What's Done is Donne: Great Books Programs and the Business Student

Abstract

Students who graduate from contemporary business schools, including faith-based schools, are increasingly found to have low ethical standards, inadequate soft skills, and a decreasing ability to integrate. For universities where ethics and Biblical integration are central to the mission, this is very disturbing. This paper describes an unusual program-level model that could reduce these problems: a modified Great Books pedagogy. Is such a program suitable for a business school? The article describes Great Books programs and illustrates with one located at a Christian university. Arguments for and against using this pedagogy in the business school are discussed. The paper ends with the personal impressions of a business professor and business student who participated in a Great Books program.