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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2022-2023 
    
American University Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Applied Ethics and Professional Responsibility (Undergraduate Certificate)


Offered by the Department of Philosophy and Religion , College of Arts and Sciences .

The public is increasingly concerned with matters of ethics in the everyday conduct of professional life. Both as a society and as members of professional communities, individuals are measuring their and others’ actions in accordance with ethical norms. Ethical engagement demands that actors be able to articulate and justify not only their actions, but also the process of decision making behind those actions and its guiding framework.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Ethics and Professional Responsibility includes a core in ethics and philosophy that offers a foundation on which students build their understanding of professional responsibilities in their chosen fields. Students learn to support and defend their own ethical positions and to judge the adequacy of others’ claims. They gain insight into our understanding of right and wrong as well as into judgments about matters of social justice and human rights, and will be prepared as members of their professional communities to both follow and define ethical guidelines and codes of conduct. Completing the certificate enhances a student’s candidacy for positions in business by signaling to potential employers an appreciation for the complexities of professional life. It also provides students with essential leadership tools, thereby accelerating their progress beyond the entry level to decision-making positions.

Admission to the Program


Open to undergraduate degree and nondegree students.

Certificate Requirements


  • 18 credit hours with grades of B or better for required courses and grades of C or better for elective courses, with at least 9 credit hours at or above 300-level
  • Compliance with all regulations for a certificate (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 10.3 )

Course Requirements


Electives (9 credit hours)


Complete 9 credit hours from the following, or other approved courses in business, management, or philosophy at or above 300-level: