PHO6460 ETHICS
3 Credit Hours
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in either Freshman or Sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
PHO6460 - Ethics (3 hrs.)
A practical approach to recognizing, understanding and solving ethical problems confronting individuals in today’s society. Basic concepts of applied moral theories in moral philosophy and reasoning are examined using critical thinking and responsible decision-making skills.
KRSN: PHL1020
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
None
Controlling Purpose:
This course is designed to help the student examine a variety of social personal and professional ethical issues and problems and learn methods of resolving the issues through the use of critical thinking skills, ethical reasoning and legal and professional codes of conduct.
Learner Outcomes:
- Recognize the significance of moral philosophy in broader cultural and historical contexts
- Identify and explain basic ethical theories, terminology, and concepts
- Identify, develop and evaluate, in writing, ethical analyses and moral arguments based on philosophical reasoning and provide cogent reasons in support of competing moral and/or ethical claim
- Apply ethical theories to moral problems and state alternative points of view by developing positions supported by cogent arguments
Core Outcomes
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this course meet or exceed the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:
The following outline defines the minimum core content, not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other material as time allows.
UNIT 1: Foundations
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully recognize the significance of ethics in philosophy and in broader cultural and historical contexts.
- Explain ethics as a branch of philosophy and recognize the types of questions and concepts central to ethical inquiry.
- Distinguish between the main branches of ethics and recognize the kinds of questions each branch addresses.
- Describe how ethical norms relate to other normative domains such as law and religion.
- Distinguish among descriptive, normative, and evaluative claims and produce examples of each.
- Compare cultural relativism, moral relativism, and moral objectivism.
UNIT 2: Arguments
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully identify, develop, and evaluate moral arguments.
- Identify and analyze the basic structure of philosophical arguments.
- Evaluate arguments by applying criteria for validity, soundness, and cogence.
- Identify, evaluate, and construct moral arguments.
UNIT 3: Moral Theories
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully analyze Western and non-Western normative moral theories by examining their key principles, strengths and limitations, and application to moral issues and case studies.
- Compare and contrast major theoretical frameworks including consequentialism, deontology, and virtue-based ethics.
- Describe the core concepts, key figures, strengths, and limitations of consequentialist theories such as utilitarianism.
- Describe the core concepts, key figures, strengths, and limitations of deontological theories such as Rossian and Kantian deontology.
- Describe the core concepts, key figures, strengths, and limitations of virtue-based theories such as Nicomachean ethics and Confucian moral philosophy.
- Apply the main concepts of normative moral theories to analyze case studies and contemporary moral issues.
UNIT 4: Moral Issues
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully analyze moral issues and case studies by applying moral theories and moral reasoning strategies to develop, evaluate, and defend cogent moral arguments that consider alternative points of view.
- Define and correctly use core terms and concepts associated with specific moral issues.
- Compare different approaches to moral reasoning.
- Apply moral principles and other moral reasoning strategies to analyze moral issues and case studies.
- Articulate alternative points of view on moral issues and case studies.
- Develop and defend well-reasoned positions
- Analyze a moral issue and apply moral reasoning strategies to construct a cogent moral argument
UNIT 5: Challenges to Ethical Living
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully discuss the ways psychological, social, and situational factors affect ethical behavior and how greater awareness of these influences can support ethical action.
- Describe how behavioral ethics use empirical research to understand the psychological and social factors that influence ethical behavior.
- Examine how cognitive biases shape moral judgment and decision-making and discuss strategies for reducing their influence.
- Examine how rationalizations influence moral intent and action by allowing individuals to justify ethically questionable behavior.
- Reflect on how moral awareness, responsibility, and situational influences shape ethical action in one’s own life.
Projects Required:
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Materials/Equipment Required:
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Time Frame:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission, and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching, and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies on the Cowley Policies and Procedures webpage:
402.00 - Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 - Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 - Student Code of Conduct
Accessibility Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, accommodates all students with a documented disability. If a student has a disability that will impact their ability to be successful in this course, please contact the Student Accessibility Coordinator for the needed accommodations.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
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