Engineering departments are required by the Accreditation Board to include the teaching of ethics to students. Topics usually include criminal law, civil law, and professional ethics and registration. Case studies are available from the National Society of Professional Engineers. Once the student graduates, however, his or her training in ethics often stops at the company door. Engineering, and especially contracting, is often characterised by cut-throat competition that can disillusion a new graduate. Company, business practices regarding treatment of its own employees also can disillusion the new employee and cause him/her to wonder what became of professional ethics. While colleges should continue to teach ethics, the profession should take a serious look at the way in which business as usual is conducted.

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