For anyone overwhelmed by having choices, a good shake of a Magic 8 Ball could offer assistance. The classic toy’s “Signs point to yes” or “My sources say no” responses to yes/no questions offer stress-free solutions. However, for anyone who prefers to learn how to thoughtfully examine life’s questions, a course in ethics is a perfect answer. 

UD’s Department of Philosophy is home to courses where “we think systematically about ethical issues in great depth,” according to department chair Joel Pust. While ethics courses are the most heavily enrolled classes in the department, students can also find ethics classes specific to their disciplines in departments ranging from accounting to electrical engineering. 

Now UD students can register for the Ethics Certificate, allowing them to formalize their study of ethics across disciplines, develop their critical thinking skills and show future employers that they understand professional responsibility and have the capacity to examine complex issues.

The 9-credit certificate consists of one required course on ethical theory and two electives, at least one of which must be a philosophy course and one of which may come from health sciences, business administration, engineering, accounting, political science, psychology, journalism, education, sports management or computer science.

Nazim Karaca, who teaches a course on computers, ethics and society for the College of Engineering, explained that it is important for his students to understand ethics because computers are ubiquitous in modern society.

“Their usage has profound impacts that are difficult to account or correct for. That makes it vital for the field of computer science to get things as right as possible as early as possible. And that's ethics,” he said.

Inextricable ties

For senior Bennett Gentile, adding the Ethics Certificate was a natural choice. A double major in philosophy with a concentration in law, and energy and environmental policy with a minor in public policy, he plans to pursue a career in environmental law. He said that the study of ethics is linked to environmental policy.

“In my environmental policy courses, the principles that shape how we should navigate our environmental responsibilities and how we should seek justice are supported and reinforced by the ethics courses I have taken,” he said. 

Senior Kristine Osinuga agreed that the program provides a strong foundation in ethical decision-making. The honors neuroscience and medical scholars major wants to be prepared to make decisions that prioritize patients’ rights and well being.

“The certificate supports my interests in health policy and advocacy by helping me understand the moral complexities in healthcare, such as issues of access and equity. This background will allow me to approach global outreach with sensitivity and a commitment to making a positive impact responsibly,” she said.

Respectful discourse

The ability to carefully consider different sides to an issue and draw conclusions, or even sometimes admit that you don’t know what you believe, is an essential skill, especially in polarized times, Pust explained.  

“All of us have ethical opinions, but for most people until they think systematically about it, it’s a hodgepodge of various ideas.” 

He said that students often come into class with strong opinions on controversial issues, like abortion or the death penalty, and they are surprised to learn aspects of the debate they’ve never considered before.

It is also helpful to systematically examine more mundane issues. 

Katie Logan, senior philosophy major with a concentration in law and a legal studies minor, said that studying ethics taught her a lot about life in general because the case studies and readings covered in class touch on many different topics. 

Regardless of the issue, having a more nuanced understanding leads to less demonizing of opponents, making it easier to have respectful conversations.

“We have to treat people as worthy of respect and discourse,” Pust said.