Ethics Subject regulations

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. You will gain the tools and capabilities you need to become inspirational leaders in your community and in your working life, enabling you to feel confident in your capability to reflect on doing 'the right thing' and following through on that reflection.

Ethics may be taken as a minor.

To complete a minor in Ethics, students must complete 60 points, including at least 30 points above 100 level from PHILO106, PHILO215, PHILO217, PHILO218, PHILO225, PHILO309 and PHILO315.

Note:

There will be no new enrolments in the Ethics major, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in 2021 and onwards. Students enrolled previously are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.

Ethics papers

100 Level 200 Level 300 Level 400 Level 500 Level

Code and paper title	Points
PHILO106 Social and Moral Philosophy An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare...	15	26A (Hamilton) & 26A (Online) & 26A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points
MAORI202 Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Māori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary...	15	26A (Hamilton)
PHILO215 Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction This paper introduces students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, using texts from historical figures in philosophy to study...	15	26B (Hamilton)
PHILO217 Environmental Ethics A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the...	15	26H (Online)
PHILO218 Business Ethics A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer...	15	26G (Online)
PHILO225 Happiness and Wellbeing Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives...	15	26A (Hamilton) & 26A (Online) & 26A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points
PHILO316 Philosophy and the Arts The course examines philosophical questions to do with the nature and meaning of works of art, the appreciation and evaluation of them, and their...	15	26B (Hamilton)
PHILO317 Environmental Ethics Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of...	15	26H (Online)
PHILO318 Ethics at Work This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of...	15	26B (Online) & 26G (Online)

Code and paper title	Points
LEGAL436 Legal Ethics An introduction to ethical analysis including an examination of various theories of ethics. The applicability of ethical analysis to legal practice...	15	26A (Hamilton) & 26A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points
PHILO560 Special Topic: Philosophy of Religion According to the dominant conception of God in Western philosophy of religion, God is a person (without a body) who is omnipotent, omniscient, and...	15	26A (Online)

2026 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 27 Aug 2025 01:00am

Ethics Subject regulations

Ethics papers

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