ECON 230 - Ethics: Corp Comm in Society

Credit(s): 3
3 hours lecture, 3 hours contact
This course explores the ethical challenges and responsibilities faced by businesses in today’s globalized and interconnected world. With a focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and ethical decision-making, students will examine how businesses influence - and are influenced by - societal, environmental, and governance issues.

The course introduces students to a range of ethical theories, frameworks, and real-world applications that address pressing questions around truthfulness, equity, sustainability, inclusion, and corporate accountability. Students will explore the distinction between legal compliance and ethical leadership, and assess how organizations navigate ethical dilemmas internally (e.g., whistleblowing, discrimination, workplace ethics) and externally (e.g., greenwashing, climate responsibility, stakeholder impact).

Through theoretical reflection, case-based learning, and interactive workshops, students will develop the capacity to think critically and act responsibly in complex and ambiguous business environments. They will engage with current trends in ethical business practices, such as DEI strategies, supply chain ethics, and regulatory frameworks, and explore their role as ethical consumers, employees, and future business leaders.