The Ethics Minor consists of a total of 6 courses: 2 required introductory courses, three other courses forming a coherent “cluster” or focus of interest, and a senior culminating project (usually an approved independent study project with a substantial paper, 20-25 pages in length).
To view an example of a successful senior culminating project click here.
Research funding opportunity for a senior culminating project: The Thomas D. Sayles, Jr. ('54) Fund for Research and Development in Applied and Professional Ethics (Guidelines; Application Instructions)
For more information about the Ethics Minor, please contact Aine Donovan, Director.
See Appendix A below for three sample minor programs*
I. Required Introductory Courses (two courses from the following list):
PHIL 8. Introduction to Moral Philosophy
PHIL 38. Political and Social Philosophy
II. Other Courses Currently Available for the Minor (at least 3 are required):
ANTH 14. Death and Dying (not offered 2013-2014)
ANTH 17. The Anthropology of Health and Illness
ANTH 18. Introduction to Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 45. Asian Medical Systems
ANTH 55. Anthropology of International Health
ANTH 56. Introduction to Research Methods in Medical Anthropology
CLAS 3. Reason and the Good Life: Socrates to Epictetus (not offered 2013-2014)
EDUC 29. Policy and Politics in American EducationEDUC 62. Adolescent Development
ENGS 5. Healthcare and Biotechnology in the 21st Century
GEOG 006/INTS 016. Introduction to International Development
GEOG 11. Qualitative Methods and the Research Process in Geography
GEOG 13. Population, Culture, and Environment (not offered 2013-2014)
GEOG 16. Moral Economies of Development
GEOG 25. Social Justice and the City
GOVT 36. The Making of American Public Policy
GOVT 50. Human Rights and International Relations
GOVT 62. Theorizing Free Speech
GOVT 63. Origins of Political Thought: Render unto God or unto Caesar?
GOVT 64.1. Liberalism and Its Critics
GOVT 64.2. Modern Political Thought
GOVT 66.2. Constitutional Law, Development and Theory
GOVT 67. Civil Liberties Legal and Normative Approaches
GOVT 86.18. Contemporary Readings on Justice
PBPL 42. Ethics and Public Policy
PHIL 9. Topics in Applied Ethics: The Ethics of Food Choice and Food Policy (offered Summer 2013)
PHIL 9. Topics in Applied Ethics: Reproductive Ethics
PHIL 17. Phenomenology and Existentialism
PHIL 22. Feminism and Philosophy
PHIL 25. Philosophy of Medicine
PHIL 50.2. Relativism in Epistemology and Ethics
PHIL 80. Advanced Seminar: Practical Reason, Action and the Foundation of Ethics
REL 19. Special Topics in Religion: Animal Rights in Religion, Film and Literature
REL 29. Kierkegaard and Existentialism
REL 37. Animal Rights in Religion, Film, and Literature
REL 53. Religion, Healing and Medicine
RUSS 35. Dostoevsky and the Problem of Evil
THEA 10. Human Rights and Performance
III. Senior Culminating Course (Independent Study Project)
PHIL 86. Research in Philosophy for the Ethics Minor
All terms: Arrange with Professor Donovan
The purpose of Philosophy 86 is to allow students pursuing the Ethics Minor to complete their senior culminating project. The culminating project involves an independent study, resulting in a substantial paper (20-25 pages in length), on a topic related to the student's cluster courses. Philosophy 86 does not count toward satisfaction of the philosophy major, modified major, or minor.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Aine Donovan.
Sample Minor Programs
Cluster one – “Ethics in Biomedicine”
Prerequisite: Two courses from among Philosophy 8, 37, 38 or Religion 11
Other Courses (select no less than 3)
ANTH 17. The Anthropology of Health and Illness
ANTH 45. Asian Medical Systems
ANTH 55. Anthropology of International Health
BIOL 4. Genes and Society
ENGS 5. Healthcare and Biotechnology in the 21st Century
PHIL 25. Philosophy of Medicine
Cluster two – “Ethics, Law and Society”
Prerequisite: Two courses from among Philosophy 8, 37, 38 or Religion 11
Other Courses (select no less than 3)
ANTH 18. Introduction to Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
EDUC 62. Adolescent Development
GEOG 25. Social Justice and the City
GOVT 66. Constitutional Law, Development and Theory
SOCY 63. Trust in Society
Cluster three – “Ethics and Public Policy”
Prerequisite: Two courses from among Philosophy 8, 37, 38 or Religion 11
Other Courses (select no less than 3)
BIOL 4. Genes and Society
ENGS 5. Healthcare and Biotechnology in the 21st CenturyGOVT 36. The Making of American Public Policy
GOVT 62. Theorizing Free SpeechGOVT 64.1 Liberalism and Its Critics
GOVT 66. Constitutional Law, Development and Theory
GOVT 67. Civil Liberties Legal and Normative Approaches
GOVT 86.18. Contemporary Readings on Justice
PBPL 42. Ethics and Public Policy
