PHILOSOPHY

A Love of Wisdom

Philosophy, literally “love of wisdom,” is the study of humanity’s relationships to the world and to each other. Those who take philosophy classes are engaged in asking, answering, and debating about answers to life’s most basic questions. Students may complete at least one philosophy course as a part of the general education curriculum. Many elect to take more philosophy courses because their content and emphasis on critical thinking enhance any academic program and may lead to a Philosophy Minor or an Executive Certificate in Applied and Professional Ethics as part of any degree. Both the minor and the certificate are excellent preparation for many graduate and professional programs.

Philosophy Minor Applied & Professional Ethics

Philosophy Minor

A minor in Philosophy requires 18 hours in the discipline, including:

PHL 201 - Introduction to Philosophy

Any student graduating with a minor in Philosophy will be required to earn at least a C in all minor courses.

Certificate in Applied & Professional Ethics

The Certificate in Applied and Professional Ethics offers a valuable credential to those who need ethics training in preparation for graduate and professional school, licensure, service on institutional ethics committees and compliance boards, or who currently hold leadership positions in various professional and business areas. Professionals in business, politics, public policy, and in disciplines such as education, engineering, journalism, law, medicine, the ministry, and social work confront ethical dilemmas in their daily work. Regulatory agencies, courts of law, state and federal legislatures, professional organizations, and the public expect and demand professionals to hold high standards of ethical conduct and to know how to critically and fairly evaluate ethical dilemmas. The Executive Certificate in Applied and Professional Ethics certification emphasizes advanced critical thinking and writing skills, in depth knowledge of the history, theory, principles, and concepts of ethics, and the ability to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas in various professional contexts and provides the background knowledge and skills necessary for success and for taking on leadership roles in the community.

FAQ:

How long will it take me to earn the certificate?

It will be possible to earn the certificate within 2 semesters.

Can I use the credit toward a degree if I decide to pursue a degree at a later date?

You have the option of taking courses for academic credit (earning a grade for the course). If you chose to take the courses for credit, all courses in the program may be applied as electives toward any Bachelor's degree or a minor in Philosophy. You may work on a degree while you are also earning the certificate or after you complete the certificate. You may take select courses for no academic credit (called "auditing a class"), but those coursed may not be applied to the Executive Certificate, nor a degree. As you can see, MUW makes it easy for you to customize your education.

How many classes or credit hours are necessary to obtain the certificate?

In order to earn the Certificate in Applied and Professional Ethics, you must take a minimum of 12 hours or 4, 3 hour courses.

What are the classes that I will be required to take?

All students will be required to take:

PHL 204 Ethics
PHL 465 Contemporary Ethical Problems

You may choose 2 or more from the following:

PHL 206 Sport Ethics
PHL 207 Philosophies of Education
PHL 298 Special Topics in Ethics
PHL 305 Nursing Ethics
PHL 306 Business Ethics
PHL 307 Medical Ethics
PHL 451 Political and Social Philosophy

Note: PHL 298 Special Topics in Ethics may be repeated with different topics.