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A Foundational Requirement – A Transformative Skill

Ethics asks questions about what is right and wrong and the implications of individual and collective responsibility. Most of us have asked the question “Am I acting ethically?” In ethical reasoning courses at UGA, student learn to answer it carefully, critically and responsibly. 

Beginning in fall 2027, UGA requires all undergraduates, regardless of major, to complete a 3-credit course in ethical reasoning. Courses emphasize active learning, discussion, and application. Students engage in diverse perspectives, wrestle with difficult questions and develop the intellectual tools necessary for principled decision-making. 

Students of ethical reasoning learn to:

• Identify major ethical theories and moral philosophies
• Examine contemporary ethical challenges across disciplines
• Analyze questions of moral responsibility, justice, and integrity
• Design and evaluate responses to complex real-world dilemmas
• Learn to defend conclusions with clarity and evidence

Across Disciplines, Toward Deeper Understanding

Whether preparing for career in health care, business, engineering, law, public service, technology, the arts or research, ethical reasoning equips students to navigate competing values and act with integrity in a complex world. 

Ethical reasoning is not just about knowing what is right – it’s about learning how to think well about what is right.

MINORS AND CERTIFICATES

Bioethics Minor (Philosophy)

Explore the real-world ethical dilemmas shaping medicine, healthcare, and biotechnology while building the critical thinking skills today’s health fields demand. This minor introduces you to the core concepts of bioethics and helps you develop the tools to analyze tough moral questions with clarity and confidence. It’s an ideal foundation for anyone interested in medicine, research, or understanding how ethics guides the future of the life sciences.

View Bioethics Minor

Law, Ethics, and Philosophy Minor (Philosophy)

This minor invites you to explore how law, ethics, and philosophy intersect to shape debates about justice, responsibility, and public policy. Through a flexible mix of required courses and electives, you’ll build the analytical tools and ethical reasoning skills that are invaluable for careers in law, government, public service, and beyond. It’s an excellent pathway for students who want to understand, and influence, the moral questions at the heart of today’s legal and political systems.

View Law, Ethics and Philosophy Minor 

Environmental Ethics Certificate Program 

This certificate invites you to explore the ethical, ecological, and cultural questions at the heart of today’s environmental challenges, giving you the tools to think critically about sustainability and environmental policy. Through interdisciplinary coursework and hands‑on research, you’ll learn to approach complex environmental problems with clarity, creativity, and leadership. It’s a powerful complement to any major for students who want to make a meaningful impact on the future of our planet.

View Environmental Ethics Certificate

COURSES

PHIL 1005 - Contemporary Ethical Issues 
Examines real-world moral problems in areas like technology, politics, health, and society, teaching students how to analyze and evaluate modern ethical challenges.

PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics  
Covers major ethical theories and concepts while helping students think critically about right, wrong, and how we should live.

PHIL 3200 - Ethical Theory 
Explores the foundations of moral philosophy, comparing influential ethical theories and their applications to complex moral questions.

PHIL 3220 - Biomedical Ethics 
Focuses on ethical issues in medicine and healthcare, including patient rights, medical decision-making, and emerging biotechnologies.

PHIL 3230 - Ethics of Food 
Analyzes moral questions surrounding food production, consumption, sustainability, and global food systems.

PHIL 3300 - Philosophy of Sports and Games 
Studies the nature, value, and ethics of sports and games, including competition, fairness, and the role of athletics in society.

PHIL 3700 - Criminal Justice Ethics 
Examines ethical issues within policing, punishment, legal processes, and the broader criminal justice system.

PHIL 4220 - Environmental Ethics 
Explores moral issues related to the environment, sustainability, and our responsibilities to nonhuman life and future generations.

ARTI/PHI 4340/6340 - Ethics and Artificial Intelligence 
Examines ethical issues and obligations related to AI. Topics include politics of technology, data collection and mining, algorithm creation and transparency, and the use and future of AI.

ADPR 5930E/7930E - PR Ethics, Diverse Cultures, and Cross-Cultural Leadership 
Examines ethical communication in public relations, emphasizing cultural diversity, global leadership, and responsible strategic messaging.

BUSN 7500 - Business Ethics (Graduate) 
Provides advanced study of ethical principles in business and examines complex professional challenges leaders face in global markets.

CSCI 3030 - Computing, Ethics, and Society 
Investigates the ethical and social impacts of computing technologies, including privacy, AI, digital rights, and tech policy.

MGMT 5440 - Business Ethics 
Covers ethical decision-making in business, focusing on corporate responsibility, leadership, and real-world organizational dilemmas.

PADP 7380 - Ethics in Public Administration 
Analyzes ethical leadership, accountability, and decision-making in government and public service roles.

PHRM 5530 - Ethics in Health Care 
Explores the ethical responsibilities of healthcare professionals, patient care dilemmas, and broader issues in health systems.

PLAN 6124 - Ethics, Justice, and Professional Practice 
Focuses on ethical frameworks and justice considerations within urban planning, community engagement, and professional practice.

POLS 4045 - Morality, Markets and the State
Investigates the fundamental institutions of liberal democracy, like the market economy, private property, and elections with a goal of not just understanding these institutions but evaluating them from a moral perspective.

RELI 4104 - Christian Sexual Ethics  
Provides an exploration of sexual ethics in Christianity from the patristic period to the contemporary church.