Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

New Course: this course was added after the last catalog

 Course Title:   Business Ethics

 Title Abbreviation:   BUSINESS ETHICS

 Department:    PHIL

 Course #:    440

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    380101

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

Examine the role of ethics and social responsibility in business. Theoretical concepts in business ethics will be applied to real-world situations based on challenges managers face. Included is an emphasis on personal outlooks, contemporary trends, and corporate responsibilities with respect to ethical, legal, economic, regulatory conditions, and the needs of stakeholders in the marketplace. Case studies/simulations will be used to explore real-world ethical and social responsibility situations.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: Admission to BASAM program and BASAM Director permission.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Describe theoretical ethical perspectives and considerations.
  2. Assess the influence of forces such as implicit and explicit bias, profit maximization and social justice on ethical choices.
  3. Define personal ethical outlooks, which recognize and reflect the impact of personal ethnographies.
  4. Investigate the way in which personal ethnographies shape individual approaches to ethical dilemmas.
  5. Experiment with and experience the consequences of ethical decisions within a business context through role play and repeatable decision models.
  6. Examine ways to shift from individual ethical challenges to those posed by leadership complexity while preserving personal values and ethical standards.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.3 Identify and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study and among different fields of study.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.4 Evaluate issues (for example economic, legal, historic, social) surrounding the use of information.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.7 Identify and evaluate connections and relationships among disciplines.
2.8 Describe how one’s own preconceptions, biases and values affect one’s response to new and ambiguous situations.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and issues associated with the diverse perspectives of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and culture.
4.6 Utilize ethical practice in relation to diverse communities and cultures for the promotion of equity and social justice.

5. Global & Local Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding the complexity and interdependence of, and stewardship responsibilities to, local and global communities and environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .

5.5 Demonstrate ethical practices as part of stewardship to local/global communities and environments.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.1 Identify ethical and healthy choices and apply these personally, socially, academically, and professionally.
6.2 Demonstrate standards of professionalism in manner, appearance, and setting appropriate to the context, including the classroom, workplace, and community.

10. Technology

Definition: Understanding the role of technology in society and using technology appropriately and effectively.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
10.2 Demonstrate an understanding of legal, ethical, and environmental issues in the use and misuse of technology.

Course Contents

  1. Theoretical ethical perspectives and considerations.
  2. Influence of forces such as implicit and explicit bias, profit maximization and social justice on ethical choices.
  3. Personal ethical outlooks, which recognize and reflect the impact of personal ethnographies.
  4. How personal ethnographies shape individual approaches to ethical dilemmas.
  5. Experience the consequences of ethical decisions within a business context through role play and repeatable decision model.
  6. Shift from individual ethical challenges to those posed by leadership complexity while preserving personal values and ethical standards.