Ethics (BPhil)
Ethics addresses fundamental questions about the meaning of human life; the aims and ends of human activity; the prospects and marks of human flourishing; the interrelationship of the good, true, and beautiful; and the moral import of cultural life. The major provides a rigorous understanding of ethics as conceived historically and currently, and it prepares students to think with critical acumen about moral problems, whether ancient or new, personal and societal.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Ethics (BPhil) major is by application through the Elite Academic Programs Application. The Ethics (BPhil) cohort will be limited to approximately ten students in each class. Admission is competitive and selective. Students must write an articulate essay explaining what they hope to accomplish from the BPhil. Target class ranking of top 5%, target test scores: 1450 SAT, 34 ACT.
Requirements for a Major in Ethics (BPhil)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Total Hours Requirement | (124) | |
| Minimum GPA - 3.3 Overall and in Major | ||
| Minimum Hours in Residence | (60) | |
| Minimum Advanced Hours (for UG: 3000- or 4000-level courses) | (36) | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| BPhil Core | 50-62 | |
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 2310 | American Literary Cultures | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ETH 3301 | Ethics and Social Thought: Ancient and Medieval | 3 |
| ETH 3302 | Ethics and Social Thought: Modern and Contemporary | 3 |
| PHI 1391 | Introduction to Moral Philosophy | 3 |
| REL 3390 | Christian Ethics | 3 |
| Restricted Electives or Concentration | ||
| OPTION 1: Restricted Electives (general track – no concentration) | ||
| Note: At least 12 of the 18 hrs in this section must be advanced (3000- or 4000-level). | ||
| Take 3 hrs from each of the following lists: | ||
| Ethics in Historical Perspective | 3 | |
| Theoretical Studies | 3 | |
| Applied Studies | 3 | |
| Select an additional 9 hrs from the above lists | 9 | |
| OPTION 2: Concentration | ||
| Select from the following: | ||
| Required Secondary Major | ||
| All BPhil students are required to complete a Secondary Major of their choosing. | ||
| Note: Additional elective hrs. to reach 124 hrs. minimum may be required. 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- 1
ENG 2310 American Literary Cultures is one of several Literature options within the BPhil Core. Ethics students who do not use ENG 2310 to fulfill their BPhil Core Literature requirement will also need to complete ENG 2310 as an additional general education requirement. (Students who complete ENG 2310 for their Literature requirement will not be required to complete an additional course.)
- 2
All students pursuing the Ethics (Bachelor of Philosophy) major are in the Honors Program and should, in discussion with their B.Phil. advisor, complete the requirements for the Honors Program graduation.
Ethics Course Lists
Ethics in Historical Perspective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIC 3358 | Examined Life II: Biblical Heritage and Contemporary Ethical Issues | 3 |
| CLA 2306 | Greek and Roman Mythology | 3 |
| CLA 3301 | Roman Republic | 3 |
| CLA 3302 | Greek History and Civilization | 3 |
| CLA 3306 | Roman Empire | 3 |
| CLA 3371 | Greek and Roman Ethics | 3 |
| CLA 3372 | Hellenistic Philosophy | 3 |
| ECO 4343 | History of Economic Thought | 3 |
| ENGL 3373 | History of Critical Theory | 3 |
| GTX 3332 | Black Intellectual Traditions | 3 |
| HIS 4342 | The Holocaust | 3 |
| HIS 4375 | The American Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| HIS 4381 | The Latino Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| HIS 4388 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| PHI 3301 | Moral Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 4331 | Latin American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 4340 | East Asian Philosophy | 3 |
| PSC 3355 | The Causes of War | 3 |
| REL 4349 | The World's Religions and Violence | 3 |
Theoretical Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECO 1380 | Introduction to Economic Analysis and Policy | 3 |
| ENGL 3371 | Contemporary Critical Theory | 3 |
| GTX 3330 | Great Texts by Women | 3 |
| GTX 3371 | Happiness, Morality, and the Good Life | 3 |
| JOU 4380 | Law and Ethics of Journalism | 3 |
| PHI 3320 | Philosophical Issues in Feminism | 3 |
| PHI 3339 | Law and Religion | 3 |
| PHI 4318 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHI 4360 | Contemporary Ethical Theory | 3 |
| PHI 4361 | Social Philosophy | 3 |
| PSC 3353 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| PSC 4313 | Politics and Literature | 3 |
| PSC 4370 | Politics and Religion | 3 |
| REL 4390 | Topics in Theology and Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 4391 | Social Theory | 3 |
| SWO 4315 | Foundations for Social Justice | 3 |
Applied Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 4320 | Culture, Personality and Identity | 3 |
| ANT 4362 | Applied Anthropology | 3 |
| BIC 4389 | Examined Life III Capstone: Special Topics | 3 |
| BUS 3350 | Christian Ethics Applied to Business | 3 |
| EGR 3305 | Social and Ethical Issues in Engineering | 3 |
| GTX 3350 | Great Texts in Leadership | 3 |
| GTX 3351 | Great Texts in Business | 3 |
| GTX 3370 | Great Texts in Medicine | 3 |
| MH 4372 | End-of-Life Care & Bereavement | 3 |
| PHI 3318 | Philosophy and Constitutional Issues | 3 |
| PHI 4301 | War and Morality | 3 |
| PHI 4325 | Literary and Philosophical Perspectives on Medicine | 3 |
| PPS 3372 | Law, Justice and the Community | 3 |
| PPS 4310 | Philanthropy, Civil Society, & the Public Good | 3 |
| PSC 3300 | The Environment and Political Processes | 3 |
| PSC 3322 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| PSC 3339 | Law and Religion in the United States | 3 |
| PSC 4303 | International Human Rights | 3 |
| PSC 4309 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| PSC 4355 | Power, Morality, and International Relations | 3 |
| REL 3391 | Global Ethics | 3 |
| REL 3394 | War and Peace in the Christian Tradition | 3 |
| REL 3397 | Gender, Feminism and Theology | 3 |
| REL 4389 | Disability Ethics | 3 |
| REL 4393 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| REL 4395 | Bioethics | 3 |
| REL 4397 | Race, Racism, and Religion in America | 3 |
| SOC 4320 | Culture, Personality and Identity | 3 |
| SOC 4352 | Criminology | 3 |
| SOC 4353 | Sociology of Medicine | 3 |
| SOC 4360 | Social Problems in Modern Society | 3 |
| SWO 4317 | Human Trafficking | 3 |