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Case Studies

Ethics Case Studies sources:

**Please note: Some cases are based on real situations and some are fictional.

Multi-disciplinary cases:

Cases from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics --at Santa Clara University. Includes cases on business ethics, medical ethics, governmental, and technology ethics.

Dilemma Database, Institute for Global Ethics--Includes cases on business ethics, educational ethics , medical ethics, as well as philanthropic and personal ethics. Cases presented without resolutions.

Ethics Across the Curriculum - Case Studies-- Utah Valley State College. Emerging from their Ethics Across the Curriculum program in 1993, this page has a large collection of cases dealing with business, technology, medical ethics, etc. More cases can also be seen here.

Ethics Case Studies Database --(limited selection) from Philosophical & Religious Studies program at Leeds University, UK. Mostly dealing with medical and end-of-life ethics. Database searchable by keyword.

Ethics Education Library - database of cases from engineering, medicine, science, business, etc. developed by CSEP

Ethics Updates' Ethics Case Studies -- hosted by the University of San Diego. A large collection of cases covering everything from academic to social ethics.

Hale Chair in Applied Ethics Resources-- Rochester Institute of Technology. Twenty three cases detailed cases cover a wide variety of ethical topics by Lisa Newton, Director of the Program in Applied Ethics at Fairfield University.

The Center for Ethics in the Professions - Case Studies --at the University of Puerto Rico. Cases divided by topic including engineering ethics, science and research ethics, business ethics and computer ethics.

<p >Vanderbilt University Center for Ethics--Cases divided by topic including bioethics, journalism ethics, and military ethics.

Archaeology

Ethics in Anthropology - a large collection of case studies, codes of ethics, and other resources on ethics in anthropology put together by the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Architecture Ethics Cases

American Institute of Architects National Ethics Council Advisory Opinions - a small collection of cases presented to the AIA's National Ethics Council, and the discussion and opinions of the Council. These cases include references to sections in the 2004 AIA's Code of Ethics.

Business & Accounting Ethics Cases

AICPA's Accounting and Business Ethics case studies--American Institute of Certified Accountants. Includes pdf file of case and teaching notes. Case on accounting fraud and corporate governance.

AICPA's cases & commentaries, "Ethics and Fraud in Business" --Much like the previous site, this collection of cases covers professional ethics, corporate leadership, regulatory, legal and financial analysis in the context of ethical dilemmas. Most cases include commentary.

Arthur Andersen - Ethics case studies: 1987-1994 -Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. This collection of 90 case studies is a product of program sponsored by Author Anderson to promote ethical awareness in business schools. Cases cover a wide range of topics.

BusinessEthics.ca -a list of links to other cases. Site also includes a bibliography of articles and books on business ethics.

CasePlace.org-- Aspen Institute Business and Society Program. This is one of the largest collections of business ethics cases freely available on the internet. Cases can be searched by discipline, topic, or keyword.

Emerson Center for Business Ethics cases--John Cook School of Business, St. Louis University. Includes Center-sponsered case studies and case studies written by students.

Institute of Business Ethics Index to Cases- a small but interesting collection of business ethics cases. Many cases include teaching guides and bibliographies.

Web Miner's Guide to Business Ethics Cases-a comprehensive list of links to other business ethics case sources.

Computer Application/Programming Cases

Cases about Computers and Software-Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science,. Small collection of cases.

ComputerCases.org- site contains three well-researched historical computer cases including accompanying teaching materials and supporting documents. The coases covered are Therac-25 (a radiation therapy device that delivered fatal overdoses), Machado (the first successfully procecuted case of an online hate crime), and Huges Aircraft (a whistleblowing case).

Education Cases

Case Studies in Education-Utah Valley State College. A collection of cases covering all aspects of education ethics from plagiarism to tenure.

Research Ethics and Academic Integrity- a collection of videos showing case studies dealing with academic integrity. Produced by Syracuse University. Videos available online.

Engineering Ethics Cases

ASCE's Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice-- each issue includes a case study. Full text of journal available.

Design Failure Lessons--from University of Texas at Austin. Covers four design flaw cases including the Ford Pinto Case and the Challenger space shuttle explosion. Each case includes links to a number of background articles and references.

Civil Engineering Cases -Carleton University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Not the best design, but find the section Contents of this Catalogue and follow link to the list of cases, and you can find the full text of a number of engineering cases. Cases can also be ordered.

Engineering.com Ethics Case Studies- a collection of 18 cases including a timeline of events, a detailed examination of the incident, ethical points for discussion, and a bibliography for each case.

Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases-cases from the book, Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases by Charles E. Harris Jr.

Learning from Failure Engineering Disasters --Materials Science and Engineering at University of New York, Stonybrook. An introduction to engineering failures, also includes a link to cases written by faculty.

NSPE Board of Ethical Review Cases - NIEE.org- A list of real cases presented to the National Society of Professional Engineers review board from 1976-2001. Includes summary of case and decisions made in relation to the NSPE Code of Ethics.

Online Ethics Center Cases About Engineering Professional Practice-an extensive list of cases provided by the National Academy of Engineering .

Penn State College of Engineering ethics cases a list of cases available on the web, as well as a collection of articles on using cases to teach engineering ethics.

Teaching Engineering Ethics with Cases -essay & resources by Michael Pritchard

Texas A&M University Engineering Ethics Cases -case studies taken from a variety of sources. .

UBC Library - Examples of Engineering Failures- University of British Columbia. A collection of reports, press releases, and statements relating to famous engineering failures.

Journalism Cases

Ethics Case Studies- Society of Professional Journalists. A small collection of case studies. Site also includes link to SPJ Code of Ethics.

Journalism Ethics Cases Online- School of Journalism, Indiana University-Bloomington. A large list of cases covering all aspects of journalism. Indexed by topics.

Poynter Online Journalistic Case Studies- an impressive collection of journalism cases. Page also includes a number of 'tip sheets' that describe how to deal with cases of plagiarism, undisclosed sources, etc.

Military Cases

Ethics of War Peace and Terrorism- University of San Diego. Small collection of cases. Site also has a number of articles and other resources on military ethics.

Military cases-Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. A small collection of summarized case studies. Site also includes links to articles on military ethics.

Science & Medicine/Bioethics Cases

Bioethics Outreach--Case Studies - Iowa State University. A large collection of case studies covering a wide range of subjects from biotechnology to agriculture.

Case Study Collection -National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, State University of New York in Buffalo. This site has cases dealing with all different branches of biology and medicine. Cases are divided by discipline and each case includes teaching notes. Also see other case study sites on the WWW.

Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity case studies- a small collection of case studies put out by the American Medical Association and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity . Each case includes commentary from a Christian perspective.

Ethics Case Studies in Biodesign- Stanford University. A collection of 15 short cases dealing with biodesign.

Ethics in the Science Classroom -Western Michigan University. A small collection of cases dealing with genetic testing, racism in science, and research ethics.

Moral Reasoning in Scientific Research- Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions. Indiana University Bloomington. Cases taken from book Moral Reasoning in Scientific Research.

UK Clinical Ethics Network--Case Studies-a small collection of medical ethics cases.

Other Disciplines (education, funeral, etc)

American Anthropological Association -Ethical Currents Case Studies

Cyber ethics--case studies -a small collection of cases dealing with censorship on the internet and recent policies such as the Communications Decency Act. Some links are broken.

Funeral Ethics Organization- a collection of short cases exploring the professional ethics of the funeral industry.

Ethics for Trades and Technology- Utah Valley State College. A collection of cases dealing with general ethical questions in workplace.

Ethics Centers:

3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) program areas

American Psychological Association, Science Directorate

Applied Ethics Institute, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, FL Association for Morality and Ethics at Newman, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Newman Catholic Campus Ministry Center The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, Bloomington, IN 

Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics

Axios Institute

Bander Center for Medical Business Ethics, St. Louis University

Beta Gama Sigma Center for Ethical Business Leadership

Bioethics Institute , The Johns Hopkins University Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Florida Center for Ethics, Public Policy, and the Professions, University of North Florida Bowen H. McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society, Stanford University

Bowling Green Social Philosophy and Policy Center

Brady Program in Ethics and Civic Life, Northwestern University

Business Ethics Program, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Ontaria, Canada

Canadian Business Ethics Research Network, York University

Canadian Centre for Ethics & Corporate Policy , Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

Caux Round Table, An international organization of business leaders from Japan, Europe and North America promoting business leadership.

Centre de Recherche en Ethique, University of Montreal

Center for Applied and Professional Ethics (CAPE), California State University, Chico

Centre for Applied Ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University

Center for Applied Ethics, Palm Beach State College

Center for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Charles Stuart University

Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Australian National University

Center for Bioethics and Health Law, University of Pittsburgh

Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado, Denver

Center for Bioethics and Humanities, State University of New York

Center for Business Ethics, Belmont University

Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College.

Center for Business Ethics, University of St. Thomas Center for Engaged Ethics, Hiram College 

Center for Environmental Philosophy, University of North Texas

Center for Ethics at Emory University

Center for Ethics, University of Montana-Missoula

Center for Ethics, University of Texas at Tyler

Center for Ethics, Yeshiva University, New York , NY

Center for Ethics and Business, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angelos

Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, Georgia State University

Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship, Rockford College

Center for Ethics and Leadership, Alvernia University, Reading, PA

Center for Ethics and Leadership, Florida Institute of Technology

Center for Ethics and Leadership, St. Edward's University, Austin, TX

Center for Ethic and Public Service, University of Miami School of Law

Center for Ethics and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy

Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University

Center for Ethics in the Professions, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

Center for Ethics in Public Life, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs, Pennsylvania State University

Center for Ethics in Science and Technology, University of California, San Diego

Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Creighton University Medical Center

Center for Integrity in Business, Seattle Pacific University

Center for Literature, Medicine, and Biomedical Humanities, Hiram College, Hiram Ohio Center for Organizational Ethics, Marian University, Indianapolis, IN Center for Practical and Professional Ethics, California State University, Sacramento CA Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, University of North Carolina, Charlotte Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Center for Public Integrity (journalism)

Center for Religious and Ethical Studies, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC

Center for Research Ethics & Bioethics, Uppsala University (Sweden)

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Center for the Study of Ethics, Utah Valley State College

Center for the Study of Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems, Hebrew Union College-University of Cincinnati

Center for the Study of Ethics in Society, Western Michigan University

Chicago's Board of Ethics 

COGEL/Council on Government Ethics Laws

College of Arts and Sciences, University of Dayton

Consortium Ethics Program, University of Pittsburgh Committee on Ethical Issues and Normative Perspectives, St. Olaf College Computer Ethics Institute at the Brookings Institution 

Council on Social Work Education, Inc. Alexandria, VA

Dartmouth College Ethics Institute

David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership, University of Pittsburgh

Department of Philosophy, Bowling Green State University

Department of Philosophy, Texas State University-San Marcos

Division of Research Affairs, San Diego State University

Dr. James Dale Ethics Center, Youngstown State University

Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics Harvard University

Engineering Ethics Homepage, Division of Technology, Culture and Communication, University of Virginia.

Ethics, CA, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy (Business Ethics)

Ethics and Compliance Officer Association, a professional group for those involved in ethics training and ethics compliance programs 

Ethics Center, Texas Tech University

Ethics Center at Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA

Ethics Program, Villanova University

Ethics Program, University of Miami

Ethics Resource Center

EthixFirma, LLC, Thomas E. Creely

European Ethics Network 

European Group on Ethics in Science and Technology

Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership, Samford University

Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Henry M. Jackson Foundation

Hersher Institute for Applied Ethics, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield CT

Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics, University of Baltimore

Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH

Indiana University Center for Bioethics, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics, Ohio State University

Institute for Business Integrity, Raj Soin College of Business, Wright State University

Institute for Business and Professional Ethics, DePaul University, Chicago

Institute for Christian Ethics, Stetson University, Deland, FL.

Institute for Ethical Leadership, Rutgers University

Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility, Rosemont College

Institute for Ethics, University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center

Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs, San Diego State University

Institute for Global Ethics Institute for Medical Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Institute for National Security Ethics and Leadership, National Defense University, Washington, D.C Institute for the Study of Applied and Professional Ethics, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH Interdisciplinary Institute for Professional Ethics, Nazareth College, Rochester, NY International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA International Center for Information Ethics Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values, Coastal Carolina University James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, United States Naval Academy Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, Depauw University, Greencastle, IN 

Jerusalem Centre for Ethics

Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond

JSCOPE/Joint Services Conference on Professional Ethics , An organization of military professionals and academics committed to discussing issues relevant to the military. Includes a bibliography and links to case studies 

Kegley Institute of Ethics, California State University, Bakersfield, CA

Kenan Institute for Ethics , Duke University.

Kennedy Institute of Ethics , Georgetown University.

Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, Frankfort, KNLeadership, Ethics & Values Program, North Central College, Naperville, TN

Levan Institute for Humanities and Ethics, University of Southern California.

Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics, Fordham University, NY.

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Research and Technology Management

Meredith Center for Women, Ethics and Public Life, Meredith College

Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism , Texas Tech., home of the Texethics Newsletter. 

National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, Tuskegee University, AL

National Conference of State Legislatures

National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) , another great source for cases. The electronic version of the Ethics Resource Guide, a guide to engineering ethics resources compiled by CSEP in 1997 

Northern Plains Ethics Institute, North Dakota State University

Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Religious Values in Business, IN

Office for Research Integrity and Compliance, Boston College

Office of Compliance Assistance, Utah State University

Office of Human Resources, Nova Southeastern University

Office of Research, Syracuse University

Office of Research, Virginia Commonwealth University

Office of Research and Compliance, Georgia Institute of Technology

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, East Tennessee State University

Office of Research Compliance, Clemson Univeristy

Office of Research Integrity and Compliance, West Virginia University

Office of Research Integrity and Regulatory Affairs (OVPR), Purdue University

Office of Research Policy, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Missouri-Columbia

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Washington University in St. Louis

Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, Purdue University

Office of the Vice President of Research, University of Georgia

Online Ethics Center for Engineering & Science, Case Western Reserve University.

Pacific Institute for Ethics and Social Policy, Pacific University, OR

Pan American Collaboration for Ethics in the Professions (PACE), Univ. of Texas Pan American

Parr Center for Ethics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Pedro Arrupe Center for Business Ethics, Saint Joseph’s University, PA

Poe Ethics Center, Management, Univ. of Florida

Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions, University of Indiana, Bloomington 

Program for the Study of Ethics, Western Illinois University.

Program in Applied Ethics, Fairfield University, CT.

Program in Applied Ethics, John Carroll University

Program on Ethics and Public Life, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Project in Professional Ethics, University of Houston-Clear Lake, TX

Research and Sponsored Programs, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Research Ethics, Education and Policy, Indiana University

Research Integrity and Compliance Department, Michigan Technological University

Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center

Robert J. Kutak Center for the Teaching and Study of Applied Ethics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics, Clemson University, SC.

Saint Louis University, Department of Health Care Ethics, MO.

Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, Kennesaw State University, GA.

Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and law, University of Minnesota.

Society and the Professions Program in Ethics, Washington and Lee University

The Southern Institute for Business & Professional Ethics, Decatur, GA 

The Squire Family Foundation, NY.

Turkish Ethics Values Foundation

United States Air Force Academy, Department of Philosophy, CO.

University Center for Human Values, Princeton University, IN.

University of California, Irvine, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.

University of Dayton, College of Arts and Sciences, OH.

University of Miami Ethics Programs, FL.

University of Utah, College of Humanities, Salt Lake City.

U.S. Department of Justice, Ethics department

VADM James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, United States Naval Academy, MD.

Vanderbilt University Center for Ethics

Vann Center for Ethics, Davidson College

Vasin, Heyn & Company, Auditors and Advisors, CA.

Villanova University Ethics Program, Villanova University

Webster University Center for Ethics, St Louis, MO.

West Chester University, Philosophy Department, PA.

Wharton Ethics Program, University of Pennsylvania.

Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, Yale University