Professional Ethics
- Arts
- 200 level
- 151 pages
- 13 units
This course explores the application of ethical principles to various professions, addressing moral dilemmas faced by practitioners. It covers medical, media, business, work, engineering, and public administration ethics. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and resolve ethical problems in professional settings, fostering strong moral character and ethical decision-making abilities for contemporary challenges.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 26 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Tutor marked assignments
- Written examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHL242, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHL242 · UNIT 2 NORMATIVE ETHICAL THEORIES – CONSEQUENTIALISM
Moreover, professional ethics do not only provide standards that regulate the relationships between professional and client, but they also define norms regulating the professional’s responsibility to colleagues and the public in general. It also raises central questions that contain ethical issues, problems and dilemmas that arise in the world of profession.
What you should be able to do
- Define and understand concepts of ethics and professional ethics
- Develop knowledge of basic ethical theories and principles
- Identify moral situations encountered by professionals
- Apply ethical theories to specific moral challenges
- Improve skills in analyzing and resolving ethical problems
What it prepares you for
- Healthcare Administrator
- Journalist
- Business Manager
- Public Administrator
- Engineer
- Teacher
- Healthcare
- Media
- Business
- Government
- Engineering
- Education
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2:
Unit 2: Media Ethics
Understanding the nuances of media ethics requires analyzing complex case studies and balancing competing interests of stakeholders.
- Module 4:
Unit 2: Confidentiality and Its Limits
Balancing the duty of confidentiality with the need to prevent harm requires careful consideration of ethical frameworks.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 25.5 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: An Introduction to Ethics and Professional Ethics
Unit 1: An Introduction to Ethics and Professional Ethics · 1.5 hours
Read the unit introduction to understand the scope and objectives.. Study the definition of ethics and its branches.. Reflect on the meaning of professional ethics and its importance.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise to test your understanding..
- Week 2Module 1: An Introduction to Ethics and Professional Ethics
Unit 2: Normative Ethical Theories- Consequentialism · 2 hours
Study the nature of consequentialism and its major versions.. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of egoism and utilitarianism.. Apply these theories to ethical dilemmas in professional life.. Complete the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 3Module 1: An Introduction to Ethics and Professional Ethics
Unit 3: Normative Ethical Theories - Deontology · 2 hours
Examine the deontology normative ethical theories.. Compare Kantian and Rossian deontology.. Apply these theories to moral problems in professional life.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 4Module 1: An Introduction to Ethics and Professional Ethics
Unit 4: Normative Ethical Theories- Virtue Ethics · 2 hours
Explore virtue ethics as a normative ethical theory.. Describe moral virtue from different virtue ethicists.. Explain the basic tenets of Aristotle's virtue ethics.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 1: Medical Ethics · 2 hours
Study the ethical principles for the medical profession.. Apply these principles to ethical dilemmas.. Explain patient confidentiality and its exceptions.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 2: Journalism Ethics · 2 hours
Examine the meaning and nature of journalism ethics.. Study the codes of ethics for journalists.. Analyze the principle of truth in journalism.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 3: Business Ethics · 2 hours
Explore the meaning and nature of business ethics.. Identify the benefits of business ethics.. Recognize ethical issues in business transactions.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 1: Public Administration Ethics · 2 hours
Explain the meaning and nature of public administration ethics.. Identify ethics and values in public service.. Recognize ethical issues in public administration.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 2: Engineering Ethics · 2 hours
Discuss engineering ethics and its principles.. Explain the codes of conduct for engineers.. Identify moral dilemmas in engineering.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 3: Teaching Ethics · 2 hours
Explore teaching ethics and its principles.. Discuss the code of conduct for teachers.. Identify ethical dilemmas in teaching.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 11Module 4:
Unit 1: Work Ethics · 2 hours
Explain the concept of work ethics.. Identify earlier discourses on work ethics.. Discuss the dimensions of work ethics.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 12Module 4:
Unit 2: Confidentiality and Its Limits · 2 hours
Define confidentiality and related concepts.. Discuss confidentiality in different professions.. Explain the justification and limits of confidentiality.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
- Week 13Module 4:
Unit 3: Conflicts of Interest across the Professions · 2 hours
Explain the notion of conflict of interest.. Identify the forms in which conflict of interest may appear.. Discuss resolving conflicts of interest.. Attempt the self-assessment exercise..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking ethical theories (Units 2-4 Module 1) to professional applications (Modules 2-4).
- Practice applying ethical frameworks (Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics) to case studies from each profession.
- Focus on understanding the codes of conduct for each profession (Medical, Media, Business, etc.).
- Review the justifications and limits of confidentiality (Unit 2 Module 4) and conflict of interest (Unit 3 Module 4).
- Prepare examples of whistle-blowing cases (Unit 4 Module 4) and analyze the ethical considerations involved.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHL242 about?
This course explores the application of ethical principles to various professions, addressing moral dilemmas faced by practitioners. It covers medical, media, business, work, engineering, and public administration ethics. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and resolve ethical problems in professional settings, fostering strong moral character and ethical decision-making abilities for contemporary challenges.
How many units does PHL242 have?
PHL242, Professional Ethics, has 13 units across 4 modules, over 151 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
Is PHL242 hard?
PHL242 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PHL242 take to study?
About 26 hours of study, spread across its 13 units.
How is PHL242 assessed?
PHL242 is assessed by tutor marked assignments and written examination.
What can I do with PHL242?
Healthcare Administrator, Journalist, Business Manager, Public Administrator, Engineer and Teacher.