What is the Curriculum?

Ethics in Finance (EiF) was developed for faculty and administrators of university finance programs who would like to further incorporate ethics into their curriculum but might not have the resources to develop materials completely on their own.  The EiF curriculum can enhance that effort, by providing a structure, readings, lesson plans and other resources. It includes a strong emphasis on real-world case studies as well as an introduction to professional ethical principles and the CFA* Code of Ethics and Standards. It is being made available at no cost to not-for-profit institutions and their faculty.

 EiF Program Learning Objectives:

  1. Have students better understand the philosophical and conceptual foundations of ethical conduct in the field of finance.

  2. Provide students with an understanding of psychological factors (influences, biases) that may affect ethical decision-making.

  3. Provide students with articulated ethical principles and a decision-making framework to help them analyze and respond effectively to concrete ethical issues in finance.

  4. Provide students an opportunity to apply and practice ethical decision-making skills through case study exercises.

  5. Help students become aware of how professional organizations (including medical, legal, financial) set ethical expectations for members, conveyed through codes of ethics and standards.

  6. Provide students an introduction to CFA Institute's principles-based Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and an understanding of the role it plays in promulgating standards of ethical conduct in the field of investment finance.

The Project provides:

  • Valuable course materials developed for EiF and contributed by ethics professors and finance professionals, used in their own university and professional education classes.

  • A core four-module curriculum providing the basis for a finance ethics course

  • Additional course materials such as case studies

  • Links to other ethics education resources

  • A community of academic and practicing finance professionals sharing teaching resources and ideas