Five Master Degree Options For Students With A Passion For Ethics

Living an ethical life is fulfilling on a personal as well as professional level, but in modern society, there’s a lot of pressure to succumb to unethical practices. Everyone is familiar with what ethical values are, but often internal and external pressures can get in the way of always adhering to these values. Always being ethical is not an easy path to take, but students with a passion for ethics will find the following degree options useful.

Why Are Ethics Important?

Ethical choices are something that we have to deal with on a daily basis and making the right ones can lead to positive impacts. People make ethical choices in both personal and professional settings and these are important for several reasons. Personal ethics consists of things like honesty, loyalty, respect, integrity, responsibility, and selflessness. These ethics can help people in leadership positions manage their teams more effectively and install a sense of trust and support in their abilities. Having good ethics also makes it easier to determine what actions to take in challenging situations which can streamline the decision-making process. In addition, strong ethics often also go hand in hand with being self-motivated and ethical people tend to be more willing to go the extra mile when it comes to accomplishing their goals. In contrast, unethical behavior can lead to criminal charges or fines, lawsuits, wasted time, low morale, scandals, and ruined careers. Good ethics in business can help to build customer loyalty, enhance the reputation of the company, help to retain good employees, and create a positive work environment while avoiding legal problems.

What Degrees Are Available in Ethics?

There are different degree programs available for students with a passion for ethics, so it is important to choose one that will align with your interests and career goals. In addition to degrees that focus specifically on ethics, it is also possible to select ethics as a concentration within other degrees. The latter is useful for students who want to apply ethics to their chosen career paths.

Master of Science in Bioethics

<p.As advances in medical technology continue to lead to improvements in health outcomes there are also associated ethical questions that are not easy to answer. A Master of Science in Bioethics degree program can prepare students to think critically about these ethical issues. It is aimed at people from a variety of professional fields and bioscience industries who care about social justice. This degree can help them to think ethically and critically bout emerging issues in life sciences and prepare them to address complex moral challenges. Course topics may include Foundations of Bioethics, Introduction to Clinical Ethics, Introduction to Research Ethics, Health Law, Policy and Bioethics as well as other elective courses.

Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights

The Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights degree combines the study of ethics and international policy to help prepare students to become responsible leaders. It is aimed at equipping learners with how to provide ethical responses to some of the most pressing problems in the world. The degree is structured around core courses in ethics, peace and conflict studies, and human rights along with six concentration areas to choose from. These include Human Rights and Social Justice, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Global Environmental Justice, Ethics of Development, International Economic Justice, Global Governance and International Organizations.

Master of Arts in Public Ethics

The Master of Arts in Public Ethics is a two-year degree program aimed at students who want to specialize in public ethics at the graduate level. It can benefit those who want to work as public ethics analysts and consultants by studying the major ethical questions raised by society. Compulsory course topics range from Social Philosophy and Main Ethical Theories to Ethics, Philosophy, and Public Policy. In addition, students can also take optional courses such as Ethical Dimensions of Conflict, Environmental Ethics, Ethics and Human Rights, Communication Ethics, Military and Peacekeeping Ethics, and more.

Master of Arts in Media, Ethics and Social Change

The Master of Arts in Media, Ethics, and Social Change degree is designed for students who want to learn how to use digital media in meaningful ways to bring positive changes across various sectors. It is organized around key areas such as critical media studies, journalism studies, and practices as well as creative media practices, and is designed to give students a broad range of skills. Course topics range from Activist Media Practice, Digital Media Ethics, and Media Theory, to Public Relations, Race, Culture and Media, and Big Data for Social Change.

Master of Arts in Applied Ethics

The Master of Arts in Applied Ethics degree is aimed at students interested in working for governmental agencies, corporations, NGOs, and more while looking for solutions to moral and ethical challenges in these fields. The curriculum consists of topics such as Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Social and Political Ethics, Globalisation and Global Justice, as well as Business Ethics and Biomedical Ethics. It is useful for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in academic fields such as philosophy, health, and technology, or other professional degrees and want a complementary education in applied ethics.

Master of Arts in Contemporary Ethics

The Master of Arts in Contemporary Ethics degree is aimed at people working in fields such as education, healthcare, social and public services, religion, business, and other careers that require ethical reflection. It can provide them with an in-depth understanding of ethics and how these can be applied in the context of cultural and religious pluralism. Students can expect core modules such as Foundations of Morality and Moral Development Reasoning and Decision Making as well as optional modules, such as Ethics in the Professional Context and Theology and Philosophy.

Conclusion

A degree in ethics goes beyond theoretical analysis and can play an important role in numerous professions. From research and law to business, medicine, and more, there are plenty of industries that benefit from an ethical approach. New frontiers, such as artificial intelligence will also ensure that ethics remain an important topic. Earning a degree in ethics and using it in your personal as well as professional capacity can be immensely rewarding and fulfilling. It won’t always be easy, but the long-term benefits make it worth the effort.