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Dublin City University

Ethics

Since 2010, DCU's renowned MA in Ethics has attracted people from various graduate and occupational backgrounds including education, journalism, social work, business, the charity sector, healthcare and law. No philosophy or ethics background is required to apply for this course. While pursuing your MA in Ethics at DCU, you'll confront and evaluate a range of important contemporary ethical challenges in society. The course modules focus on both general and applied ethics, and the programme draws on diverse expertise from the areas of ethics, philosophy, theology and humanities.

The degree attracts individuals looking to develop analytical and decision-making skills so that they can apply ethical perspectives and principles to real-life and professional dilemmas.

After graduation you can join our MA in Ethics Alumni and be part of a network of expertise and support in the field of ethics.

Programme

Why Do This Programme?

•Gain an understanding of a broad range of ethical theories and principles at the forefront of general and applied ethics.

•Acquire a critical awareness of contemporary public and professional ethical issues, together with new ethical insights, developed and informed by a variety of philosophical, theological, human rights, and intercultural perspectives.

•Learn how to analyse specific ethical issues, challenges and dilemmas arising from contemporary work, professional activity and public life.

Programme Aims and Objectives

The MA in Ethics was established in 2010 in light of an ongoing demand for expertise in ethical analysis and decision-making, and aims to "add value" to continuing professional development. The programme's underpinning philosophy is that ethical issues are best examined through a wide spectrum of ethical theories and by developing an active and creative interaction between theory and practice. You'll receive a grounding in the foundations of ethics, human rights and social justice. You'll also develop the necessary ethical analysis and decision-making skills to apply ethical perspectives and principles to real-life and professional dilemmas.

Why DCU

Why Choose DCU?

DCU's MA in Ethics is designed to help you contribute to an ethically sustainable society by enhancing your knowledge-base in ethics, as well as building your skill set in ethical reasoning and decision-making. DCU's excellence is recognised internationally and it is regularly featured among the top young universities globally, as measured by the Times Higher Education Top 100 under 50 and the QS Top 50 under 50. In the last nine years, DCU has twice been named Sunday Times 'University of the Year'.

Entry requirements

Requirements

General Entry Requirements

Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree or equivalent (2.2) but appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may be accepted as equivalent to an honours degree, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the University.

Interviews may be held.

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

Duration

2 years part-time.

Lectures take place on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 10pm in DCU All Hallows Campus.

Careers or further progression

Careers

The MA in Ethics will be of particular relevance to you if you participate in ethics committees and activities relating to corporate social responsibility/citizenship, regulations or human rights. At the same time, other graduates without professional experience will benefit from the knowledge provided in this course and develop important ethical decision-making skills.

Potential Careers
•Education
•Management
•Health Care
•Medical Practice
•Chaplaincy
•Business
•Finance
•Banking
•Law
•Human Resources
•Social Work
•Other Care Services

Further enquiries

Programme Chairperson : Dr Alan Kearns
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 7055
Email: alan.kearns@dcu.ie

Subjects taught

Programme Structure and Content

You'll undertake the course part-time over two years, completing six taught modules, all of which are core:

•Introduction to Ethics: This module provides a comprehensive introduction to ethics to enable course participants to further explore key contemporary ethical issues. The module explores how ethical theories influence ethical decision-making and provide frameworks for ethical reasoning and analysis.

•Readings in Ethics: The purpose of this module is to introduce students to a selection of classic texts in the field of ethics thereby providing a more in-depth examination of the texts that are at the source of the major ethical theories.

•Human Rights & Social Justice: This module will explore human rights in the context of global and social justice. It will offer a historical outline of the tradition of thinking about justice and the development of natural and human rights within this tradition.

•Business Ethics: This module is designed to provide course participants with the necessary conceptual tools to analyse ethical dilemmas in the world of business at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It will train and enhance students' skills in applying ethical theories to a wide range of business ethics topics. OR

•Contemporary Topics in Ethics: This module examines a range of contemporary ethical issues and challenges affecting various aspects of life and society in a systematic manner. The module will focus on ethical issues that emerge, for example, in the area of technology, social media, the environment, business and the economy.

•Global Bioethics: The purpose of this module is to examine contemporary global bioethical issues and develop further skills in applying ethical theories and models to practical settings. The module will apply the various ethical principles to contemporary bioethical issues, exposing students to a broad range of topical problems.

•Ethics in the World Religions: This module explores how various religious traditions influence ethical decision-making and practice. The module will examine ways in which religious beliefs and worldviews influence the development of various forms of ethical perspectives and standards that have come to shape and define cultures and societies.

You'll also complete a minor thesis on an ethical issue or question either of a general public concern or of professional relevance.

Lectures take place Tuesday evenings and on two Saturdays (in the first year).