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Ethics
The study of Ethics provides an excellent grounding in evaluative theory and reasoning for a professional future in the public service, the health sector, social work, with environmental agencies, and in business.
Studying Ethics will give you the tools and capabilities you need to become an inspirational leader in the community and in your working life, and will enable you to feel confident in your capability to reflect on doing “the right thing” and following through on that reflection.
Ethics at Waikato is an interdisciplinary major with a philosophical core. It includes the study of fundamental moral concepts and the nature of morality as well as applications of evaluative thinking to diverse subject areas such as politics, law, management, Māori and Pacific Studies, religion, art, the media, and the environment. With a theoretical core but an applied emphasis it provides a pathway into any government and private sector employment where sensitivity to ethical issues is a significant requirement.
A great strength of the Ethics major is in offering an edge in employability when combined with other professional degrees. Examples include Law, Counselling, Management, Teaching, Accountancy and Computer Science.
School subjects
There are no specific subjects you need to study at secondary school to study Ethics at Waikato.
Other subjects that may interest you
Environmental Planning, Labour Studies, Law, Management, Māori and Pacific Development, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Women’s and Gender Studies.
Career Opportunities
- Business Consultant
- Computer Systems Administrator
- Environmental Consultant
- Health Policy Advisor
- Human Resource Manager
- Policy Analyst
- Public Relations Practitioner
- Teacher
Potential Employers
- Accountancy Firms
- Government Departments and Ministries
- Private Consultancies
- University Administration
Papers
PHIL103 Critical Reasoning
This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University.
PHIL106 Social and Moral Philosophy
A study of key concepts in areas of Applied Ethics including abortion, euthanasia, health care, children’s rights, pornography, justice, environmental issues, religion and ethics, and other issues.
PHIL150 The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to philosophical problems in the areas of knowledge and mind, value theory, metaphysics and religion.
200 Level and Beyond
200 and 300 level papers include ethics at work, environmental ethics, media ethics, Māori customs, politics, religion, and legal ethics.
