Become a Thoughtful Leader
Build the critical thinking, communication and ethical leadership skills to navigate complex challenges, inspire positive change and make an impact. At St. Edward’s, you’ll prepare to lead with purpose in your career, organization and community.
Why earn your Ethics and Leadership degree at St. Edward’s?
Leadership begins with asking thoughtful questions. At St. Edward's, you'll explore ideas from multiple perspectives, engage in meaningful discussion and connect classroom learning to the real-world challenges facing organizations and communities.
Apply Leadership in the Real World
Put ethical leadership into practice through internships with businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Gain valuable professional experience while analyzing leadership strategies and organizational decision-making through real-world application.
Learn from Experienced Leaders
Engage with business executives, nonprofit leaders, public servants and community changemakers who bring real-world insights into the classroom. Through discussions, you'll explore how ethical leadership shapes organizations and communities.
Expand Your Perspective Abroad
Explore leadership through a global lens by studying or interning abroad. With opportunities at St. Edward's partner universities across five continents, you'll build cultural agility, broaden your perspective and develop the skills to lead in an interconnected world.
Lead Through Dialogue
Leadership begins with listening, collaboration and thoughtful conversation. In small classes, you'll exchange ideas, challenge perspectives and develop the confidence to communicate effectively while tackling today's most complex ethical issues.
Life as an Ethics and Leadership Student at St. Edward's University
The best conversations often lead to the best ideas. As an Ethics and Leadership major, you'll join a close-knit community where thoughtful discussion, collaboration and diverse perspectives are part of everyday learning. Through campus involvement, community engagement and opportunities to connect with classmates and faculty, you'll strengthen your leadership skills while building relationships that last well beyond graduation.
A Highly Successful Ethics and Leadership Program
An Ethics and Leadership degree from St. Edward's prepares you to navigate complexity with confidence while leading with integrity in a rapidly changing world. Through internships, community engagement, faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary learning, you'll graduate ready to make thoughtful decisions and create meaningful impact across business, government, nonprofit organizations and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions about an Ethics and Leadership Degree from St. Edward's University
What you will learn
Ethics and Leadership Students learn to confidently navigate difficult ethical situations, learn to critically solve problems and clearly communicate with different audiences. This program can teach you how decision makers might make better choices to promote equity and justice.
Courses in Communication and Business will include hands-on projects to apply what you’ve learned. A few examples of courses students take in the major:
- In Social Responsibility of Business, you’ll participate in a service activity in the community and write a paper about the experience. You’ll also work in a team to create a new product or service for a company that will meet a social need for an underserved community.
- In Principles of Marketing, you’ll do a marketing simulation as an experiential learning assignment.
Skills you will gain
Upon completing the Ethics and Leadership program, you’ll be ready to…
- Effectively communicate complex situations to a wide range of audiences.
- Develop expertise in reasoning and ethical analysis specific to legal, medical or environmental ethics.
- Analyze case studies to help you apply what you’re learning to make ethical decisions concerning real-life dilemmas.
Find what you need to apply and important deadlines. When you are ready, there are three ways for you to apply to St. Edward’s:
Add St. Edward’s to your list of schools if you’re using the Common Application to save time applying to your top colleges.
If you are applying to multiple schools in Texas, you can use ApplyTexas whether you’re a Texas resident or not.
Freshman ApplyTexas Application
It’s easy to apply using our convenient online application.
Major Requirements: Bachelor of Arts with a major in Ethics and Leadership requires 27 hours of major courses.
General Education Requirements: The Ethics and Leadership degree requires 21 hours of general education courses that students complete over four years in addition to their major courses and electives.
View and download both the degree plan for our Ethics and Leadership major, as well the St. Edward's University Undergraduate Bulletin.
Students have worked at camps for high school students, local hotels, non-profits organizations promoting college admission and success.
Hilltop Views, the weekly student newspaper, is published both in print and online. Student journalists report news from the campus and greater Austin community. You can get involved as early as your freshman year as a writer, editor, photographer or designer.
Sorin Oak Review is a literary magazine that showcases the poetry, prose and artwork of St. Edward’s students. Working on the editorial staff is a great way to gain experience in project management and the practical details of putting together a publication.
Arete is a student-produced academic journal that publishes student-written research, nonfiction essays and commentary. Editors choose from among the dozens of submissions to create a cohesive journal that represents a variety of perspectives.
New Literati is a student-produced journal of both academic and creative work.
B. Hooved is the student humor journal, inspired by our Hilltopper goat mascot.
Yes. With our Accelerated Graduate Pathways, you can complete your BA in Ethics and Leadership and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership in as little as five years, saving time and money
See details and requirements.
Ethics and Leadership to MS in Organizational Leadership
Success coaches and academic advisors guide you through undergraduate and graduate courses to maximize benefits.
At St. Edward’s, our faculty are outstanding scholars, thought leaders, teachers and mentors who bring energy and enthusiasm to our vibrant learning community. They take pride in getting to know you, helping you achieve your goals and celebrating your successes. The Department of Philosophy faculty has also adopted the Chicago Statement on free speech, affirming our commitment to free expression.
View a list of our faculty members and their contact information on the Department of Philosophy webpage.
Preparing for Your Future in Ethics and Leadership
A future in Ethics and Leadership is built on curiosity, sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex decisions with confidence. Whether you're pursuing a career in business, government, nonprofit leadership, public service, education or another field, an Ethics and Leadership degree from St. Edward's University prepares you with the analytical, communication and leadership skills employers value. You'll graduate ready to launch your career or continue your education in graduate or professional school with confidence.
Making an Impact
Ricardo Lefranc Pierantozzi ’24 turned his own transfer experience into an opportunity to help others find community at St. Edward’s. As an Ethics and Leadership major, he helped build the Transfer Student Association and served as its vice president, creating connections and support for fellow transfer students while completing his own path to graduation.