The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2024. For students who entered the programme before September 2024, you can find the details of your programme:
MA Applied and Professional Ethics
This online masters programme can be studied full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. It consists of eight taught modules (with the option to switch one out for an independent research project) and a supervised dissertation.
Using a blend of theory and real-life case studies, you’ll gain a critical understanding of ethical issues in professional contexts such as trust, integrity, privacy, consent, and professional responsibility. The taught modules are delivered through online material that combines insights from industry professionals with the latest in ethical research. Online discussions with students are facilitated by ethics lecturers throughout the modules. These discussions can be contributed to at any time of day, giving the needed flexibility for our students across the world.
Our diverse community includes people from a wide variety of countries, backgrounds and professions, with many opportunities to network and connect during your time studying with us, including various events and activities we run as an active and thriving applied ethics research centre. Several of our students have achieved the publication of a paper as a result of their time studying with us, or appeared on podcasts where they have been interviewed about an ethical issue they worked on. Whether you’re looking for a career progression, a change of direction, or knowledge of a new subject area, you’ll receive the support you need to succeed.
The course equips students with many transferrable skills. You will learn how to engage with multiple perspectives, to interpret viewpoints charitably, to communicate your ideas clearly, and to form strong arguments for your views and decisions. You will develop your independent research skills and you will be able to apply specialist knowledge in new contexts. This can provide the springboard for many career paths or for further study.
We live in a rapidly changing world. The inequalities of wealth and power in the workplace and across the globe, the role of businesses in ethically compromised supply chains, the impacts of climate change and the need for economic and environmental sustainability, and the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence and data collection technologies all raise huge ethical problems that require our careful attention. This online course introduces you to debates and theories around the application of ethics to professional issues such as these, helping you to navigate our complex and increasingly interlinked working environments and to think about how we might change them for the better.
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards) (Online)(Part-Time)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5210M | Introduction to Ethics: Reasons, Motivation, Obligations and Happiness | 15 | 1 Sep to 30 Nov | |
| IDEA5221M | Professional Ethics: Key Concepts | 15 | 1 Nov to 31 Jan | |
| IDEA5230M | Agents and Professional Responsibility | 15 | 1 Jan to 28 Feb | |
| IDEA5260M | Justice: Fairness, Equality and Diversity | 15 | 1 May to 31 July |
In Y1, candidates will be required to study 30 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5241M | Artificial Intelligence & Data Ethics | 15 | 1 Feb to 30 Apr | |
| IDEA5250M | Professional Issues 3: Consent and Contracts | 15 | 1 Mar to 30 Jun | |
| IDEA5290M | Professional Ethics Project | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study IDEA5290M in either Year 1 or Year 2, but not both.
Please note that although IDEA5290M is listed as running in both Semesters, it can only be taken in Semester 2 for Candidates who decide to take this module in Year 1 (and they will need to choose the version with CRN 40866 for the Semester 2 variant when going through online module enrolment).
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards) (Online)(Part-Time)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
We are currently refreshing our courses to make sure students have the best possible experience. Full module details for year 2 are not yet available. Before you enter year 2 full details of modules for that year will be provided.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5300M | Dissertation | 60 | 1 Nov to 30 Sep | PFP |
In Y2, candidates will be required to study 30 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5270M | Global Environmental Ethics | 15 | 1 Nov to 31 Jan | |
| IDEA5280M | Business Ethics | 15 | 1 Sep to 30 Nov | |
| IDEA5290M | Professional Ethics Project | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 29/04/2024 16:09:00
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