https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562917719918 Journal of Management Education 1–23 © The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1052562917719918 journals.sagepub.com/home/jme Article Balancing Profit and People: Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Education Shannon Deer 1 and Jill Zarestky 2 Abstract This qualitative study’s purpose was to evaluate how undergraduate business students’ perspectives, skills, and behaviors evolved through corporate social responsibility (CSR) education taught with a focus on critical thinking and sustainable problem solving. Business schools are struggling to incorporate CSR into their curriculum despite interest from students and pressure from accreditation agencies. This article primarily contributes practical tools for business schools teaching students to apply critical thinking skills and concepts gained through their business education to develop solutions to economic, social, and environmental problems. Instructors taught the following topics: definitions of CSR, the triple bottom line, stakeholder theory, exposure to social problems, businesses’ roles in exacerbating or mitigating social problems, specific sustainable solutions companies and nonprofit organizations have implemented, and analysis of public companies’ sustainability reports. Topics were taught using critical thinking tools, such as a decision-making model, a funneling exercise, a root problems activity, and reflection and metareflection. The instruction followed a specific teaching model to promote critical thinking skills development, which can be implemented by other faculty. We found CSR concepts motivated students by giving them the tools and confidence in their abilities to solve meaningful problems and learning outcomes for both CSR and critical thinking were achieved. 1 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA 2 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Corresponding Author: Shannon Deer, Texas A&M University, 390B Wehner Building, College Station, TX 77843- 4117, USA. Email: sdeer@mays.tamu.edu 719918JME XX X 10.1177/1052562917719918Journal of Management EducationDeer and Zarestky research-article 2017