Harvard Business School Will Make Ethics Course Mandatory

The Harvard Business School said Tuesday that it will require its first-year students to take a course in ethics, a move designed to send a signal that fairness and honesty are critical components of business.

Harvard has offered ethics as an elective for years, and officials said ethical questions ordinarily are discussed in many courses. But they said it is time to make sure no students are “squeezed out” of ethics training.

Two former students, Martin Siegel and Ira Sokolow, were implicated in the insider trading scandals in 1986 that shook U.S financial markets and focused attention on greed and unscrupulous behavior on Wall Street.

“Ethical issues have been dealt with, but we recognize the importance to send a signal early in the first year. We think it is something that must be discussed and are saying we want you to discuss it,” said William Hokanson, director of communications for the business school.

Hokanson said the three-week course for 800 students will start during the second week of the fall semester.