Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	04/28/2023
Top Code	150900 - Philosophy
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S),  Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	CL Option 1 Arts and Humanities (CC2)

Course Description

Covers elements of moral-ethical reasoning that are appropriate to individuals in organizations in all fields, with an emphasis on ethics as it relates to business enterprises. The focus is on the ethical and social responsibilities and integrity of professionals as well as corporate responsibility. ADVISORY: A course taught at the level of Preparation for College Composition or appropriate English placement. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Identify business or organizational ethical issues involved in sample events or scenarios and analyze those issues from multiple business or organizational perspectives based on influential ethical theories in the Western analytic tradition.
2. Compare and contrast business and organizational standards and moral issues and be able to evaluate, examine, and analyze personal ethical views as well as identify the ethical systems applied in ethical decision-making.
3. Identify corporate/business and economic structural issues that have ethical significance.

Course Objectives

• 1. Analyze a wide variety of business and organizational-related ethical issues through the lenses of major Western ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and Rawlsian Justice as Fairness.
• 2. Analyze business market and trade structure through various lenses on the spectrum from so-called “free market” economies to “socialist” economies, including the false dichotomy of “planned vs. free” economies.
• 3. Describe various models of business and corporate structures and their strengths and weaknesses and how each affects various stakeholders such as stockholders, consumers, and employees, as well as effects on externalities, such as the environment.
• 4. Analyze the effects of the profit motive, short-term vs. long-term views, and distinguish between private and personal property
• 5. Analyze and be able to apply the theories and concepts of monopolies, the tragedy of the commons and externalities, and the bargaining advantages correlated with capital.
• 6. Construct and support extended arguments for the purposes of defending or attacking positions relating to a variety of business and organizational-related ethical issues.
• 7. Describe the depth, complexity, and moral implications of a wide array of contemporary business and organizational activities in which professionals regularly find themselves involved.

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Lecture Content

Ethical theories and concepts. The importance of ethics in business and organizations. Legality vs. morality. Problematic theories such as ethical egoism, cultural relativism, subjectivism and/or others. Core theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, Rawlsian Justice, Social Contract Theory, and/or others. Economic and political concepts. False Dichotomy of Socialism vs. Free Markets. Concepts such as formal freedom vs. real freedom. Stakeholders vs. Shareholders The tragedy of the commons. Other topics/concepts may include, but are not limited to, libertarianism, comparative advantage, private vs. personal property, pay vs. profit, capital and exploitation, patents and copyright, the prisoners dilemma, monopolies, and oligopolies. The majority of the following topics will be touched upon in any iteration of the course. What employers can be said to owe to their employees and communities, and what employees can be said to owe to their employers. Organized labor and collective bargaining. Workers rights. Discrimination in the workplace and hostile working environments. Negative externalities, including environmental concerns. Long-term vs. short-term gain. Toxic corporate environments. Intellectual property, justification and criticisms, and its effects on innovation. Advertising and morality. Public trust. Corporate influence on law and news. Private data collection, use, and security.

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Instructional techniques will include lectures, class discussion, writing, readings, tests and/or quizzes. Instructors may also elect to employ workshops, class activities, and one-on-one consultations.

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments will typically consist of book chapters and additional assigned articles.

Writing Assignments

Students will be required to write at least one essay or extended paper in which they will present or analyze philosophical arguments and apply elements of theory covered in the course as it relates to a particular scenario, group of scenarios, or position relating to business or organizational ethics. This paper may ask students to address and give written answers regarding one or multiple scenarios provided in the course or may be of a more standard essay format.   Other written assignments may include written answers to quiz/test questions and discussion forums.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will be required to write at least one essay or extended paper in which they will present or analyze philosophical arguments and apply elements of theory covered in the course as it relates to a particular scenario, group of scenarios, or position relating to business or organizational ethics. Other assignments may include objective quizzes/tests, written quiz/test answers, discussion forums, or in-class work.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking will be demonstrated through answering questions on objective tests, written work, in-class work, and discussions.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will demonstrate their writing and problem-solving abilities by producing an essay containing an extended, cogent, philosophical argument for or against a particular issue relating to business or organizational ethics and/or analyzing scenarios.

Eligible Disciplines

Philosophy: Masters degree in philosophy OR bachelors degree in philosophy AND masters degree in humanities or religious studies, OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Velasquez, Manual G. Business Ethics, Concepts, and Cases, 7th ed. Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2011 Rationale: - Legacy Textbook Transfer Data: Legacy text 2. Required Byars, Stanberry, and contributing authors.. Business Ethics (OER), ed. Open Stax, Creative Commons License v4.0, 2022

Other Resources

1. Coastline Library