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ETHICS MINOR

Colin Anderson (2002), Associate Professor of Philosophy; George and Arlene Foote Chair in Ethics and Values
B.A., St. John’s College;
M.A., Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago

Department Web Site:  http://www.hiram.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/ethics-minor

Introduction

The ethics minor engages students with ethics through the study of ethical theory and moral issues; the development of skills of critical thinking and reflection; application in their major areas of study; and through service. The minor is designed to enhance any student's education by enriching awareness of ethical issues, developing abilities to reflect critically, and by connecting awareness and reflection to opportunities for action. The minor is interdisciplinary in nature and design, and combines both traditional study with opportunities for experiential learning. Flexibly designed to be tailored to each individual student’s interests and education, the minor is developed in consultation with a faculty advisor in ethics.

Ethics Minor

1. ETH 27200: Ethical Thinking (4 credits) 

2. INTD 39600: Engaged Citizenship (4 credits) 

3. One course in Ethical Theory and Methods: (PHIL 11800, 11900, 21900, 27000, 27100; RELG 22400, 26200, 31300) (3 or 4 credits)

4. One course in Applied or Disciplinary Ethics: At least one course in applied ethics. Typically these would include courses approved for the ES core curriculum designation. Where an approved course exists in the student’s major, taking that course is encouraged. (3 or 4 credits)

5. Electives: Any remaining hours can be met through any ES or service learning course in consultation with a faculty advisor in ethics. (The remaining credits can also be satisfied through 1-credit Ethics Seminars.)

6. Experiential Learning: A significant service-learning experience, approved by contract with a faculty advisor in ethics, which ethical analysis of and reflection on the experience are integrated. It is often desirable for the student to obtain this experience in a way that is connected with the student’s major. This can also be satisfied through suitable summer internships. (variable credit hours, 1-4 credits)

7. Capstone:  Each student must integrate his or her study of ethics through a reflective essay, usually in conjunction with an experiential learning requirement, or an additional integrative research project. These capstones are presented publicly during the student's senior year. (1 credit hour)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ETH 18000: WORKSHOP: 1 hour(s)

Workshops may be taken Pass/No Credit only. Students may take no more than nine workshops for credit toward graduation. Workshops can be used as elective credit only.

ETH 19800: SERVICE LEARINING FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 hour(s)

The Experiential Learning Field Experience allows students to request the addition of a service learning field experience to complement an existing undergraduate college course for one (1) additional credit hour. Students will receive a separate Pass/Pass No Credit grade for the service learning field experience from the Ethics 29800 instructor. Students will devote a minimum of 40 hours of work during the semester towards their service learning field experience. At least 30 of these hours must be in direct service with an organization. The remainder of the time may be devoted to orientation training or travel related to service with the organization. Students will also complete a reflection project which may be completed in a variety of ways (i.e., journal, portfolio, formal writing assignment, class presentation, or a combination of these). The final project will ideally meet a requirement for the student's primary course, but it there is no requirement for the primary course, the student must arrange a reflective project assignment with the Ethics 29800 instructor. Students may not take Ethics 29800 more than three times for credit, and may only take Ethics 29800 once per semester. This course is Pass/No Credit Only. Students must be identified with a Service Learning Attribute.

ETH 20100: ETHICS BOWL 1 hour(s)

Ethics Bowl provides college credit for participation in preparation for the annual ethics bowl debate competitions. This preparation develops abilities for ethical analysis as well as practices skills in presentation and debate. Each week enrolled students meet to discuss the 15 cases provided for the competition and collaboratively develop ethical positions and arguments to support them. To receive credit for this work, students must attend 1 hour of case discussions, prepare arguments for discussion between meetings, and contribute to the collaborative document of our case analyses. Students may additionally travel and compete with the Ethics Bowl Team in the Regional Competition. This course may be repeated and is offered every semester in which the Ethics Bowl Team plans to compete. The course is PASS/NO CREDIT, is offered for 0 and 1 credits. Counts towards the Ethics Minor.

ETH 27200: ETHICAL THINKING:ES 4 hour(s)

Ethical life depends upon identifiable intellectual capacities as well as virtues of character. This course aims to develop the intellectual virtues that are a necessary condition of an ethical life. This requires two sorts of skills-those of critical thinking and of dialogue. The first set of skills enables the analysis of arguments, exposure of fundamental assumptions, and the rigorous statement of criticism of moral values and ethical frameworks, the ability to mediate ethical discussions, seek shared ground, formulate issues in non-prejudical or unnecessarily judgmental terms, the ability to re-frame ethical problems and open new ground for discussion. This course will cultivate these skills wihile engaged in analysis and discussion of some of the most pressing moral difficulties we face. This course fulfills the Meaning, Ethics, and Social Responsibility requirement. Also listed as PHIL (272 or 27200).

ETH 28000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 28100: INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 29800: FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 30100: ETHICS SERVICE AND REFLECTION 4 hour(s)

This is a service learning course. Students will be placed in a service location off campus, typically in an agency or non-profit institution, where their work will put them in contact with ethical issues that can be identified and described by their co-workers, and where they can observe and learn from professionals who respond to these issues in the course of thier daily work. The class assignment includes a reflective journal and a significant paper on an ethical issue inherent in the work of the agency where the service is performed.

ETH 38000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 38100: SPECIAL TOPICS: 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 48000: SENIOR SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 48100: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 1 - 4 hour(s)

ETH 49800: INTERNSHIP 4 hour(s)

ETH 68000: SEMINAR 4 hour(s)