discussions, the student will analyze specific business ethics problems and
present solutions.
Major Summative Assessment Task(s)
These Butler-assessed Learning Outcome(s) and the Learning PACT skill(s) will be
demonstrated by
1. Completing a departmental project that measures the student’s ability to apply
current business ethics models to business decisions.
Skills or Competencies
These actions are essential to achieve the course outcomes:
1. Provide critical analysis of real life business conduct and decision making.
2. Discuss utilitarianism, social responsibility, justice, and morals.
Learning Units
I.
Overview of business ethics
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A. Definition of business ethics
B. Nature and goals of business ethics
II.
Ethical decision making
A. Market ethics
B. Ethical reasoning
III. Ethical theories
A. Utilitarianism
B. Morality and virtues
C. Rights and justice
IV. Business ethics and the law
A. Employee responsibilities
B. Whistle blowing
V.
Marketing ethics
A. Promotion ethics
B. Competitive intelligence gathering
C. Product safety
VI. Employee rights
A. Employee privacy
B. Internet privacy
C. Unjust dismissal
D. Just compensation
E. Safety and health
VII. Discrimination
A. Sexual harassment
B. EEO and affirmative action
VIII. Financial ethics
A. Financial services
B. Financial markets
IX. Corporate social responsibility
A. Arguments for and against CSR
B. Corporate accountability
X.
International business ethics
A. Cultural differences
B. Bribery
C. Human rights
Learning Activities
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Classroom: Learning activities will be geared toward achieving the intended course
outcomes through lecture, instructor led-class discussion, textbook reading
assignments, exams, audio-visual aids and case studies.
Online: Online learning activities will equate to the classroom activities, with instructor
notes, online discussions, textbook reading assignments, exams, links to appropriate
websites and case studies.
Grade Determination
The student will be graded on learning activities and assessment tasks. Grade
determinants may include the following: examinations, written assignments, case
studies, projects, class participation, and other methods of evaluation at the discretion
of the instructor.
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