As an e-learning [Home Study] Course, this course is primarily designed as a form of independent study. Thus, this experience involves minimal contact with the professor. However, the professor will be more than willing to discuss matters related to the course over the phone or by e-mail and will also meet with students in the office if the periodic need arises for that personal contact. Since there will be little, if any, face-to-face contact between the professor and the student, the only way that learning can be assessed will be through the student's communication through writing and electronic communication. Therefore, the student will have to write more for this course than would be the case with an in-class course in order to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.

This course has been approved as a General Education Course and for the Business Professional in a Global Society Cluster.
 

General Course Characterization:

This course will explore the ethical issues underlying the role of business on both a macrocosmic (global and national) and microcosmic (practices in the workplace) level. It will consider the following issues: (1) ethical frameworks for national and international business practices; (2) truth-telling and advertising; (3) the nature and moral responsibility of corporations; (4) private property and profit; (5) employer-employee relationships; (6) diversity and affirmative action; and (7) the role of business and environmental concerns.

While accommodations will be made to students who do not have access to computers over the summer, the preferable way to take this course is through the professor's website <http://homepages.udayton.edu/~ulrich/>

Course Requirements:

There will be three (3) essay examinations and one (1) case study paper. Essay questions will be posted on the website early in the course to act as a study guide. [CLICK HERE for a sample.] There will be six (6) questions to be answered per period and the answers to the questions should be about one (1) to two (2) pages in length, typed double-spaced. Thus, the writing that the student will do for the 3 examinations will vary from eighteen  (18) to thirty-six  (36) pages in length. There will be a total of 452 pages of required reading material from the text books and the website readings for the three examinations.

There will be three threaded discussions during the course. CLICK HERE to see what is involved in a threaded discussion. Essentially a threaded discussion involves making a series of comments (5) on a case or topic that is posted on the website. This exercise will allow students to have some direct contact with each other even though there are no class sessions. Each of the threaded discussions will count as ten (10) points toward each of the exams (exams are worth 90 points each).

Three (3) chat rooms (live sessions) will also be held during the course. Each chat room will count as ten (10) extra credit points. CLICK HERE to see what is involved in a chat room (live session).

The case study paper should be about eight (8) to ten (10) pages (double-spaced or the equivalent) in length. Thus, you will generate about twenty-six (26) to forty-six (46) pages overall (including the 3 examinations and the case study) for the course. While this may look like a great deal of writing, students must remember that this work must compensate for no class meetings. The final grade will be determined by an average of the three examinations and the case study paper. The extra credit chat room will be figured into the total points as a basis for the average of the three examinations and case study paper.

CLICK HERE to see the course assignments.

KEEP COPIES OF ALL MATERIALS SENT TO THE INSTRUCTOR.

Grading Scale:

90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; 59 and below = F.

Video:

The Department of Philosophy has produced a series of three videos under the general title of "Navigating to Ethical Decisions." These videos are intended to increase understanding of ethical systems ------ a goal of the first assignment of this course. Copies of the videos will be made available to students by the end of the Winter term. The videos must be returned to the professor. A final grade will not be assigned to a student if the video is not returned to the professor.

Texts:

The textbooks will be available in the bookstore prior to the end of the current term.

Donaldson, Werhane and Cording. Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach. 7th edition. Prentice Hall, 2002. ISBN 0-13-092387-7.
Newton, Lisa and Schmidt, David. Wake Up Calls: Classic Cases in Business Ethics. Wadsworth, 1996. 0-534-25338-5.
Articles Readings selected from ERESERVE in the library.