Minor in Ethics
 

Ethical questions and problems arise in virtually all aspects of life.  It is vital for any educated person to know how to think clearly on their own about matters of ethics.  That’s why the minor in ethics complements and enriches any major field of study, whether it is education, nursing, health, education, communications, business, or the sciences.  The minor in ethics has enough flexibility that students can tailor their courses of study in ethics to match their other academic and career interests.  For example, a student who majors in animal science and minors in ethics might explore questions about the use of animal subjects in experiments; a student who majors in computer science and minors in ethics could examine ethical issues in the use of computers, such as privacy, free speech, and intellectual property rights.

The minor in ethics helps students compete for jobs in the expanding area of professional ethics, as well as for more traditional jobs with their increasing stress on professional ethics.  Nearly all professions now have codes of ethics and many businesses require employees to adhere to various standards of conduct.  Thus a student who majors in business and minors in ethics might serve as a company’s ethics officer; a student who majors in nursing and minors in ethics could help organize and run a hospital ethics committee; and a student that opts for a career in education would be well qualified to help schools develop character education programs for pupils.

The minor in ethics requires 18 credit hours of course work, with 12 hours at the 3000 level or above.  The courses are in three different areas:

• Ethical Theory:  3 hours

• Applications: 3 hours

• Scientific, Historical and Social Analysis:  3 hours

In addition to taking one course in each of the three areas, students will be required to meet the following two additional requirements:

• Capstone Course:  3 hours (independent study)

• Electives:  6 hours (2 courses from Areas 1, 2 or 3 -- each from a different area)

The capstone course is an independent study normally taken during a student’s senior year.  The course integrates the student’s different areas of study in the ethics minor into a project or thesis.  Any professor in any college can sponsor this independent study.  Capstone topics must be approved by the ethics minor advisor.

The minor in ethics is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and administered through the Philosophy Department. Any undergraduate student at the university can minor in ethics.  

Students, faculty, and advisors please note:

• New courses may be added to this list when appropriate.  

• You may ask to have a particular course count toward the minor in ethics.  Contact Susanna Goodin, Department of Philosophy.

• You need to be sure you have met the prerequisites to take the approved courses for the minor in ethics.  Many do have prerequisites.

• You must earn a grade of “C” or better in all course work for the minor in ethics.  

• Note:  A&S students seeking a minor in A&S must have 12 exclusive to the minor and not used in the major.

Students interested in the minor in ethics should contact:

Existing University courses that fulfill minor in ethics requirements:

Area 1:  Ethical Theory

Area 2:  Applications

Area 3:  Scientific, Historical, and Social Analysis