This course is designed to give students the opportunity to examine multiple perspectives related to the ethical implications of marketing decisions and strategies. This advanced course builds on concepts learned in the 2nd year Business Ethics course and can be taken as a credit towards the Certificate in Social Impact. Using current topics in the media, case studies and research projects, students will explore, discuss and debate the ethical dilemmas that face marketing practitioners and society at large. The course has the three major objectives of encouraging students to 1) develop a broad-based perspective on marketing’s role in society; 2) develop an informed perspective on ethical issues within marketing; and 3) to learn how to incorporate ethics and social responsibility as a part of decision-making practice and processes. Topics to be discussed include social marketing and entrepreneurship; ethics in advertising (e.g. deception/puffery advertising to vulnerable populations); ethical issues related to production, distribution and pricing; and volunteerism, philanthropy and non-profit marketing. This course is designed for individuals with a focus on marketing, but is open to others with an interest in the issues of ethics and corporate social responsibility.

Prerequisite - COMM 104, COMM 131 (or COMM 231) and COMM 132 or permission of the instructor

This course is restricted to students enrolled in the 3rd and 4th year of their program.