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Interdisciplinary Programs

Ethics

Why minor in ethics at North Central College?

Ethics students seek to explore the moral ideas that shape society. In an ethics minor, you’ll become an excellent writer, speaker and critical thinker. A minor in ethics complements any major, and students are equipped for several different opportunities when they graduate, including graduate school or a career in business, law, medicine, religion or science.

At North Central College, you will learn how to recognize the moral challenges and questions in daily life. Ultimately, you will challenge and be challenged to live a more principled life. Overall, in this program you will develop the reasoning skills needed to succeed in any career you choose.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

  • Challenging established views using logic and reason
  • Examining the moral dilemmas that will face you in your future career
  • Thinking critically about the ethical implications of personal decisions and social policies

then a minor in ETHICS might be for you.

Why study art history at North Central College?

In the Classroom

Coursework topics:

  • 20th Century Philosophy
  • Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
  • Environmental Ethics
  • Ethical Theory
  • Ethics
  • Health Care Ethics
  • Modern Philosophy
  • Professional Ethics

Beyond the Classroom

As an ethics minor, you can:

  • Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.  
  • Get involved politically through NCC College Democrats or Republicans or Student Governing Association.
  • Receive individualized coaching with our nationally ranked speech and debate team.

Ethics Minor

Ethics explores fundamental questions about right and wrong and ultimately asks what it means to live a good life. Students use critical thinking skills to apply ethical theories to real life dilemmas. An ethics minor can be integrated with any major and benefits graduates seeking to understand the ethical dilemmas in their personal and professional lives.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Philosophy and Religious Studies.

A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:

Required Courses

  • PHIL 110 - Ethics

    PHIL 110 - Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    An examination of alternative bases for morality and the arguments by which moral claims are justified.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PHIL 310 - Ethical Theory

    PHIL 310 - Ethical Theory

    4.00 credit hours

    An examination of topics in contemporary and/or classical ethical theory. Course may focus on key figures in ethical theory or issues in normative ethics and metaethics. Topics have included virtue ethics, feminist ethics and relationships between normative ethical theory and social or natural sciences.

    Schedule Of Classes

History of Philosophy

One of the following:

Applied Ethics

Two of the following:

  • PHIL 210 - Professional Ethics

    PHIL 210 - Professional Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    Professional ethics in selected career fields including law, business and biomedicine. Students may apply basic concepts to the career of their choice, relate their personal ethics to professional ethics and become better informed consumers of professional services. This course begins with an examination of the alternative bases for making moral judgments.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PHIL 213 - Health Care Ethics

    PHIL 213 - Health Care Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    Considers fundamental ethical questions concerning health care and applies ethics to contemporary debates such as abortion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PHIL 225 - Environmental Ethics

    PHIL 225 - Environmental Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    After a brief examination of philosophical ethical frameworks, the following will be considered: the history of environmental ethics; the problem of the "moral status" of nonhuman animals and other aspects of nature: the environment and "the good life," ethical issues related to population growth, sustainability, diminishing/vanishing resources and the use of cost benefit analysis in environmental policy.

    Schedule Of Classes

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