Issues in Professional & Applied Ethics

Subject PHIL90015 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 27-Jul-2015 to 25-Oct-2015
Assessment Period End 20-Nov-2015
Last date to Self-Enrol 07-Aug-2015
Census Date 31-Aug-2015
Last date to Withdraw without fail 25-Sep-2015


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Five 4 or 5 hour seminars held on Saturdays at regular intervals throughout the semester, 24 hours in all. The first class will meet on Saturday 2 August 2015.
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites:

Admission into the Master of Arts in Professional and Applied Ethics or MC-EMA Executive master of Arts or 344AB Master of Public Policy and Management or ANZSOG Executive Master of Public Administration or Masters by Coursework programme at the University of Melbourne with coordinator approval.

Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Mr Andrew Alexandra

Contact

A/Prof Chris Cordner

ccordner@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will examine some of the central debates in applied ethics. Topics discussed may include ethical issues associated with intellectual property, self-regulation and meta-regulation, social responsibility of the professionals, defamation, racial vilification, climate change, treatment of animals problems raised by new developments in biotechnology, treatment of asylum seekers and suspected terrorists and the ethics of war and military intervention. The course will also introduce students to normative ethical theories as an aid to developing coherent position on the controversies discussed.

This class meets on 5 Saturdays during semester, the exact dates to be determined in the first meeting.

Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete this subject will

  • have developed an understanding of the fundamentals of philosophical argumentation and theory.
  • be able to demonstrate a substantial knowledge of one or more areas in the study of professional and applied ethics.
  • understand the theoretical sources of the key concepts in these areas of study.
  • understand the application of these concepts to their professional field or study area.
  • have developed research and analysis skills to enable further study in the area of applied ethics at a higher academic level.
  • present theories and arguments concisely and critically.
Assessment:

A class presentation equivalent to 1500 words (due during semester) and a 3500 word esssy (due at the end of semester).

Hurdle Requirement: The class presentation must be of a satisfactory standard in order to pass this subject. Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. Regular participation in class is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A booklet of prescribed readings will be issued to students.

Recommended Texts:

Alexandra, A., and Miller, S., Ethics in Practice UNSW Press (2009).

Koehn. D., The Grounds of Professional Ethics, London: Routledge (1994).

Chadwick. R., (ed.), Ethics and the Professions, Avebury (1994).

Shaw W., and Barry V., Moral Issues in Business (8th ed.)

Wadsworth (2001). Martin M. W., Meaningful Work: Rethinking Professional Ethics, New York: OUP (2000).

Coady M., and Bloch S., Codes of Ethics and the Professions, Melbourne: MUP (1996).

Rest J.R., and Narvaez D., Moral development in the Professions: Psychology and Applied Ethics, Erlbaum (1994).

May L., The Socially Responsive Self: Social Theory and Professional Ethics, University of Chicago Press (1996).

Wueste D.E., Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility.

Rowman and Littlefield (1994). Kultgen J. H., Ethics and Professionalism, University of Philadelphia Press (1998).

Pellegrino E.D., et al. (eds) Ethics, Trust and the Professions, Georgetown University Presss (1991).

Cocking D and Oakley J., Virtue Ethics and Professional Roles. Cambridge Uniuversity Press (2001).

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://philosophy.unimelb.edu.au/
Notes:

This class meets on 5 Saturdays during semester, the exact dates to be determined in the first meeting."

Related Course(s): Master of Arts (Professional and Applied Ethics)
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Ethics
Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Ethics
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: 100 Point Master of Arts in Professional and Applied Ethics
200 points Master of Arts in Professional and Applied Ethics
Professional Ethics
Professional Ethics
Tailored Specialisation
Tailored Specialisation

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