Business Ethics, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Applied Ethics

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/b)
  (Exemption from Swedish)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the students should be able to:

• demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories within the field of business ethics
• demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of central issues within business ethics
• describe and analyse ethical problems within business ethics
• critically evaluate positions and arguments
• handle issues related to business and corporate social responsibility in policy making or professional work.

Course content

Business ethics is a field of study that includes both the general question of the interface between economic practice and ethical theory, and more specific questions such as the social responsibility of corporations, professionalism, economic and corporate decision-making structure, employee rights, and environmental and global issues.
The course contains four areas of study: (i) Business ethics and normative theories, (ii) Business ethics and the business disciplines, (iii) Issues in business ethics, and (iv) Case studies in business ethics. By developing analytical tools, the students will be able to analyse and evaluate problems and theories within the area of business ethics. The ability to critically assess issues of business from an ethical point of view is exercised by text analysis and case studies.
The students present a proposal for introducing a business ethics issue for a business organization or a work place. One option could be to write a proposal for a code of conduct. Another option could be to write a proposal of how to implement a corporate social responsibility approach.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching comprises lectures, seminars, and group discussions. Students have to prepare tasks and assignments both individually as well as in groups for the seminars. Participation in seminars and group discussions is mandatory. Language of instructions: English

Examination

The course is examined by oral presentations and and by individually written essays.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department