The Master of Arts in Applied Ethics (MAE) program helps students translate ethical hopes and concerns into a purposeful way of life and way of being. The program engages students with historically influential and globally diverse thinkers, partners students with community leaders to complement and complicate theory with action, and guides students in developing professional pathways that enact critically examined values. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to philosophical ethics, from grounding ethical analysis in the ‘great works’ of moral theory, to stretching students beyond the western canon through inclusive humanities approaches, to social science applications to contemporary issues, to professional development expertise.
Student Outcomes
Upon completion of the MA in Applied Ethics program, students will:
- Assess values, as they apply to self and society.
- Evaluate assertions about “right” versus “wrong” actions.
- Compare cross-cultural theories of “the good life” and “wellbeing”.
- Interpret systems and ideologies that both elevate and serve as barriers to the ethical imagination.
- Partner with community leaders and professional organizations to apply theory to society and to experiment with different purposeful professions.
Admission Criteria
Requirements for Full Admission to the MAE
- Official transcript of BA, BS, or relevant bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution showing a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- One course in ethics or a related subject matter, with a B- grade or higher
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
Provisional Admission to the MAE
An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the MA in Applied Ethics program may be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the School of Graduate Studies. Provisionally admitted students who have met the bachelor’s degree requirement but lack specific prerequisite coursework must complete the required courses by the end of their first semester. The program director or the School of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.
Program Requirements
Conferral of the MA degree requires a minimum of 30 credits of 600-level coursework, each with agrade of a B- or above, and the completion and acceptance of a MA Praxis Project.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MAE 601 | Global History of Ethics | 6 |
| MAE 635 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
| MAE 650 | Livelihood Ethics | 3 |
| MAE 676 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MAE 694 | Praxis Project | 6 |
| Must complete 9 credits of MAE 685 topics chosen from a semesterly menu of offerings | 9 | |
| Contemporary Ethical Issues | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |