Frederick Community College

PH208 - Business Ethics

Class begins: 05/30*

Class ends: 07/25

Last Day to withdraw: 07/08

*This is also the deadline for sending your email address to the instructor.

Course Profile:

This course is offered to the Maryland Online (MOL) member colleges
-   Instruction on the Internet, 8 weeks, summer session
-   One exam with photo ID on students' home campus
-   Three mini-research projects (3-4 pages) posted on-line
-   Four on-line discussion topics, student contributions mandatory
-   Grades available on-line

Instructor:     David Wren

Home #:

651-994-1537

david.wren@nwa.com davidjwren@hotmail.com dwren@frederick.edu

Course Description:

With instruction entirely on the INTERNET, this course provides a general background in Business Ethics for students in all programs of study. It introduces contemporary ethical theory and research in areas such as corporate social responsibility, truth in advertising, self- vs. government-regulation of business, sexual harassment, affirmative action, social and economic justice.

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course

1. Students will demonstrate college-level communication skills.
   -- by demonstrating the ability to understand and interpret selected sets of
   materials, such as professional codes of conduct, famous case studies,
   landmark court decisions. (I.2)
2. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills.
   -- by summarizing  and analyzing major ethical theories relevant to moral issues
   in management, accounting and business decisions, both corporate and
   individual. (II.4)
   -- by synthesizing ethical frames of reference and relating them to everyday
   problems in management, accounting and business. (II.6)
   -- by demonstrating the capacity to argue opposing view points. (II.5)
3. Students will display general knowledge and historical awareness
   -- by synthesizing ethical frames of reference and relating them to everyday
   problems in management, accounting and business. (III.10)
4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of and be able to interpret social and educational values.
   -- by identifying and  and describing a moral point of view. (VII.22)
   -- by applying fundamental ethical principles to the construction of cogent
   moral arguments. (VII.22)
5. Students will value the emergence of a multi-cultural society
   -- by acknowledge a plurality of cultural and personal values and
   -- by demonstrating respect for the right of others to express their viewpoints. (X.30)

Textbooks:

"Business Ethics", by Manuel G. Velasquez, Prentice Hall,  2005,  6th edition

FCC students buy your textbook early in the FCC bookstore on campus!
MOL students call the FCC bookstore (301-846-2463) or go to the bookstore website at http://www.frederick.edu/bookstore/index.cfm?DocumentID=83  to arrange for a credit card purchase and have the text shipped to you.

You can also purchase an E-Book version of the same text for $34.10 at http://www.safarix.com/.
They have a free trial period for students.

Methods of Instruction:

This course is taught on the INTERNET. Selected readings, class discussion and the presentation of  INTERNET materials will facilitate student learning. Additionally, a variety of  on-line research assignments will prompt the student to become a more active learner.

Grades:

• A = 900 - 1000 points
• B = 800 - 899 points
• C = 700 - 799 points
• D = 600 - 699 points
• F = below 600 points

By the end of week 4, I will advise you of your progress in the class and suggest any needed assistance. You are, of course, encouraged to contact me at any time if you have concerns about your success in the class.

Tests:

	percent	points
Midterm Exam, essay	10 %	100
Chapter Practice Quizzes	5 %	50
2 Projects/Case Studies,	25 %	250
Final Exam, essay	10 %	100
4 Discussions, 25 points each	10 %	100
5 Homework Assignments	10 %	100
4 Multiple Choice Tests	20%	200
Participation	10%	100
Total Points		1000

Topical Outline.

Week		Chpt	Topic
1.	The Nature of Business Ethics	1	What is Ethics? How does it apply to Management and Business?
	The Moral     Point of View	1	Kohlberg: Moral Reasoning
2	Moral Principles         in Business	2	Utilitarian theory: J.S.Mill.
	A Theory of               Justice	2	Kant and John Rawls
3	Free Market        Economies	3	John Locke, Adam Smith
	The Mixed          Economy	3	The Marxist critique. Free market and welfare.
4	Competition and       Public Policy	4	The moral standards of perfect competition, monopoly, oligopolies.
	Midterm Exam	1-4
5	Business and       Environment	5	Environmental deterioration, ethics of control.
6	Business and        Consumers	6	Theories of contract, due care, and social cost
	Advertising	6	Advertising, persuasion, deception and manipulation.
7	Discrimination	7	Forms of discrimination, comparable worth, affirmative action.
8	The "Rational" Organization of the Company	8	Rights and obligations of employers and employees, working conditions, trade secrets, conflict of interest.
	Employee               Rights	8	Right to privacy,  whistle- blowing, employment-at-will, plant closings, unions.
15.	Final Exam	5-8