Virginia, University of Darden Graduate School of Business Administration

At The Darden School ethics is regarded as a core discipline of business, on par with marketing and finance. Because capitalism involves working together to create value that none of us could create on our own, business is inherently a rich moral environment. Darden develops leaders who integrate ethics into their decision making.

Since 1988 Darden has required a graded course in ethics for first year students. We believe Darden is the first top-ranked school with such a course. This pillar of Darden�s ethics curriculum ensures that all graduates have a baseline awareness of business ethics. More importantly, the first year course helps students create a decision-making framework�through classical and contemporary readings and multiple case studies� that they can use throughout their careers.

There are generally two models of ethics education found at most business schools: a stand alone ethics course, or an integrated model where ethics discussion is included in other courses such as accounting or finance. Some business scholars have debated over which of the two models is most effective. This debate has no traction at Darden; we believe that employing both models is most effective for preparing practitioners who can lead with integrity. In the Darden first year curriculum, at least nine of the ten required courses contain material dealing with ethics.

Darden has three leading business ethics scholars who offer second year students a strong range of electives which help to expand the knowledge gained in the first year. Electives include: Corporate Impact Dynamic; Issues and Challenges with Social Enterprise; Foundations of Ethics and Economics Seminar; Leadership, Ethics and Theatre; Strategic Human Resources Management; Health Care Systems; Business Ethics Through Literature; and Leadership, Values, and Ethics. These courses empower students to think strategically about ethics in relation to organizations and business practice.

In addition to the curriculum, Darden is home to two eminent ethics centers which afford students opportunities for further exploration. The Olsson Center for Applied Ethics, which was established in 1966, is internationally recognized as a leader in ethics research. Additionally, the Center hosts the bi-annual Ruffin Lectures in Business Ethics and produces cases and other teaching materials.

The activities of the Center are complemented by those of the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics. The Institute is a first-of-its-kind business ethics center designed to renew and enhance the link between ethical behavior and business practice. The Institute was founded through the collaboration and support of Business Roundtable, an association of Chief Executive Officers of leading corporations and recognized academics from the country�s best business schools.

Darden also empowers and encourages students to lead their own efforts such as the student-run Values Based Leadership Conference and the activities of Darden�s Net Impact Group.