TROY UNIVERSITY
MASTER SYLLABUS
SORRELL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ECO 4456
The Economic and Moral Foundations of Capitalism
Prerequisites
ECO 2251 and ECO 2252.
Description
A study of the interrelationship between markets and morals. Investigates the role ethics and
ethical ideas play in understanding economic life.
Objectives
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Student will demonstrate through written exercises and course exams an understanding of
how capitalist systems work;
2. Student will gain an understanding of different ethical frameworks;
3. The consequences of economic freedom and capitalism will be better understood;
4. Consequential and rights based arguments for a free market will be understood.
Purpose
To provide a comprehensive overview of the capitalist system and its morality. The course
includes both theory and discussions of real-world topics. Students taking this elective should
already have satisfied all of their 2000-level core and specified-elective requirements.
Master Syllabi are developed by the senior faculty in each business discipline. This Master Syllabus must be used as the basis for developing the
instructor syllabus for this course, which must also comply with the content specifications outlined in the Troy University Faculty Handbook.
The objectives included on this Master Syllabus must be included among the objectives on the instructor’s syllabus, which may expand upon the
same as the instructor sees fit. The statement of purpose seeks to position the course properly within the curriculum and should be consulted by
faculty as a source of advisement guidance. Specific choice of text and other details are further subject to Program Coordinator guidance.
19 April 2011
Master Syllabus: ECO 4456 (Revised August 2013)
2
Approved Texts
Rand, A. (current) Atlas Shrugged.
Friedman, M. (current) Capitalism and Freedom. University of Chicago Press.
Gwartney, J., Stroup, R. & Lee, D. (current). Common Sense Economics. St. Martin’s Press.
Hazlitt, H. (current). The Foundations of Morality.
Norberg, J. (current). In Defense of Global Capitalism. Cato.
Troy University Faculty Handbook (2010): Section 3.9.2.8 [extract] — essential elements of the syllabus (somewhat modified for space):
1. Course title
2. Course number +
section
3. Term
4. Instructor
5. Prerequisites
6. Office hours
7. Class days, times
8. Classroom
location
9. Office location +
e-mail address
10. Office telephone
11. Course
description,
objectives
12. Text(s)
13. Other materials
14. Grading methods, 16. General supports
criterion weights,
(computer works,
make-up policy,
writing center)
mid-term grade
17. Daily assignments,
reports
holidays, add/drop
15. Procedure, course
& open dates, dead
requirements
day, final exam
18. ADA statement
19. Electronic device
statement
20. Additional
services,
statements
21. Absence policy
22. Incomplete-work
policy
23. Cheating policy
24. Specialization
requirements
(certification,
licensure, teacher
competencies)