Graduate Course Descriptions

The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.

5175. Business, Law, and Ethics in Modern Society

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed BLAW 5182.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course examines the legal and ethical issues relevant to business and its interaction with society. Students learn about major areas of regulation and of ethical importance, including tort liability, corporate law, employment and labor law, intellectual property law, financial regulation, social responsibility, and business ethics. Students gain experience in how to interpret and apply legal rules and ethical concepts in a variety of contexts.

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5181. Government and the Legal Environment of Business

1.50 credits

Prerequisites: Open to MBA students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed or are currently enrolled in MKTG 5182.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduces the essential functions and roles of the legal environment of business. The fundamentals of the legal and ethical environment of business are explored, including legal institutions and legal process. Intentional torts and negligence, common, statutory and administrative law, and alternative dispute resolution. Selected topics in the legal environment of business are also examined, including employment law, securities law, and intellectual property.

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5182. Business Responsibility, Accountability and Ethics

1.50 credits

Prerequisites: BLAW 5181.

Grading Basis: Graded

Examines the essentials of legal astuteness, enabling students to ensure regulatory compliance, manage legal counsel, minimize liability and reach value-added business decisions in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Examines the leading societal issues relevant to a firm's responsibilities toward its business environment. Topics covered include fairness in the workplace, corporate governance, bribery and corruption, corporate responsibility, and firm-regulator relations. Pillars of responsible business conduct are also introduced in order to develop to values-driven decision-making skills in the social and ethical environment of business.

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5220. Employment Law

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A, M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, and M.S. in Human Resource Management students, others with consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course explores the legal and ethical issues implicated in the modern workplace and the employer-employee relationship. Students learn about important legal and ethical issues implicated in hiring, firing, discrimination, harassment, and accommodation of employees. Emphasis will also be placed on legal and ethical issues at work such as family leave, safety and health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students gain experience in how to prevent disputes, minimize legal risk, and apply employment law principles for beneficial social responsibility and impact.

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5252. Business and Human Rights

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A. and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed or are taking BADM 3252, BLAW 3252, MKTG 3252, or HRTS 3252.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course examines the human rights implications of multinational enterprises’ global operations. Students learn how to assess corporate social impact through a human rights framework, consider the challenges of regulating the human rights impacts of global business, analyze international policy responses, and evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to enforcing human rights standards for corporations.

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5253. Sustainability, Markets, and Society

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to MBA and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed or are taking BADM 3253, BLAW 3253, or MKTG 3253.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course examines sustainability in the context of the natural and social ecosystems in which business operates. Students learn how the environmental and social impacts of business are affected by the interactions of firms with laws and legal institutions, markets, and society globally. Students gain experience assessing firm policies and practices and developing legally-astute and ethically-aware policies to achieve sustainability and to generate positive environmental and social outcomes.

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5254. Social Responsibility and Accountability in Business

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to MBA and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed or are taking BLAW 3254, BADM 3254, MKTG 3254, or HRTS 3254.

Grading Basis: Graded

Examines corporate social responsibility (CSR), accountability, and related concepts. Students learn about the actors, processes, legal and social norms that shape firm’s management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues from a global and human rights perspective. Students gain experience in identifying and critically assessing market-based solutions to societal challenges.

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5660. International Business Law

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course examines legal and social norms that impact international business transactions. Students learn about the functioning of the international legal system and how to navigate the legal environment of international trade and foreign investment. Students gain experience in negotiating and drafting international contracts, preventing and resolving international disputes, and how to include international legal and ethical considerations in their business decisions.

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5680. Securities Law

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to MBA students, others with consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Examines the legal and regulatory environment relevant to financial markets. Students will learn how rules related to the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory bodies regulate and preserve the integrity of securities transactions and practices. Topics will also include the legal and ethical responsibilities of corporate managers and executives, accountants, underwriters, and broker-dealers, as well as the global and transnational aspects of securities transactions. Students gain experience identifying and resolving potential violations of securities laws and ensuring that an organization is in full legal compliance with relevant regulations.

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5750. Ethics and Compliance in the Global Organization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A, M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, and non-degree business students, others with consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course investigates the legal and ethical issues surrounding the compliance function from an organizational perspective. Students will learn about relevant compliance regulations as well as how compliance leaders introduce and sustain an ethical culture of integrity in the enterprise. Compliance will also be viewed from a global perspective, incorporating ethical, legal, and cultural challenges and opportunities in a global compliance program. Students gain experience in how to manage compliance issues, minimize risk of legal non-compliance, and implement compliance initiatives effectively.

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5790. Revolutionary Technologies and the Social Responsibility of Business

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.B.A. and M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course examines the impact of rapidly evolving technologies on how business operates in society. Students will learn about the legal, ethical, and social responsibilities of business to society when a new technology is introduced. Topics will include artificial intelligence, big data, data collection and mining, data privacy, cryptocurrency, proprietary technology, among others. Students gain experience in understanding the broader implications of new technologies in organizations and how to apply standards and guidelines in order to ensure responsible impacts on individuals and society.

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5893. Foreign Study

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to M.S. in Social Responsibility and Impact in Business students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed MKTG 5893.

Grading Basis: Graded

Special topics related to business social responsibility, accountability, sustainability, ESG, or human rights taken in a travel course or a foreign study program course. Obtaining credit for foreign study program courses requires prior consent from the Program Director.

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5894. Seminar

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: Open only to MBA students, others with consent. Not open to students who have passed BLAW 5182.

Grading Basis: Graded

Investigation and discussion of special topics in law.

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5895. Special Topics in Business Law

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 24 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Faculty-student interaction on a one-to-one basis involving independent study of specific areas of law. Emphasis, selected by the student, may be on theoretical or applied aspects. A written report is required.

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