StudyQA — Master: Applied and Professional Ethics

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Our taught Masters degree in Applied and Professional Ethics is designed to help people in business, the professions, and the public and third sectors, develop skills and knowledge that can help them effectively engage with ethical issues in their working lives. The course is taught entirely online, making it particularly appropriate for those in full-time employment or resident overseas, who wish to gain a qualification from a leading university without interrupting their career.

On this course, students learn about different approaches to ethical problems, examining both the philosophical literature on applied ethics, and real-life case studies. These are drawn from a variety of professional contexts, ranging from business and accountancy to the computer industry, and from environmental issues to decisions made by engineers.

Graduate Destinations and Career Opportunities

Studying applied ethics is good preparation for a range of careers, and past students have gained employment in a varied range of employment sectors after graduation. In particular graduates could develop their career in roles related to corporate social responsibility or compliance.

Course Structure

The Applied and Professional Ethics programme is modular. It may be studied full-time within one year, or part-time, usually over two years.

Part-time Study

In the first year you will undertake six modules (90 credits) which provide grounding in the discipline and an introductory examination of a wide range of topics which you may wish to pursue in more depth in your dissertation.

In the second year there are two further taught modules (30 credits). However the second year is predominantly devoted to the writing of the dissertation (60 credits). This allows you to examine in depth a subject of your own choice, which can relate to your professional or workplace practice, under individual supervision.

You will also have the opportunity to replace one of the final five taught modules with a project module, in which you undertake a piece of detailed research in an area that interests you, again giving you the opportunity to explore a topic relating to your professional or workplace practice.

At all stages you will have ready access to tutors for advice regarding your progress and the pacing of work so as to cope satisfactorily with the problems that crop up for students who are working and studying.

Full-time Study

Full-time students undertake all the taught modules and the dissertation within one academic year, generally commencing the dissertation study in the second part of the year.

Postgraduate Diploma

The diploma is awarded for satisfactory completion of the eight taught modules. It is University policy that students lacking a first degree are normally registered for the diploma in the first instance, with a view to upgrading to the masters programme at the end of the first three modules, subject to satisfactory progress.

ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING

The Applied and Professional Ethics programme is taught by online distance learning, making it particularly appropriate if you are in full-time employment or resident overseas, and wish to gain a qualification from a leading university without interrupting your career.

The programme is delivered entirely over the web, using the University of Leeds Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which is both user-friendly and provides tools that allow you to learn in cooperation with other students. You can be resident anywhere in the world, as long as you have access to the internet, and you can complete your studies at any time to fit in with work and other activities.

You will have access to high-quality interactive course materials, designed specifically for online teaching, which will accompany carefully chosen readings. As well as this, you will participate in structured collaborative activities, which are intended to produce the debate and discussion that are vital for successfully studying ethics.

You will also receive support from academic staff, who both participate in online discussion groups and respond to students queries by email. In addition, the Centre has a dedicated Online Learning Officer who is able to help you with any other issues you may encounter, be they technical problems, assessment worries or administrative issues.

Benefits of Online Distance Learning

You can study in your own time, fitting work around your career and other responsibilities.
There is no need to attend Leeds at any point during the course (although there may be opportunities to meet other students for those able and willing to travel).
You will benefit from teaching materials designed specifically for the web, which you can either read on-screen or print off to read anywhere.
You will participate in carefully structured online discussions, working collaboratively with other students.
You will have access to high quality electronic resources, such as journals and e-books, through the University Library. All essential course readings are made available electronically, saving you both time and money

Audience

The MA Applied and Professional Ethics has attracted students from backgrounds in law, engineering, actuarial finance, management, dentistry, university administration, business management, international development and the third sector, and corporate accountability.

The course is particularly suitable for professionals wishing to continue their professional development (CPD). Most of our students are also working full-time in a variety of demanding roles in organisations such as: