Ethics Minor

Minor in Ethics

Ethics is the area of philosophy that studies the nature and content of morality. Are there moral truths? What is the nature of right and wrong? What ethical rules apply to the practice of medicine? What is the moral status of non-human life? What makes for a good life? What does it mean to be a good person?

Students in the Ethics Minor reflect on all of these questions and more. Along the way, students will study critical and moral reasoning, become familiar with various schools of moral thought, and engage in sustained reflection on important moral issues central to our society. Students will be encouraged to interrogate and explore their understanding of the shape and nature of morality by evaluating different moral principles proposed by different philosophers through the ages.

The Ethics Minor consists in six courses (18 credit hours). There are three required courses for the minor:

• PHIL 2301 – Critical Thinking
• PHIL 2306 – Contemporary Moral Issues
• PHIL 4363 – Ethical Theories

Students completing the minor must also take three elective courses (9 credit hours) that contain substantive moral content. The list of courses students may choose from to satisfy this requirement are the following:

• PHIL 3373 – American Philosophy
• PHIL 4333 – Bioethics
• PHIL 4334 – Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 4336 – Philosophy of Law
• PHIL 4371 – Death and Dying
• PHIL 4374 – Philosophy of Crime & Justice
• PHIL 4375 – Feminist Philosophies
• PHIL 4375 – Philosophy of Race

With approval of the Philosophy Program Coordinator, students may apply one non-PHIL course with substantive moral content to the elective component of the minor.

If you have any questions about the Ethics Minor, reach out to Dr. Zachary Bachman zcb006@shsu.edu).