Minor in Ethics

Philosophy
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About

The minor in Ethics is a great asset to any major, as well as to professionals who serve on ethics committees or compliance boards.

In the program, you’ll get a strong foundation in ethics. You’ll also choose from a wide range of electives that cover ethics in relation to other fields, such as business, addiction studies, communication, disability studies, engineering, health and others.

You’ll gain cultural understanding, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking skills necessary for addressing the dilemmas many of us face. You’ll come to understand basic theories of moral philosophy and develop specialized knowledge of their applications in many areas of public life, including medicine, government, law, public policy, business and education.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Ethics Minor

Required Courses
PHIL 212INTRODUCTORY ETHICS5
PHIL 213MORAL ISSUES IN AMERICA5
Elective Courses-choose two of the following8-10
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
WOMEN AND ETHICS
BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Electives outside Philosophy
AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT FROM BOOKER T. WASHINGTON TO CORNEL WEST
COMMUNICATION LAW AND ETHICS
ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DISABILITY AND ETHICS
PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH
LAW AND ETHICS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Total Credits18-20

Sample Courses

PHIL 417. WOMEN AND ETHICS. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: GWSS 417.
Pre-requisites: one of the following: GWSS 101, PHIL 211, PHIL 212.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
The course will begin with a brief examination of the treatment of women within traditional ethics. We will then address the views of early women philosophers, followed by a close analysis of contemporary feminist approaches to ethics.

Catalog Listing

SOWK 458. PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: AGST 458.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 574 or AGST 574.
This course is designed to assist students in the helping professions who wish to work with the terminally ill. Focus will be on an increased ability to deal with one’s own mortality; the development of beginning skills for working with the terminally ill and their families; an understanding of the complex social system which surrounds death in modern America; as well as the current moral, ethical and philosophical issues in the field.

Catalog Listing

CRIM 340. ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: CRIM 300.
Explores major ethical theories with an emphasis on their application to components of the criminal justice system. Analyzes current issues and ethical dilemmas that criminal justice professionals deal with. Examines the complex process of moral and ethical decision making in the criminal justice system.

Catalog Listing

SOCI 482. IDENTITY AND POWER. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: SOCI 101.
Covers the relationship between power and identity. Identity can be defined as presentations of the self that facilitate human social interaction and thereby situate individuals in social structures. We use the concept of power "to explore how identities are central to various forms " of social inequality.

Catalog Listing

Career Possibilities

  • Clinical Ethics Coordinator
  • Health Policy Analyst
  • Hospital Compliance Officer
  • Research Ethics Specialist
  • Patient Advocate

  • Paralegal
  • Legal Compliance Assistant
  • Risk Management Analyst
  • Court Services Officer
  • Human Rights Advocate

  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Specialist
  • Compliance Officer
  • Ethics & Compliance Analyst
  • Risk Analyst
  • Sustainability Coordinator

  • Policy Analyst
  • Public Administrator
  • Legislative Assistant
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist

  • Program Coordinator
  • Grant Writer
  • Ethical Sourcing Officer
  • Humanitarian Aid Worker
  • Campaign Strategist

  • Teacher (Secondary Education, with additional certification)
  • Academic Research Assistant
  • Educational Program Developer
  • Ethics Curriculum Specialist
  • University Admissions Advisor
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) Coordinator

  • Tech Ethics Analyst
  • Data Privacy Officer
  • AI Ethics Consultant (with technical training)
  • User Experience Research Assistant
  • Information Governance Analyst

An Ethics minor teaches you to critically evaluate moral issues, apply ethical theories to real-world problems, and make well-reasoned arguments across different contexts.

You’ll develop skills in critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and clear communication—all of which are essential in fields where integrity matters. Industries like healthcare, law, business, government, and nonprofit organizations particularly value these competencies.

While the minor alone isn’t a direct job qualification, it can give you an edge by strengthening your major with a strong foundation in ethical reasoning and decision-making. This combination helps you stand out for roles that require thoughtful judgment, integrity, and the ability to navigate complex decisions.

Skills acquired with this minor can enhance your career as a: