Overview
Philosophy 333 highlights ethical issues pertaining to journalists, engineers, medical doctors, accounting and finance specialists, and lawyers. What distinguishes the professions from non-professional jobs? What moral qualities should professionals exhibit? What does professional responsibility consist in? Should professionals be judged using a different moral standard than that by which we ordinarily judge ourselves and each other? When in conflict, how should the obligations, responsibilities, and interests of professionals, clients, and society be weighted and prioritized? How should (particular kinds of) professionals conduct themselves in morally problematic situations involving public safety and public trust, privacy and confidentiality, honesty or deception, informed consent, objectivity and conflicts of interest, or whistleblowing?
Learning outcomes
After completing Philosophy 333, you should be able to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Effectively identify moral situations and moral issues encountered by a wide range of different professionals.
- Critically apply ethical theories, principles, and concepts to specific moral situations and issues faced by professionals.
- Accurately apply the methods and criteria for evaluating moral arguments to develop and present persuasive arguments relevant to resolving these moral issues and moral situations in written work.
- Conduct independent research in professional ethics with scholarly rigour to produce well-supported philosophical written work that reflects university standards in information literacy and academic integrity.
Evaluation
To receive credit for this course, you must complete and submit all of the work outlined below and receive a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Study Plan and Introductory Forum | 2% |
| Skills Module 1: Academic Integrity and Quiz 1 | 3% |
| Skills Module 2: Library and Research and Quiz 2 | 3% |
| Skills Module 3: Documentation and Quiz 3 | 2% |
| Assignment 1: Case Study | 25% |
| Assignment 2: Philosophy Research Paper | 30% |
| Final Online Exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Allhoff, Fritz, and Anand J. Vaidya, eds.Professions in Ethical Focus: An Anthology. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2008.
Other Materials
All other materials are available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PHIL 333 challenge registration, you must complete the two parts of the challenge exam and achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on both parts.
| Activity | Weight |
| Philosophy Research Paper | 50% |
| Invigilated Examination | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form