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Business 211
3 College Credits
NCCRS Credit Recommended
Business
Ethics
Explore the decisions that define companies and careers, where profit, principle, and responsibility collide, and learn to navigate them with confidence.
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NCCRS Credit Recommended
3 Credit Hours
Self-Paced
Self-Paced · Final Exam · NCCRS Recommended
What You'll Learn
A full semester of business ethics — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
Learning Outcomes
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Apply major ethical theories — including deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and rights-based ethics — to analyze and resolve complex real-world business dilemmas.
- Evaluate workplace ethics by identifying key organizational, cultural, and leadership factors that shape ethical conduct, and develop strategies for promoting ethical behavior within organizations.
- Examine corporate social responsibility (CSR), including its historical development, stakeholder impact, and role in long-term business sustainability.
- Navigate the intersection of law and ethics in business, including compliance with employment, environmental, and consumer protection regulations.
- Analyze global business ethics, diversity and inclusion, media ethics, environmental responsibility, and personal moral development within professional contexts.
Topics Covered
Major Course Topics
Ethical theories & decision-making
Corporate governance & stakeholders
Workplace ethics & organizational culture
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Diversity & inclusion in the workplace
Business, government & society
Consumer rights & regulations
Ethics in advertising & marketing
Environmental responsibility in business
Media ethics & public relations
Global business ethics
Special interest groups & activism
Technology, business & society
Business–government relations
Individual integrity & moral development
Ethical dilemmas in international business
From the syllabus · Business 211
Course chapters and lessons
Business Ethics has 19 chapters across 60.5 instructional hours, as listed in the course syllabus. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
- Chapters
- 19
- Lessons
- 105
- Instructional hours
- 60.5 hrs
- Semester hours
- 3
Chapter 1
Foundations of Business Ethics and Moral Reasoning
- 1.1 Business Ethics Today: Frameworks for the Modern Workplace
- 1.2 How Ethical Decisions Get Made: A Step-by-Step View
- 1.3 What Shapes Ethics at Work: People, Culture, and Context
- 1.4 Rights-Based and Natural Law Approaches to Ethics
- 1.5 Applying Utilitarian Thinking to Business Situations
- 1.6 From Aristotle to Rawls: Philosophical Roots of Business Ethics
- 1.7 Where Ethical Dilemmas Begin: Root Causes and Triggers
Chapter 2
Organizational Ethics, Compliance, and Fair Competition
- 2.1 Building Systems to Manage Ethics Inside Organizations
- 2.2 Creating a Workplace Culture Rooted in Ethical Values
- 2.3 Hidden Risks in Decision-Making: Understanding Moral Hazard
- 2.4 Ethics Programs: Policies, Training, and Whistleblower Channels
- 2.5 Going Beyond the Job: Organizational Citizenship in Practice
- 2.6 When Professional Conduct Meets Legal Obligation
- 2.7 Identifying and Addressing Unfair Competition in Business
- 2.8 Competition in Free Markets: Forms, Functions, and Implications
Chapter 3
Employees, Stockholders, and Corporate Governance
- 3.1 Identifying Key Stakeholders: Employees, Investors, Communities, and Beyond
- 3.2 How Business Decisions Ripple Across Stakeholder Groups
- 3.3 Shareholder Influence: Pursuing Financial and Social Aims
- 3.4 When Interests Collide: Navigating Owner, Investor, and Stakeholder Priorities
Chapter 4
Public Relations for Business
- 4.1 Why Public Issues Matter to Corporate Strategy and Reputation
- 4.2 Managing Public Affairs: Organizational Structures, Skills, and Frameworks for Emerging Issues
- 4.3 Corporate Public Relations: Objectives, Functions, and Scope
- 4.4 Crisis Management: Preparation, Response, and Recovery
- 4.5 Strengthening Ties with the Groups That Matter Most to Your Organization
Chapter 5
Workforce Diversity: Culture, Gender, Age, and Ability
- 5.1 The Personal Dimensions of Diversity: Demographics and Background
- 5.2 Workforce Composition in a Changing World: Cultural Diversity at Work
- 5.3 Closing the Gap: Gender Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
- 5.4 Managing Multigenerational Teams: Age Diversity at Work
- 5.5 From Accommodation to Integration: Disability and Ability in the Workplace
Chapter 6
Diversity Leadership, Equal Opportunity, and Work-Life Balance
- 6.1 Leadership Practices for a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce
- 6.2 Affirmative Action: Policy Rationale, Implementation, and Debate
- 6.3 Equal Employment Opportunity Law: Legal Foundations and Title VII Employer Obligations
- 6.4 Work-Life Integration: Policies That Support Employee Balance
Chapter 7
The Relationship Between Business, Government, and Society
- 7.1 The Three-Way Relationship: Business, Government, and Society
- 7.2 Capitalism as an Economic System: Free Markets, Private Ownership, and Competition
- 7.3 Pluralism and Democracy: How Political Systems Shape Business-Society Relations
- 7.4 Interest Groups in the U.S.: Origins, Types, and Evolution
- 7.5 How Interest Groups Shape Political Outcomes and Policy
- 7.6 Federal Agencies That Protect the Public from Corporate Misconduct
- 7.7 Oversight Mechanisms That Guard Against Stock Market Abuse
- 7.8 Operating in Market and Non-Market Environments Simultaneously
- 7.9 Corporate Stakeholder Mapping: Who They Are and Why They Matter
Chapter 8
Business-Government Relations and Political Influence
- 8.1 How Government Shapes Business: Subsidies, Incentives, Regulation, and Oversight Mechanisms
- 8.2 Administrative Agencies: Formation, Function, and Business Impact
- 8.3 Beyond Regulation: Other Ways Government Influences Business Behavior
- 8.4 Entering the Political Arena: Why Businesses Engage and at What Cost
- 8.5 Inside the Public Affairs Function: Purpose, Scope, and Value
- 8.6 Four Pillars of Corporate Strategy: Information, Societal, Political, and Legal Levers
Chapter 9
Corporate Social Responsibility and Citizenship
- 9.1 Mutual Obligations Between Business and Society: The Ethics Compact
- 9.2 Embedding Social Purpose into Everyday Organizational Operations
- 9.3 How Corporate Social Responsibility Took Shape: A Historical Overview
- 9.4 The Spectrum of CSR: From Minimal Compliance to Proactive Leadership
- 9.5 Ethical Business Practices as a Driver of CSR Performance
- 9.6 Assessing Corporate Citizenship: Stages of Maturity and Standards for Measuring Social Performance
- 9.7 People, Planet, Profit: The Triple Bottom Line in Corporate Strategy
Chapter 10
Business, Community, and Media Accountability
- 10.1 How Business and Community Create Mutual Value Through Partnerships
- 10.2 What Companies Owe Their Communities: Roles and Responsibilities
- 10.3 Corporate Giving and Civic Engagement: Strategies for Community Investment
- 10.4 Press, Power, and Accountability: Examining the Media's Role in Business
- 10.5 From Print to Digital: The Transformation of American Mass Media
- 10.6 Media Regulation: Rules, Standards, and Enforcement Frameworks
Chapter 11
Consumer Rights and Regulations
- 11.1 Unpacking the Marketplace: Customers, Consumers, and the Rise of Consumerism
- 11.2 The Core Rights Every Consumer Is Entitled To
- 11.3 Who Enforces the Rules? Federal Agencies in Consumer Protection
- 11.4 Consumer Privacy Laws: Key Legislation and Regulatory Frameworks
- 11.5 Digital Privacy Challenges: Data Breaches, Surveillance, and Consumer Consent
- 11.6 Product Liability: Legal Standards and Business Implications
- 11.7 Professional Ethics in Medicine and Psychology: Standards and Obligations
Chapter 12
Ethics in Advertising and Marketing
- 12.1 When Marketing Crosses a Line: Principles of Marketing Ethics
- 12.2 Targeted Marketing: Where Ethical Strategy Meets Exploitation Risk
- 12.3 The AMA's Ethical Framework: Norms, Values, and Professional Standards
- 12.4 How Advertising Is Regulated: Laws, Agencies, and Industry Self-Governance
- 12.5 Recurring Ethical Issues in Advertising: Deception, Manipulation, and Vulnerable Audiences
Chapter 13
How Organizations Shape and Respond to Public Advocacy
- 13.1 Special Interest Groups and Activists: Who They Are and What They Want
- 13.2 Social Interest Organizations: Mission, Methods, and Influence
- 13.3 Business Interest Organizations: Trade Groups, Lobbies, and Industry Coalitions
- 13.4 How Businesses Respond to Activist Pressure and Campaigns
Chapter 14
Technology, Business, and Society
- 14.1 Digital Transformation and Competitive Advantage: How Technology Reshapes Business Operations and Strategy
- 14.2 Navigating the Ethical Dimensions of Technology in Business Environments
Chapter 15
Environmental Ethics, Law, and Sustainability
- 15.1 Environmental Ethics: Philosophical Foundations and Real-World Relevance
- 15.2 The Legal Landscape: Key Environmental Laws and Their Origins
- 15.3 Balancing Environmental Protection with Economic Priorities
- 15.4 What Sustainable Development Means: Definitions, Goals, and Global Frameworks
- 15.5 Barriers to Sustainability: Economic Pressures, Political Resistance, and Implementation Challenges
Chapter 16
Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Stewardship
- 16.1 The Path to Sustainability: Organizational Stages and Milestones
- 16.2 Market-Based Tools for Encouraging Environmental Compliance
- 16.3 Corporate Activities and Their Consequences for Global Ecosystems
- 16.4 Why Environmental Stewardship Makes Business Sense
Chapter 17
Going Global: International Business Ethics and Strategy
- 17.1 Going Global: How and Why Businesses Expand Internationally
- 17.2 Context Matters: The Environments Multinational Firms Must Navigate
- 17.3 Weighing the Gains and Losses of Business Globalization
- 17.4 Cross-Cultural Leadership: Managing Effectively Across National Borders
- 17.5 When Work Moves Abroad: The Logic and Trade-Offs of Offshoring
- 17.6 The Decision to Outsource: Drivers, Criteria, and Consequences
- 17.7 Governance and Economic Frameworks as Variables in Global Strategy
- 17.8 Regional Economic Integration: Purpose, Models, and Business Implications
Chapter 18
Ethical Challenges in Cross-Border Business Operations
- 18.1 Moral Judgment Without Borders: Ethical Decision-Making in Global Firms
- 18.2 Corporate Values on a Global Scale: Responsibility Beyond Domestic Borders
- 18.3 Free Trade, Capitalism, and Globalization After 1990
- 18.4 The Ethics of Global Information Flow in the Digital Age
- 18.5 Why Global Business Goes Wrong: Cultural Roots and Common Ethical Pitfalls in Cross-Border Operations
- 18.6 Bribery in Global Markets: Ethical Analysis and Real-World Cases
Chapter 19
Individual Integrity and Ethics
- 19.1 How Personal Values and Moral Reasoning Shape Professional Business Decisions
- 19.2 Defining and Developing a Personal Moral Code in a Business Context
- 19.3 Putting Ethics into Practice: Moral Judgment and Integrity in Daily Business Life
These chapters come straight from the official course syllabus, which also sets out the graded assignment and the proctored final exam.
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Use business ethics to make better decisions at work and beyond.
Explore the decisions that define companies and careers, where profit, principle, and responsibility collide, and learn to navigate them with confidence.
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Course Trailer
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A 56-second look at Business Ethics.
FAQ
Common Questions Answered.
Everything you need to know about Business Ethics — credits, grading, transfer, and how it compares to traditional options.
What is Business Ethics?
Business Ethics is a college-level business course covering core concepts in management, strategy, ethics, or operations. It is Business 211 — worth 3 credit hours, carrying an NCCRS recommendation from NCCRS.
What will I be able to do after finishing Business Ethics?
You will be able to apply key business concepts to real-world situations, make more informed decisions in professional contexts, and demonstrate college-level competency in the subject area.
Is the Business Ethics course self-paced for college credit?
Yes. The course is fully self-paced with no deadlines or fixed class times. Most students complete it in 28–30 days, but you can move faster or slower depending on your schedule.
How many college credits is Business Ethics worth?
This course carries an NCCRS recommendation for 3 semester credit hours. UPI Study courses follow the same evaluation standard used across thousands of colleges and universities.
How is the Business Ethics course graded? Are there exams?
Yes — grading has four equal parts: 25% attendance, 25% quizzes, 25% assignments, and a 25% final exam. A score of 70 or above is required to pass.
Will my university accept Business Ethics credits from UPI Study?
Check our Find My College directory. If your university recognizes NCCRS credit recommendations, UPI Study courses can be considered; the final decision is with the university. You can also book a free call with our team.
Why take Business Ethics online instead of at a traditional university?
A traditional university course in this subject typically costs $500–$1,500+ per credit hour and requires fixed schedules, campus attendance, and semester timelines. UPI Study covers the same NCCRS-recommended content at $250 total, with no deadlines and no campus requirement.
Can international students take Business Ethics for college credit?
Yes. UPI Study courses carry an NCCRS recommendation — recognized by cooperating institutions in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and other countries. Students have submitted credits across 26+ countries.
Is Business Ethics the same as Business Law?
No — Ethics focuses on decision-making frameworks and corporate responsibility, not legal statutes.
How are ethical issues evaluated in the Business Ethics course?
You will apply classical ethical frameworks to real-world corporate cases involving consumer privacy, corporate governance, whistleblowing, and environmental sustainability.
Is Business Ethics mandatory for business degrees?
Most AACSB and ACBSP accredited business schools require a dedicated business ethics course or general ethics credit for graduation.
Where will my college put this credit?
Usually as transfer credit, credit for prior learning (CPL), or noncollegiate/alternative credit, the same route colleges use for professional training evaluated by NCCRS. The final decision is with the university.
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Structured lessons covering every topic — designed as a standard Business Ethics college-level course.
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