Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Your professional reputation is built one decision at a time. In my BA 277 course, I’ll help you develop the judgment and confidence to handle difficult workplace situations, explain your choices, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

We’ll explore situations involving honesty, loyalty, fairness, responsibility, and competing priorities—including times when two important values pull you in different directions. You’ll practice examining the facts, considering who is affected, weighing alternatives, and deciding how to respond.

I emphasize realistic business cases, meaningful discussion, written recommendations, and practice with difficult conversations. You’ll explore your personal values and VIA character strengths while using emotional intelligence (EQ) to understand how emotions and workplace pressures can influence your judgment. Through practice and feedback, I’ll help you connect what you believe with how you act.

Materials include an instructor-developed Professional Ethics in Business Playbook, assigned resources in D2L, and Emotional Intelligence 2.0. The course also includes a VIA character strengths assessment.

If you have already completed the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 assessment and still have access to your full results, you do not need to purchase the materials again or retake the assessment.

This hybrid course combines in-person discussion, practice, and collaboration with required online coursework in D2L. Plan to prepare before class and complete weekly readings, written assignments, and reflections between meetings.

You don’t need to arrive with all the answers. Bring your curiosity, your perspective, and a willingness to think carefully about the professional you want to become.