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Topics in Communication Studies (295-0-1)

Topic

Ethics and Organizational Social Responsibility

Instructors

Randall Edward Iden

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 2378: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

At the present moment (and indeed for at least the last 150 years), corporations can be considered persons for legal purposes under American constitutional law. This presumption of corporate personhood leads to questions about how corporations (both for-profit and not-for-profit) should act in society. This course will consider both the conception of organizations as social actors and how they work to produce and control the communication of their purpose or mission. We will consider the literature regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability to determine whether it is reasonable to expect corporate entities to operate ethically and how stakeholders can and should hold organizations to their statements of responsible practice.