Syllabus
Erasmus Mundus Masters Course in Applied
Ethics (edition 2010-2011)
Institutions
This Erasmus Mundus Masters Course is offered by Linköping University, The Centre for Applied Ethics, (Sweden), Utrecht University, the Ethics Institute, (The Netherlands), and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Philosophy, Programme for Applied Ethics (Trondheim, Norway).
The Masters Course in Applied Ethics cooperates with the following non-European institution: University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Subject
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.
Aim
The programme offers a complementary education on master’s level in applied ethics for students already holding a university degree or a professional degree. The aim of the programme is to offer both European students and students from outside the European Union the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in applied ethics.
The students will
- acquire knowledge of ethical theories and different fields of applied ethics,
- develop ability to identify, analyse and critically examine ethical problems and
- develop capacity to argue for a chosen position in discussions on ethics and applied ethics and to formulate a strategy for handling ethical dilemmas in different kinds of social practices.
Course descriptions
The programme contains courses in different fields of applied ethics and a master’s thesis on a chosen topic. Mobility structure: The students will be formally admitted by the coordinating institution (Linköping University) but will have the possibility to register and study at any of the three partner institutions.
The students will normally study at two institutions. Change of hosting institution takes place between the autumn and the spring semesters.
SEMESTER 1, 30 ECTS credits
Courses
Common course offered at all institutions:
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 7,5 ECTS credits
1. Introduction
The master¿s programme starts with a common short introductory course for all students. The introductory course gives an orientation of the master's programme and introductions to ethics and to different areas of applied ethics. Most of the teachers involved in the programme participate in this introduction, which will facilitate students and teachers getting acquainted with each other.
- Course (at the three institutions)
Until recently, the term 'applied ethics' was taken quite literally: the application of ethical theory to issues in practical life. Nowadays, many ethicists acknowledge that the relationship between ethical theory and moral practice might be more interactive. Moral choices may be guided or criticised from the perspective of some ethical theory. But 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.
Linköping University
Business Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
Various ethical concepts and theories within the field of business ethics are introduced. Ethics is regarded as a value framework for society and thereby as a framework for business. By introducing methods or models for analysis, the student acquires tools for analysing ethical problems in business. The ability to analyse situations in business and to
apply ethical theories to various problems is exercised by discussing case studies
Biomedical ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
Biomedical ethics can be defined as the study of ethical problems raised by the life sciences and health care. The course focuses on problems related to, for example, assisted reproduction, genetic testing, gene therapy, clinical encounters, end-of-life situations, organ transplantation, public health, resource allocation in health care, and research ethics. Cases as well as theoretical arguments are discussed.
Environmental and Animal Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
This course covers the whole range of theories in environmental ethics from various forms of anthropocentrism to sentientism, biocentrism and ecocentrism. The key notion of sustainability is analysed. Moreover, the course covers the whole range of theories in animal ethics from those stressing human interests to those defending animal rights. Various kinds of uses of animals in society are discussed, including animal experimentation. Special attention is given to ethical issues raised by global warming and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Case studies play a central role.
Utrecht University
Ethics, Ethicists, and Ethical Expertise, 7.5 ECTS credits
This course focuses on the roles and approaches ethicists with diverging backgrounds may adopt in their work as researchers, consultants and committee members. Staff members of the Institute will outline their roles in hospitals, health councils, ethics committees, and research projects, and students will critically reflect on the assumptions concerning ethical reflection and ethical expertise. The course will include such topics as: the role of religion and views of life in ethical reflection; the importance of participation within a practice; and the role of ethics committees in a pluralistic context. These themes will be discussed with respect to moral problems in e.g. health care, treatment of animals, and food.
Animal and Nature Ethics 7,5 ECTS credits
This course is concerned with the moral relations that human beings have or should have with other sentient beings (animals) and with the natural world. We focus on those ethical theories that hold that the instrumental value for human utility is not the only foundation for human duties with regard to non-human entities, another foundation is, e.g. that the flourishing of living entities is intrinsically or inherently valuable, and that which is conducive to their flourishing is a legitimate object of moral concern. Now, under what conditions does a living being's ability to flourish create direct duties towards this being? Should we limit direct duties to individual living beings? We also investigate the distinction between duties towards ourselves, our fellow human beings, or animals, and duties regarding plants, or collective entities such as populations, species, and ecosystems.
Ethics of Technology 7,5 ECTS (Utrecht)
The course Ethics and Technology will present an overview of different normative ethical frameworks that underlie ethics of technology or more specifically technology assessment. Focus is on how these accounts deal with risk and uncertainty in relation to emerging and complex technologies. It is e.g. concerned with the normative presuppositions of risk assessment and other strategies, like the precautionary principle, that deal with risk and uncertainty. This course will involve both practical and methodological/theoretical issues. To illustrate the methodological issues some exemplary fields of application will be employed like information technology (IT) and genetic engineering
Human Dignity, 7,5 ECTS credits
Human dignity is a central notion in several ethical, political and juridical debates. The notion has a longer history and has especially become prominent in the framework of Kantian ethics. But the use of this notion in current political and ethical debates is unclear in several respects. What is the normative content of human dignity? In which normative-ethical theories does the notion of dignity make sense at all? What is the relation between human dignity and human rights? Which kinds of entities can have dignity? Do only human beings have dignity or does the notion of "Würde der Kreatur" (dignity of creatures, living beings) make sense?
This course is an introduction in 1) the history of the notion of human dignity, 2) various philosophical approaches in which dignity plays an important role and 3) several areas of applied ethics in which the notion of dignity is of central importance.
NTNU, Trondheim
Corporate Responsibility and Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
The pressure on business to take social responsibility has increased the last few decades. Globalization and other structural changes in society and economic life are parts of the reason for this development. Does a strengthening of corporate power mean an increased social responsibility for business? Or is the business realm free from moral responsibility in the pursuit of pure economic gains? This course aims at discussing the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from a philosophical and ethical perspective, focussing on the relationship between ethical reasoning and economic rationality.
Technology for a Good Society, 7,5 ECTS credits
Technology permeates modern societies for better or worse. Faced by the problems of balancing the vices and virtues, various scholars have called for a rethinking of prevailing ideals of just and desirable technology development. This course aims at qualifying the participant’s ability to understand, evaluate and participate in these debates. We shall do so by pursuing questions like: How has technology traditionally been legitimised? How has the dynamical relationships between science, technology and society been modelled? Are there any novel challenges of technology assessment in our time? By entering various cases and technology controversies we shall simultaneously discuss and evaluate implications of various answers given to these questions.
Biotechnology and Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
The course provides an overview of essential issues related to the development and application of modern biotechnology to medicine and agriculture. The course stimulates case-based reflections on how one may and should approach these issues in view of relevant ethical theories and approaches. Central topics include cloning, genetic therapy and improvement, use of genetic information, GMOs as well as broader sociotechnical questions related to geneticization, risk assessments and precaution, biobanking, patents and commercial applications of research on human life.
SEMESTER 2, 30 ECTS credits
Courses, 1 ECTS credits
Linköping University
Social and Political Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits,
(3,5 ECTS for students taking the course Environmental Ethics)
The course focuses on ethical theories and ethical problems relevant within the field of social and political ethics. A central topic is the concept of social justice, its different interpretations, its connections to liberty, equality and culture, its justification and various suggested ways of its implementation. The course also deals with problems of professional ethics in public administration.
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.
Utrecht Unversity
Law, Morality and Policy, 7,5 ECTS credits
(3,5 ECTS for students taking the course Environmental Ethics)
The course focuses on the implications of ethical problems for legislation and policymaking, especially the meaning of the differences between the considerations of individual and private decision-making and considerations of collective and public decision-making.
Ethics in Medicine and Public Health, 7,5 ECTS credits
At the present medical ethics encompass not only moral reflection on medical practice, but also analysis of issues in nursing, long term care, prevention and public health. In this course, students will engage in in-depth analysis of several themes, and discuss moral problems concerning the physician-patient relationship, notably medical decisions at the end of life (euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, non-treatment decisions). Specific attention is given to autonomy and the value of life. The other major topic is public health ethics: analysis of moral issues in the prevention of disease (vaccination, health promotion) and justice in health care.
NTNU, Trondheim
Multicultural Conflicts and Ethics, 7,5 ECTS credits
(3,5 ECTS for students taking the course Environmental Ethics)
Multicultural conflicts might be viewed in the light of global traits of modern societies. On the one hand, modern societies are getting more open and more democratic compared to earlier times; on the other hand, there are also many signs of closure that might be envisaged as different kinds of fundamentalism. Both of the two tendencies might be seen as a result of increased mobility, in the real world and virtual (online). An important aim of this course is to discuss multicultural conflicts from a philosophical and ethical perspective, with the background of different ethical position (liberalism, communitarianism, discourse ethics).
Interdisciplinary Teamwork – Technology Divide, 7,5 ECTS credits
Doing applied ethics involves interdisciplinary work. In this course students apply their training in ethics by addressing real-life issues in collaboration with master students from other academic fields. The course thematizes the role technology plays in shaping and maintaining the social and economic inequalities between poor and rich countries, as well as attempts to reduce the differences through technology transfer etc. The students work in groups of five, specifying the topic and methodological approach themselves, in order to apply their respective academic training. This means that the students also develop teamwork skills. In addition to acquiring knowledge about specific issues concerning sociotechnical aspects of globalization, the students also learn to reflect over interdisciplinary teamwork.
All institutions:
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. At the end of the semester the thesis will be presented and defended at a seminar. The host university is responsible for teaching and tutoring. The language of the thesis is English.
Master's Thesis and Internship, 15 ECTS credits (Linköping, Trondheim and Utrecht)
In the latter half of the second semester, students write a thesis in connection to an internship at an ethics centre, government department, ethical committee or company.
The student is him/herself responsible for finding a suitable institution for internship. However, the supervisor must agree to the chosen institution.
At the end of the semester the thesis will be presented and defended at a seminar. The host university is responsible for teaching and tutoring. The language of the thesis is English.
Academic Writing
Parallel to the courses during the year the students are trained in academic writing.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy either entrance requirements described under A1 below or under A2 below:
A1.The applicant must hold a Bachelor's Degree obtained after at least three years¿ of study. The degree work should include a thesis or final paper.
Students who cannot submit a final thesis or project works written in English in a subject relevant to the programme in question must enclose a paper of some 500 words of length , written in English, which describes her/his previous studies. The paper should focus on the studies relevant to the master ¿s level programme applied for. It must also describe why the applicant is interested in following the programme.
A2. The programme is also open to applicants holding a professional degree /Bacholor¿s level/ who have earned at least 30 ECTS credits in the ethics field or in an equivalent field of study.
Specific requirements
Knowledge of English
International applicants who do not have English as their mother tongue must prove proficiency in English by submitting results from a TOEFL test or another internationally recognized test (TOEFL score at least 213/550, ILTS (academic) overall band score 6.0).
Degree results
The specific requirements will be assessed as not fulfilled if the average grade is in the lower
third of the grading scale used in the country where the degree was awarded, that is grades
have to be'average/pass or above (the equivalent to the Swedish grade "Godkänd").
Letter of Intent
Each applicant must enc1ose a Letter of Intent, written in English by the applicant, comprising
a motivation why the applicant wishes to follow the programme, and a summary of the degree
thesis/degree proj ect.
For those holding a degree that does not require such a degree thesis/degree project the Letter
of Intent should describe previous studies and academic activities related to the Master's
programme/es applied for.
Programme specific requirements
All applicants must have a basic competence in ethics. Previous studies should be in a relevant field such as ethics, religious studies, philosophy or equivalent.
Professional degree
All applicants holding a professional degree must submit a paper written in English concerning a subject within the field of (applied) ethics. The paper can be a discussion and analysis of a concrete moral problem in a practical or professional field; or a clarification of a problem in philosophical ethics, moral theology; or an analysis of a moral problem from the perspective of law, political science, etc. The paper should of course be written by the applicant her/himself. The length of the paper should be between 2500 and 3500 words. It is perfectly acceptable for the student to 're-use' a paper written in the context of a (e.g. bachelor's) course in (applied) ethics. In many academic courses, students are required to write longer essays. Papers written during earlier studies are acceptable as long as they do not exceed 5000 words. Please indicate the name and the level of the course for which the paper was originally written.
Selection
The MAE Consortium Selection Committee will rank the applicants and put forward a proposal to the degree-awarding institutions regarding preferred candidates. The selection is mainly based on previous academic performance.
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 examination are normally allowed to retake it on two additional occasions, one of which should be arranged shortly after the first examination.
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¿s grading scale A-F.
Students taking courses in Utrecht will also be given grades according to the Dutch grading system: marks between 1 and 5 (failed) and 6 and 10 (pass).
Transfer of credits
The Faculty Board or person nominated by the Board decides whether or not previous education can be transferred into the programme.
Degree certificate
This is a multiple degree programme and each university at which the student has studied will award the degree.
Linköping University: The students will be awarded a Swedish Magisterexamen in Applied Ethics (translated to a Master of Arts(One Year) in Applied Ethics),
Utrecht University: The students are awarded the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Ethics.
Trondheim: The students are awarded the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Ethics.
The degrees are recognized by all the participating institutions, provided all course requirements are completed. The students must fulfill the entrance requirements including proof of a BA (or equivalent).
Students who have successfully completed the courses will be given a Transcript of record over the completed courses.
Linköping: Degree certificates and transcripts of record are issued by the Faculty Board on request. The department provides a special form which should be submitted to the Student Affairs Division.
This general outline was approved by the Faculty Board of Arts and Sciences 2007-09-19. This outline was revised on 2008-11-20 and on 2009-11-02
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