College of Arts & Sciences and Honors College

Ethics 

The Ethics major, offered within the Bachelor of Philosophy degree, is an interdisciplinary program for students who want to engage the moral questions shaping contemporary life. Through coursework spanning the humanities, sciences and social sciences, students explore questions of justice, responsibility and the common good while considering how moral reasoning informs every area of human endeavor. This major is jointly offered by the Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Why Choose Ethics

The Ethics major is designed for students who want to explore the ideas, values and responsibilities that shape human life and society. Through interdisciplinary study, students examine contemporary moral questions while developing the analytical and communication skills valued in fields such as medicine, law, public service, ministry and graduate research.

Broad Academic Foundation

Students engage coursework across philosophy, theology, politics, literature, science and the social sciences, gaining multiple perspectives on questions of justice, leadership, and responsibility.

Discussion-Based Learning

Small classes and close faculty mentorship create an environment where students are encouraged to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions and engage thoughtfully with differing viewpoints.

Integrated with the B.Phil. Experience

As part of the Bachelor of Philosophy degree, the Ethics major, combined with a secondary major, allows students to connect ethical inquiry with another academic discipline. Students also complete a senior thesis through the Honors
 Program.

Ethics is not simply about determining what is right or wrong. It is an invitation to explore what it means to be human, how communities flourish, and what responsibilities we owe one another. Through rigorous interdisciplinary study and research, students develop the intellectual tools needed to navigate these questions with wisdom and integrity.

Paul Martens, Ph.D.
Paul Martens, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Ethics