The optical rotatory dispersion (ORD, both non-resonant and resonant) and the electronic circular dichroism (CD) of tris-bidentate transition metal complexes of the form [M(L)(3)](n+) (M = Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir; n = 2, 3; L = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridine) are calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The exciton CD band 44,3 resulting from the coupling of ligand pi-to-pi* transitions is investigated in detail and analyzed in terms of exciton coupling of long-axis transitions using a dipole coupling model that takes TDDFT data for a single ligand as input. Results of the coupling model agree well with the full TDDFT CD spectra. The usefulness and reliability of this model is discussed. The resonant ORDs calculated directly from analytical damped linear TDDFT response compare well with Kramers-Kronig transformations of the calculated CD spectra. For comparisons of resonant ORD with experiment, one needs to consider wavelength shifts.