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Ethics, Minor

Experience an interdisciplinary exploration of diverse ethical theories and contemporary issues, allowing you to synthesize perspectives on justice and moral action from various fields and tailor your program of study to align with your interests.

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About this Program

As an Ethics minor student, you will delve into diverse viewpoints on contemporary ethical issues, while also exploring theories about virtue, responsibility, duty, agency, and more. The Ethics minor caters to students from all backgrounds and programs of study. You will be able to choose from a vast array of courses within programs such as Philosophy; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; History; Social Work; Anthropology and others. The aim of this program is to provide you with a breadth of perspectives on topics related to justice and moral action.

You will work with the Program Director to find courses that best suit your unique interests and complement your major. As an interdisciplinary program, the Ethics minor allows you to truly customize your experience. Themes you might encounter include: a critical examination of religious perspectives on morality; an analysis of structural racism, sexism, and ableism in our society; an evaluation of the historical roots of dominant ethical attitudes today. Because you can customize your learning experience, you will be able to choose courses that highlight the themes, approaches, and issues that matter most to you.

Ethics Minor At A Glance

Upon completion of the Ethics minor, students will be able to: 

  1. Analyze the philosophical reasoning contained in a moral argument. 
  2. Use a variety of moral theories to evaluate complex ethical claims in a concrete situation, law, or public policy and explain the basis for reasonable moral disagreement.  
  3. Assess fairly and with insight the strengths and weaknesses of the major moral theories. 
  4. Demonstrate familiarity with contemporary critiques of the traditional theories. 
  5. Compare a philosophical approach to a moral issue to the approach of another discipline. 

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

Hear From Our Students

Jean Simpson Standing in a Garden

Jean Simpson

Working towards a minor in ethics has fundamentally changed the way I approach my academic and personal goals. I have always been guided towards developing a deeper comprehension, leading me to redefine terms such as justice, equality, and responsibility. I have been pushed by my professors to participate in a journey of personal academic growth that has reinforced the notion that not knowing the correct answer is okay as long as you’re actively striving to discover it.

English, BA, with Minors in Ethics and Criminal Justice, Class of 2025

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Here to Help Learn More

For more information about the Ethics Minor, please contact:

Alexandra Romanyshyn

Assistant Professor

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