Abstract Although ethics issues are rarely addressed in the typical accounting classroom, this paper argues that there is a pressing need to do so. The paper considers three dilemmas that explain the historical reluctance of accounting professors to incorporate ethics discussions in their classes. The paper also offers suggestions for the resolution of these dilemmas and for implementing ethics teaching in the accounting curriculum. These suggestions include a recommended step-by-step approach to the teaching of ethics cases that encourages students to develop a general framework for making ethical decisions.
Langenderfer et al. (1989) studied this question.