PHIL 303 — Ethical Issues in Professional Life
This course builds upon the research, critical writing, information literacy, and persuasion skills developed in ENG 151 by examining the broad range of ethical issues and dilemmas that occur in professional life. The term professions refers to very specialized knowledge or expertise that serves the public good. Professionals have particular duties and responsibilities. Students will learn about the duties and responsibilities of their intended careers by reading articles about important issues in professional ethics, studying their fields Code of Ethics, and writing about ethical issues in professional life. Topics to be discussed include: the meaning of profession, how to be ethical, professional duties, honesty, privacy, confidentiality, integrity, loyalty, whistle-blowing, professionalism, justice, social welfare, governmental regulations, and conflicts of interest. As in the other Ethics courses in the Liberal Education Program, students will also be encouraged to think about the difference between ethical decisions and non-ethical decisions, how they make ethical decisions, and who will be affected by those ethical decisions.