Ethics  (Certificate)


Ethics are the foundation of many legal and political systems. Pair your bachelor's degree with the study of ethics in order to become a better philosophical thinker who can solve ethical problems.



Program Description

The ethics certificate program is designed to give students a richer understanding of systematic philosophical thinking about ethics. Students with majors in business, nursing, journalism and public administration as well as students planning to pursue legal careers, among others, may well find that training in ethics is beneficial to their career goals.

The certificate program permits some flexibility regarding course selection, thereby facilitating particular student interests.



Certificate Map

Major/Certificate Map archive


At a Glance: program details

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Additional Program Fee: No
  • Second Language Requirement: No


Program Requirements

Incompatible Majors: BA in philosophy (morality, politics and law)

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Enrollment Requirements

The certificate in ethics consists of 18 credit hours approved by an undergraduate advisor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.

One required course is chosen from:

PHI 335 History of Ethics, HU (3) or PHI 337 Ethical Theory, HU (3) or PHI 338 Metaethics, (3)

At least 15 credit hours must be chosen from:

PHI 105 Intro to Ethics, HU (3)
PHI 304 Existentialism, HU (3)
PHI 306 Applied Ethics, HU (3)
PHI 307 Philosophy of Law, HU (3)
PHI 310 Environmental Ethics, HU (3)
PHI 320 Bioethics, HU (3)
PHI 335 History of Ethics, HU (3)
PHI 336 Social and Political Philosophy, HU (3)
PHI 337 Ethical Theory, HU (3)
PHI 338 Metaethics (3)
PHI 360 Business and Professional Ethics, HU (3)
PHI 420 Topics in Philosophy (when its topic is within ethics) (3)

One course outside this list, and perhaps outside the school, may be used with written approval from the director of undergraduate studies. All courses must be passed with a minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better. At least 12 credit hours must be upper-division.

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.







Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

  • 480/965-8364