Master´s Programme in Applied Ethics, 60 credits

Introduction

Modern societies face many new challenges. Globalisation raises questions of global justice, new technology in medicine have implications for decision making in healthcare concerning life and death and climate change and environmental hazards challenge our responsibility for future generations. These are just some examples of questions dealt with within applied ethics.

Applied ethics is a growing, interdisciplinary field studying ethical issues in different areas of society. It includes for instance social and political ethics, medical ethics, bioethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, research ethics, ethics and technology and it also relates to different forms of professional ethics. Applied ethics has its disciplinary basis in moral philosophy and ethics but requires also area knowledge and cooperation with expertise in different fields of application.

Purpose

The Master’s Programme in Applied Ethics is a complementary education on master’s level in applied ethics.

The students will:

• acquire knowledge of ethical theories and different fields of applied ethics,
• develop the ability to identify, analyse and critically examine ethical problems and
• develop the capacity to argue for a chosen position in discussions on ethics and applied ethics and to formulate (and advise about) strategies for handling ethical dilemmas in different kinds of social practices.

Aim

The Master’s Programme in Applied Ethics is a complementary education on master’s level in applied ethics.

The students will:

- acquire knowledge of ethical theories and different fields of applied ethics,

- develop the ability to identify, analyse and critically examine ethical problems and

- develop the capacity to argue for a chosen position in discussions on ethics and applied ethics and to formulate (and advise about) strategies for handling ethical dilemmas in different kinds of social practices.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Master of Arts (60 credits) degree the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Master of Arts (60 credits) degree the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Master of Arts (60 credits) degree the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Content

The programme contains courses in different fields of applied ethics and a master’s thesis on a chosen topic.

First semester, 30 ECTS credits

INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED ACADEMIC STUDIES, 3 ECTS CREDITS
The course prepares the students for advanced academic studies and the students learn the academic culture in general. The students are trained in argumentation analysis, critical thinking and seminar presentations.

ETHICAL THEORY AND MORAL PRACTICE, 7.5 ECTS CREDITS
The interdependence of theory and practice is crucial for applied ethics. Moral decisions in practicemay be guided or criticised from the perspective of ethical theory. But ethical theories may also be criticised and adjusted from the point of view of well-considered moral judgements concerning concrete problems. In this course, various normative ethical theories will be studied, like natural law theory, utilitarianism, Kantianism and virtue ethics. Students will learn to apply the theories to practical problems and to criticise and evaluate the theories in the light of their implications for practice.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ETHICS, 7.5 ECTS CREDITS
The course focuses on ethical theories and ethical problems relevant within the field of social and political ethics. One central topic is human rights. Another is the concept of social justice, its different interpretations, its connections to liberty and equality, and the various suggested ways of its implementation. Contemporary texts in this area are studied.

GLOBALISATION AND GLOBAL JUSTICE, 7,5 ECTS CREDITS
Globalisation is a catch word in today’s political rhetoric. Global interdependence raises many ethical issues. The course focuses on views on globalisation, international relations and theories of global justice. A central topic is the concept of global justice, its different interpretations, its relation to human rights, its implications for new global actors like NGOs and corporations, its justification and various suggested ways of its implementation.

ETHICS AND MIGRATION, 4,5 ECTS CREDITS
Migration is increasing in today’s globalised world. People leave their homes because of political and religious oppression, poverty and environmental catastrophes. In parallel, Europe and the US build barriers to keep the migrants away. What are the moral rights of refugees and what moral obligations do nations have to open their borders? In the course ethical questions related to migration and refugees are studied.

Second semester, 30 ECTS credits

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL ETHICS 7.5 ECTS credits

The human impact on the environment and the use of animals for human purposes are areas of strong public concern. Examples of key ethical issues are the preservation of ecosystems, genetic modification of plants and mitigation of climate change as well as the use of animals for food and experimentation. This course discusses issues like these with a focus on theories as well as case studies

BIOMEDICAL ETHICS 7.5 ECTS credits

Medical practice and medical research raise a number of difficult ethical issues. Some issues concern the beginning-of-life. Examples are assisted reproduction, prenatal testing and gene therapy. Other issues concern the end-of-life such as physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. This course focuses on strongly debated issues like these but also on standard health care issues like informed consent and priority setting. A number of cultural perspectives, arguments and cases are studied.

MASTER'S THESIS, 15 ECTS CREDITS
In the latter half of the second semester, students concentrate on a selected area of specialisation, conducting supervised thesis research leading to the completion of a master's thesis. Parallel to this the students take part in advanced seminars in ethics. The thesis is to be completed over a period of ten weeks. The language of the thesis is English.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching

Instruction relies on literature-based lectures and seminars. It also takes the form of individualised reading, tutoring and research supervision.

Examination

Examinations will take the form of various kinds of essay assignments that may be complemented by oral or written tests. In the case of the master's thesis, a final presentation and defence before a discussant and examinators is required in order to obtain the degree. The student must also him/herself be an opponent to another master´s thesis.

Students who have failed an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course two times are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the re-examination. Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grading

Students are awarded grades according to the ECTS grading scale A-F.

Language of instruction

Language of instruction is English.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen.

English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B).

Degree requirements

The student will be awarded the degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) in Applied Ethics provided all course requirements, including the thesis, are successfully completed. Completed courses and other requirements will be listed in the degree certificate. A degree certificate is issued by the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on request from the student. A Diploma Supplement will be attached to this.

Degree in Swedish

Filosofie magisterexamen i huvudämnet tillämpad etik

Degree in English

Master of Arts (60 Credits) in Applied Ethics

Specific information

Enrolment Procedure

Students are admitted to the programme in its entirety. 

Transfer of credits

The Faculty Board or person nominated by the Board decides whether or not previous education can be transferred into the programme.