Lee Ann Butler

The purpose of the course is to prepare the future CPA for ethical judgement. Course materials emphasize ethical reasoning and giving voice to values; principles of integrity, objectivity, independence (in fact and appearance) and avoidance of intentional misrepresentation of facts; the role of core values in a dynamically changing global economy; and professional and ethical issues in accounting practice.

This course examines the broad subject of government regulation of business and financial markets and is designed to help the student develop what the authors of the text term “legal astuteness.” That is, the ability to exercise informed judgment based on context-specific knowledge of the law and the regulatory environment. To achieve this, we will apply the methodology of neoclassical economic analysis to understand the role and function of government and governmental decision-making; explore the intersection between economics and the law; and learn to spot legal issues before they become grounds for termination, lawsuits, or criminal indictments. Emphasis is placed on high impact regulatory programs, such as antitrust, security regulation, civil rights, and environmental laws.