Which Course Meets an Ethics Requirement?

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Gen-ed or your major'sUsually one course, 3 creditsPhilosophy: ACE and NCCRS

Which course meets an ethics requirement?

Ethics requirements come in two kinds: a general-education course, such as University of the People's required Introduction to Global Ethics, and a major's own ethics course, such as the business ethics courses in Penn State's and Oregon State's business degrees. In the University System of Georgia, ethics sits in the 6-credit Arts, Humanities and Ethics area, and some Georgia Tech majors add a separate Ethics requirement. UPI Study's Business Ethics, Ethics in Technology, Ethics in the Social Sciences and Principles of Philosophy are self-paced; your college decides which one fits.

Usually
One course, 3 credits
Kinds
Gen-ed or your major's
Who decides
Your college

Ethics courses to ask about

Each course is self-paced, with its syllabus on its course page to send your registrar. Your college decides what counts.

Business Ethics course

Business 211 · 3 credits · NCCRS

Business Ethics

Covers business ethics: moral reasoning, governance, diversity, government, social responsibility, marketing, environment and global trade.

Ethics
Ethics in Technology course

Computer Science 195 · 3 credits · NCCRS

Ethics in Technology

Introduces cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, cyber law and cybercrime, and ethics in technology use.

Ethics
Ethics in the Social Sciences course

Social Science 110 · 3 credits · NCCRS

Ethics in the Social Sciences

Covers ethics in the social sciences: moral theories, professional codes, decision-making, research with people, data privacy and integrity.

Ethics
Principles of Philosophy course

Philosophy 200 · 3 credits · ACE + NCCRS

Principles of Philosophy

Covers core questions of philosophy: logic, knowledge, religion, values, moral theory, and political and social thought.

Philosophy

Side by side

Where ethics shows up in five catalogs
 What it asksCourses it names
University of the PeopleValues and Ethical Reasoning, 3 creditsPHIL 1404 Introduction to Global Ethics
Clayton State (Georgia)Arts, Humanities & Ethics, 6 creditsPHIL 2030 and IDST 2010 among its choices
Georgia TechArts, Humanities & Ethics, 6 credit hoursSome majors add an Ethics requirement
Penn State (business)An ethics course in the business coreMGMT 451W Business, Ethics, and Society
Oregon State (business)An ethics course in the business coreBA 354 Ethics in Organizations
UPI StudyNCCRS: 3 semester hours eachBusiness Ethics, Ethics in Technology, Philosophy and more

Which ethics course fits?

Business Ethics fits if

  • Your business degree has an ethics course
  • It covers moral reasoning, governance and social responsibility
  • NCCRS: upper division, 3 semester hours

Principles of Philosophy fits if

  • Your gen-ed asks for philosophy or ethical reasoning
  • It covers logic, knowledge, values and moral theory
  • It carries ACE and NCCRS recommendations

Ethics in Technology or the Social Sciences fits if

  • Your major is IT, psychology or sociology
  • Technology: privacy, cyber law and cybercrime
  • Social sciences: professional codes and research ethics

Questions, answered

Which ethics course counts?

The one your college lists for your degree. University of the People requires “VALUES AND ETHICAL REASONING – 3 credits required PHIL 1404 – Introduction to Global Ethics”, Clayton State lists “PHIL 2030 Ethics/History/Cntmpry Persp 3” among its Arts, Humanities & Ethics choices, and business degrees name their own course, such as Penn State's “MGMT 451W Business, Ethics, and Society 3”.

Does Business Ethics count for a general-education ethics requirement?

It can, where your college's list takes it. NCCRS recommends UPI Study's Business Ethics (Business 211) for 3 semester hours in Business Ethics or as an elective in Business Administration or Business Management, upper division. For a philosophy-based ethics requirement, Principles of Philosophy covers moral theory and carries ACE and NCCRS recommendations.

Is there an ethics course for IT or psychology majors?

Yes. Ethics in Technology (Computer Science 195) covers cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, cyber law and cybercrime, and Ethics in the Social Sciences (Social Science 110) covers moral theories, professional codes, research with people and data privacy; NCCRS recommends the second for 3 semester hours in Psychology or Sociology.

What do Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy each cover?

Business Ethics (Business 211) covers business ethics: moral reasoning, governance, diversity, government, social responsibility, marketing, environment and global trade. Principles of Philosophy (Philosophy 200) covers core questions of philosophy: logic, knowledge, religion, values, moral theory, and political and social thought.

How many credits are Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy?

Business Ethics: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, upper division, in Business Ethics among other subjects. Principles of Philosophy: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, upper division, in Philosophy among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0004).

What subject areas do Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy count in?

Business Ethics: Business Ethics or as an elective in Business Administration or Business Management. Principles of Philosophy: Philosophy or Humanities. Your college decides which requirement each one fills.

How long are Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy?

Business Ethics: 19 chapters and 60.5 instructional hours. Principles of Philosophy: 12 chapters and 58.5 instructional hours. Both are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

What do I need before Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy?

No prerequisites are listed for Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy, so the order is up to you and your program.

What are the final exams like in Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy?

Business Ethics: 100 multiple-choice questions, 25% of the grade. Principles of Philosophy: 100 multiple-choice plus 5 short answer questions questions, 50% of the grade.

Which textbooks do Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy use?

Business Ethics: Velasquez, Manuel G. Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 8th ed., Pearson, 2021, with other references. Principles of Philosophy: Smith, Nathan, et al. Introduction to Philosophy. OpenStax, 2022, with other references.

Which of Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy has an ACE recommendation?

Business Ethics: NCCRS only. Principles of Philosophy: yes, ACE ID UPIS-0004, 3 semester hours. ACE listings run three years and UPI Study renews them as they end; credit you have earned stays valid for 10 years.

What should I take after Principles of Philosophy?

Humanities Critical Thinking & Analysis. In the “Art and ideas” order on the History, humanities and languages courses page, it follows Principles of Philosophy. Your program may set its own order.

When can I request my Business Ethics transcript?

Once Business Ethics shows 100% complete in your dashboard. Assignments take about 48 hours to be checked, so allow about two days after your last submission; then request the transcript and UPI Study emails it to your college.

Is the Business Ethics final exam open-book?

No. Open-book is fine for the Business Ethics quizzes and assignment, but the final is proctored: lightly, with no camera, once you are at 70% or more, and fully otherwise.

Do colleges give credit for Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy?

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which ethics course your degree takes. It helps to name the subject: NCCRS recommends Business Ethics in Business Ethics and Principles of Philosophy in Philosophy.

Where these credits can go

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

  • Thomas Edison State University (TESU) logo
  • University of the People logo
  • Strayer University logo
  • Post University logo
  • Charter Oak State College logo
  • Indiana Tech logo
  • Columbia Southern University logo
  • University of Arkansas Grantham logo
  • American College of Education logo
  • Nexford University logo
  • Newlane University logo
  • Pathways College logo
  • Dunlap-Stone University logo
  • Woodmont College logo
  • University of Management and Technology (UMT) logo
  • Crestpoint University logo
  • Maestro University (formerly Bottega University) logo
  • Gracelyn University logo
  • EC-Council University logo

Plus many more partner colleges and ACE and NCCRS cooperating colleges.

Find My College →

Keep exploring

Check your college first

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

Sources (8)

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