Master´s Programme in Applied Ethics, 60 credits

Introduction

The Master's programme in Applied Ethics is a one-year programme at advanced level that leads to a Master's degree in Applied Ethics. The programme prepares students for qualified tasks for governmental agencies, corporations, NGOs etc and for research. The programme can also serve as a complement to previous working-life experiences and/or education.

Aim

National Qualifications according to the Swedish Higher Education Act

Knowledge and understanding

For a Master of Arts (60 credits) degree the student shall:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in Applied Ethics, 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 Applied Etfics.

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 Applied Ethics 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 Master’s programme in Applied Ethics is intended to provide students with knowledge about applied ethics, ethical theory and in-depth knowledge in one domain of the broad field of applied ethics. The program courses focus on key areas of applied ethics such as biomedical ethics, the ethics of migration and business ethics and gives the students depth as well as breadth. Applied ethics can be defined as the systematic study of concrete societal problems by means of normative ethical theory. Students obtain knowledge about concrete problems within the different domains of applied ethics as well as of methods that can be used to analyse these problems in a structured manner. The methods can be analytical, empirical, hermeneutic, critical, constructive or normative. Conceptual and argumentation analysis are, together with normative ethical theory, introduced as key tools. Students learn both about theories that can be applied to analyse concrete problems within different domains and how different ethical methods can be used within the broad field of applied ethics. The programme is characterised by a progression regarding domain specific knowledge as well as regarding skills. Progression in field specific knowledge is obtained through basic knowledge of ethics: normative ethical theory, social and global justice, and is gradually deepened and applied on different domains.

The abilities and skills that are part of the programme aims are developed through recurring tasks that provide the students with continuous training. Students get training in describing and assessing written analyses – their own and others’ – orally and in writing as well as in communicating their findings to different audiences. Furthermore, students receive training in employing ethical theory to conduct systematic analyses and in describing and assessing concrete societal questions and problems.

The heading Curriculum contains a list of courses included in the programme. The course syllabuses for these describe in more detail the contents, teaching and working methods, and examination. 

Teaching and working methods

Among the learning activities used within the programme courses are: lectures with interactive components, teacher but also student-led mandatory seminars, group tasks, debates, oral and written presentations, and peer assessments of written assignments. Lectures are central in that they introduce and explain key concepts and theories. Concepts and theories are exemplified and contextualized by the teacher. Lectures often entail discussions in small groups which stimulates students to take a stance in concrete issues and trains them in developing arguments. Students obtain a deeper understanding of theories through the mandatory seminars that offer practice in oral and written analysis of theoretical positions and in arguing for or against a position based on a certain theory. In seminars, students practice formulating and proposing solutions to problems with support in normative ethical theory and argumentation analysis. The course aims are formulated on the basis of national aims for higher education that are adjusted to the particular course theme. Constructive alignment is used as a method to ensure a common theme between learning objectives, exam forms and assessment criteria. Constructive alignment means that the teaching conducted starts from the objectives in the course plan and aims at preparing students for the examination and to make them aware of the requirements that teachers start out from for them to be able to plan and structure their learning process. Examination forms are chosen so that they support learning objectives.  

The course syllabuses describe in more detail the contents, teaching and working methods, and examination.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Degree requirements

The student will be awarded a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) with a major in Applied Ethics provided all course requirements are completed and that the student fulfils the general and specific eligibility requirements including proof of holding a Bachelor's (kandidat) or a corresponding degree. 

Completed courses will be listed in the degree certificate.

A degree certificate is issued by the Faculty Board on request.

A Diploma Supplement will be attached to the degree certificate.

Degree in Swedish

Filosofie magisterexamen i huvudämnet tillämpad etik

Degree in English

Degree of Master of Arts (60 Credits) in Applied Ethics

Specific information

Transferring credit

Decisions about transferring credit are taken by the faculty board, or by a person designated by the board, after application from the student.

Teaching language

The teaching language is English.