Featured
The Great Gatsby
Jennifer A. Lind
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Deadline June 9, 2026
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Format Online
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Tuition $540
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Next Start Date June 17, 2026
Course Description
The oil rig explodes. The aisle door drops from the sky. The fraud comes to light and the executives are deposed. The question we’re left to untangle: How did this happen? Corrupt culture and callous calculus are often the first arrows to be thrown—and sometimes they hit the mark. But a deeper examination of corporate wrongdoing often finds that these episodes don’t hinge on a single immoral choice, but a series of decisions that feel temporary, practical, and reversible. For every sinister executive, you are just as likely to find an ordinary person operating under conditions of stress, uncertainty, and limited authority. The picture is at once unsettling, but gives us a more grounded understanding of how moral reasoning actually operates inside institutions.
This course departs from the normative approach to business ethics—which asks what a company oughtdo in a given situation—to ask, why do spectacular ethical lapses happen? Through detailed case studies, students will inhabit moments when ethical considerations were present but contested, authority diffused, outcomes unknown, and pressures all too real. From the spectacular crash of Enron, to the Deepwater Horizon explosion, to Boeing’s string of safety failures and more recent controversies over tech giants’ use and misuse of customer data, we’ll examine the biggest corporate scandals from the past several decades. Rather than extracting tidy morals, the course lingers on uncertainty: how information is filtered as it moves upward, how success shapes judgement, and how norms and incentives can invisibly push people towards decisions with disastrous consequences. Readings draw from investigative journalism, behavioral science, and writings on the social purpose of the corporation, with an emphasis on first-person accounts.
This course is for people willing to think about institutions as complex systems, and to explore feedback loops and unintended consequences alongside questions of right and wrong. We will delve into why reform can prove elusive, warning signs are so often missed, and seemingly rational decisions can go so wrong. In the end we’ll emerge with a heightened understanding about these giant organizations that shape our society, and ask in turn what society can do to shape them.
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Required Texts
- Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron, Portfolio, ISBN: 978-1591846604
- Donald Palmer, Normal Organizational Wrongdoing: A Critical Analysis of Theories of Misconduct in and by Organizations, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0199677429
- Case Study course packet https://hbsp.harvard.edu/import/1394256
Available Course Sections
What I love most about teaching at the Graham School is that it is like eating at the chef's table: there are no barriers between students and instructors. We are all peers, indeed, friends learning alongside each other.
Jennifer Lind MLA’22, Graham School instructor
Once you start, there is a thirst within you for more. The desire for new knowledge and understanding never ends.
Rosemarie Mitchell MLA’12
Here I was introduced to perspectives from the humanities and social sciences that challenged me to approach things from different angles and become more tolerant to differences. Enrolling in Graham is the best decision I ever made.
Alvaro Iriarte MLA‘23
Frequently Asked Questions
Review common questions about our courses. You can also contact us for more information.
Do we take assessments in these courses?
Graham School non-credit courses are not graded and therefore have no tests. They focus on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.
How can I best prepare for class?
Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion. While not required, we offer an optional course to prepare students to engage with challenging works: How to Read Classic Texts. While this is presented as an introductory course for the Basic Program, students in other programs or open enrollment courses are also welcome to participate and grow their skills.
Do I have to complete an application?
Applications are not required for our open enrollment courses.
Who is best suited to take a course at the Graham School?
Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in these topics and engaging in deep discovery with others is welcome to take part in this course.
UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions?
Yes. Our non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their academic background.
What happens if I have to miss a class?
Our online classes are recorded and shared with the registered students through the Canvas site for the course. For in-person courses, you can ask a fellow student to take notes for you if you have to miss a session.
What is your withdrawal/cancellation policy?
You can find our withdrawal and cancellation policy with other registration issues here. Most drop or transfer requests can be made through your student account.
Will this course be offered online or in person?
The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course section specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.
What happens if I miss a class?
While our courses are driven by live discussions, we do record the online sessions. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording to catch up. Please note that students may only access recordings for the sections in which they are registered. In-person classes are not recorded.
I can no longer participate in a course I registered for. Can I get a refund?
If you need to drop a course, please email us at graham@learningplatform.support to process your request. When reaching out, please include your full name, the course name and the section. If you made a donation during your course purchase, please confirm if you would like the donation refunded as well.
Courses dropped before the first day of class are eligible for a full refund. Courses dropped after the first class are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. No refund will be issued for courses dropped after the first week of classes.
How do I access my course after registration?
Your course will be available on the Graham Learning Platform three weeks before the start date. You’ll log in using the same credentials you used during registration. If you need help accessing your course, check out our helpful video tutorial.
I have a question about the course registration process, who should I reach out to?
If you have a question about how to register for a course, watch the helpful videos on our registration tips page. You can also email our support team at graham@learningplatform.support. You will receive a response within 24 hours.
