Managers, or other individuals in the workplace, concerned with important moral and reputational issues that arise in the context of business activities. It is also relevant to the consumer, the person who enjoys the benefits of what businesses produce.

It will help candidates:

• To foster an understanding of the moral, social and economic environments within which moral issues occur
• To introduce to the candidate the moral concepts and theories that are required to tackle these problems
• To develop the necessary reasoning and analytical skills for accomplishing this.

Students are assessed continuously throughout the program (ie. per module). Candidates are required to submit:

• Eleven (11) papers addressing each of the following subject areas in Parts One and Two, of approximately 1200 to 1800 words each.
• A dissertation of 10,000 words.

Part One: KEY TOPIC AREAS (8 credits each)

PH505 The nature of morality
PH518 Normative theories of ethics
PH533 Justice and economic distribution

Part Two: OTHER TOPIC AREAS (8 credits each)

PH529 The nature of capitalism
PH534 Corporations
PH548 The workplace I- basic issues
PH557 The workplace II – the challenges
PH565 Moral choices facing employees
PH572 Job discrimination
PH577 Consumers
PH579 The environment

Dissertation (32 credits)

For a Warnborough Master of Arts in Business Ethics and Social Responsibility degree, students must complete a total of 120 ECTS credits. All requirements must be satisfied, unless students are granted exemptions. Students can work with their mentors to combine modules into customised programs, suited to their interests and capabilities. Read the complete module descriptions for information as well as ideas. Exemptions may be awarded based on prior courses taken, professional experience, writing and research samples, and counselling portfolios. Students may also choose to embark on a research-only program.

Students in the program may work independently or in self-managed groups. Independent work will be expected of all graduate students. Online interactive forums may be used as medium for program delivery. We recommend students doing at least 2 to 3 modules a term to maximise the benefits of doing this program and to reduce the overall length of time required.

Candidates will be required to acquire two main textbooks that will see them through the program. Details will be provided upon registration. Candidates will follow up subsidiary reading from the bibliographies in these books, from other sources, or via guidance from their mentor.

The Programme Director: Dr. Mark Cole

The Programme Director, Dr. Mark Cole, is a transactional attorney, general counsel and insurance specialist for over 25 years.  Dr. Cole is also a Warnborough doctoral graduate in the history of ideas.  He has law degrees from Notre Dame Law School (J.D., cum laude) and the University of Houston (LL.M. in international economic law) and an MBA from Western Governors University.

He began his career at a large international law firm, and then became general counsel to a small company.  He has worked on the development of energy and transportation infrastructure assets and directed the company’s insurance program, and worked on financings, acquisitions and divestments, leases, private equity raises and the IPO of the company.  He also advises the company on day-to-day matters including employment law/human resources, immigration, entity management and growth and governance.  Dr. Cole also served as an elected member and chairman of his county’s hospital district, where he helped set and control a budget of more than $50 million, and worked on infrastructure development, asset management, personnel issues and benefits, long-term planning, executive hiring and evaluation. Dr. Cole has also served on the board of many charitable organizations and ministries.

He began his education at Baylor University (BA English/political science), and went on to receive a MAR from Yale Divinity School, and study philosophy and theology at Trinity College, Dublin.  He also has a ThM from Whitefield Theological Seminary.  He maintains a deep and active interest in moral philosophy, jurisprudence, applied and professional ethics, philosophical theology, literature, and the history of ideas.  He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and holds the Energy Risk and Management Liability Insurance Specialist certifications from the International Risk Management Institute