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.
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
| 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 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) & 27A (Secondary School - Unistart) & 27A (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 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO202
Biomedical Ethics
This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and... |
15 | 27B (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 | 27H (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 | 27G (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 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) & 27A (Tauranga) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
PHILO302
Biomedical Ethics
This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO309
Experiments in Ethics
The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an... |
15 | 27B (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 | 27H (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 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) & 27G (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 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Tauranga) |
-
PHILO106 Social and Moral Philosophy
An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare...
Points 15 -
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...
Points 15This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and...
Points 15A 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...
Points 15A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer...
Points 15Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives...
Points 15 -
PHILO302 Biomedical Ethics
This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and...
Points 15The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an...
Points 15Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of...
Points 15This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of...
Points 15 -
LEGAL436 Legal Ethics
An introduction to ethical analysis including an examination of various theories of ethics. The applicability of ethical analysis to legal practice...
Points 15
2027 Subject regulation information current as at 16 Aug 2026 01:00am