Professional Ethics

Department

Become a Virtuous Leader With a Minor in Professional Ethics

Graduate prepared to confront challenging issues and work through them in a thoughtful, fair way.

Why Study Professional Ethics at St. Edward's?

Develop the reasoning skills you’ll need to navigate an increasingly complicated world with a lot of gray areas.

Learn how to answer the difficult questions

Should you serve only sustainable food at your restaurant? Should you fire employees to keep costs down and please stakeholders? If you design your own fashion line, how do you make sure the people making your clothes are treated fairly? With classes like Ethical Analysis, Ethics, and Legal, Medical, Environmental or Business Ethics, you'll gain the tools ethically lead others.

Marinate on ethical dilemmas

Sit in on our Food & Philosophy Ethic Series, a recurring event designed to stimulate intellectual conversations about current topics. Past discussions have centered around topics such as Decisional Capacity and the Adolescent: Reconsidering the Doctrine of the Mature Minor, Genetically Engineering Our Children and Drug Peddlers & Politicians: Why Al Capone is Morally Superior to Al Gore.

Discuss films with peers

The Department of Philosophy hosts Film Screenings welcome to all students. Watch a film and engage in thoughtful discussion afterward about issues presented in the film. Students have previously screened and discussed "Made in Dagenham," "The Cantinera" and "Which Way Home."

Listen and share perspectives

Faculty, staff, and students discuss their diverse and distinct perspectives on important and relevant issues. A brief reading is selected for discussion during lunch. Past discussion topics have included Jan Hoffman's article, "What Your Therapist Thinks About You," a New York Times article looking at the therapist’s view of the patient; “Small Change, Why the revolution will not be tweeted,” written by Malcolm Gladwell for The New Yorker; and “The Disruption Machine, What the gospel of innovation gets wrong,” written by Jill Lepore for The New Yorker.

Explore Details About a Minor in Professional Ethics

Required Courses (6 hours)

Ethical Analysis
Internship in Philosophy

Electives (12 hrs)
Choose four of these Professional Ethics courses:

Legal Ethics
Ethics and Public Policy
Ethics and Technology
Special Topics in Philosophy (when topic is relevant to applied ethics)
Medical Ethics
Environmental Ethics
Business Ethics

Total 18 hours

UNDERGRADUATE

Legal Studies

Program Snapshot

Program Type

Minor

School

Department

Fight Injustices and Advance Equity with a Minor in Legal Studies

Gain a deeper understanding of how the law system in the United States works.

Why study Legal Studies at St. Edward's?

A Legal Studies minor will prepare you to enter law school or careers where you will work alongside attorneys, such as in corporate, nonprofit or governmental settings.

Explore the benefits of an interdisciplinary minor

With a minor in Legal Studies, you'll get a grounding in Legal Ethics, Logic, Legal Writing, the American Court System and more. Once you complete this minor, you’ll have the critical thinking, writing, public speaking and people skills you need to work in fields where legal reasoning is front and center.

Prepare for any career path

The Legal Studies minor is well-suited for students not already in an existing pre-law track. It is designed to have minimal prerequisites and is open to all students. This minor is valuable for students who plan to attend law school or pursue careers in which familiarity with legal studies provides an advantage, such as in business, law enforcement, human resources, real estate, dispute resolution or government service.

Explore Details About a Minor in Legal Studies

Required Courses

Nine (9) credits must be 3000 or higher courses and those nine credits must be taken at St. Edward's University.

PHIL 3301: Legal Ethics
PHIL 2302: Logic or PHIL 3339: Advanced Logic
WRIT 3326: Legal Writing
CRIJ 1302: Administration of Justice
CRIJ 2306: American Court System
POLS 3336: Constitutional Law or POLS 4346: Civil Liberties or BUSI 2303: Business Law

Note: Political Research and Statistics (3 credits) is recommended but is not required.

As the American Bar Association (ABA) notes, there is no single pre-law course of study. Instead, the ABA recommends that undergrads take classes where they learn to write and critically analyze different types of arguments.

Undergraduate

Philosophy

Program Snapshot

Program Type

Bachelor of Arts

Minor

School

Department

Degree Requirements (PDF)

Learn to Think Creatively and Solve Complex Problems

Dive into classic and contemporary philosophical texts to understand the history of ideas. Studying philosophy teaches you to analyze issues thoughtfully, form rational arguments and challenge assumptions — including your own.

The knowledge and skills you gain as a Philosophy major at St. Edward’s apply to many fields, such as law, politics, academia, publishing, teaching, healthcare, business and management. You’ll graduate prepared to lead purposefully, make meaningful choices and contribute to a better world.

Why earn your Philosophy degree at St. Edward’s?

Whether you choose to enter the workplace right away or go on to pursue a master’s or doctorate — one thing is certain: The advantages of your St. Edward’s education will prepare you to succeed. You’ll find opportunities in and outside the classroom to learn, give back and achieve your goals. And your mentors will support you every step of the way.

Build relationships with your professors

Learn in small classes taught by award-winning professors who make a point of getting to know you. They’ll help you identify and focus on your goals, and provide guidance and insight during your college years and after you graduate.

Join a vibrant, like-minded community

You’ll have the chance to conduct and present research, write for student publications, participate in spiritual and service activities, and attend thought-provoking lectures by visiting experts — all while leveraging your critical thinking.

Get involved in the Philosophy Club

The St. Edward’s Philosophy Club brings together students with a shared passion for philosophy and history. During meetings, workshops and speaker events, you’ll discuss ideas and engage in lively debates that deepen your perspective.

Reap the Rewards of Austin

Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and home to nearly 100 Fortune 500 firms. Our Austin location, partnerships and connections allow you to immerse yourself in the city’s dynamic business, government, nonprofit and academic environments.

What do our graduates do?

Philosophy majors enter a variety of careers and graduate schools after St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample:

English Teaching Assistant in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Content strategist at AirBnB
Team manager at Apple
University professors at Furman University and the University of California
District attorneys and attorneys in private practice
Reporter for the Fayette County Record
Graduate students at institutions including American University, Boston College, University of Edinburgh, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Purdue University and Stanford University

Explore Details About the BA in Philosophy

Degree Plan

Major Requirements:
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy requires 42 hours of Philosophy major courses comprised of a combination of history of philosophy, ethics, and logic courses, as well as History of Christian Theology I or II. In addition, students are encouraged to take other support courses such as Art History, Political Theory, Literary Criticism, etc. to narrow their focus to their chosen career.

General Education Requirements:
The Philosophy degree requires 57 hours of general education courses that students complete over four years in addition to their major courses and electives.

A few examples of courses students in this major take:

History of Philosophy I – Revisits a period of almost a thousand years, beginning with the Greeks circa 600 B.C. and continuing through the transition from the classical to the medieval period.
Philosophy of Religion – Explores the complex relations between religion and culture.
Advanced Logic – Examines a more advanced consideration of sequential logic, first-order predicate logic, and modal logic (logic of possibility and necessity). (Pre-req: PHIL 2303)

For more details and course descriptions, view and download the Undergraduate Course Bulletin (PDF).

Skills You Will Gain

Philosophy majors hone their ability to analyze, critique, organize and communicate with others. The life skills they develop are assets in any career:

Critical thinking
Problem-solving
Writing
Speaking
Communication
Independent thinking
Collaboration
Flexibility
Research

Hands-On Experiences

Philosophy majors can put their critical thinking into action through internships. Students have previously interned at Austin’s Equal Justice Center and at Mongazon école supérieure in Angers, France, helping French children improve their English.

Philosophy majors are an eclectic bunch who are active in a wide range of projects.

The Philosophy Club meets weekly to discuss a brief reading, movie or podcast that is relevant to a theme the members have chosen for the semester, such as feminist philosophy. As a member, you’ll discuss ideas and debate with fellow students who are interested in philosophy and history.
The Food and Philosophy lecture series features well-known speakers from around the country who address current topics over lunch. Topics have included the following:
- Genetically Engineering Our Children
- Conscientious Refusal to Participate in Evil
- Real Judging, Fake Judging and the Myth of Judicial Activism
Hilltop Views, the weekly student newspaper, is published in print and online. Student journalists report news from the campus and the 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 University 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.
Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law organization, meets weekly to listen to guest speakers, learn about the law school admission process, participate in mentorship programs, do service work and learn about internships. The club also has a mock trial team that competes in events hosted by the American Mock Trial Association and Phi Alpha Delta. The team has traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete.
Campus Ministry at St. Edward’s offers programs that enhance your spiritual life, including small-group Bible studies, retreats, interfaith events and programs that support social justice advocacy. The department also coordinates both one-day and semester-long service projects in Austin, as well as Service Break Experiences in other states or countries. Through SBEs, you’ll travel to another community, volunteer and learn about local life while living simply (without your phone, for example).

Philosophy is an intriguing discipline that uses logic and reason to analyze the world and ourselves. Students of philosophy bring critical and creative thinking, ethical reasoning, and uncommon wisdom to any career they choose. Here's a list of helpful resources that gives you an overview of the many benefits of majoring in philosophy.

Study philosophy to learn how to live, to get a top LSAT and GRE score, and a great job.
The importance of philosophy today: Don’t Dismiss the Humanities, by Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times
John Cleese: Why Philosophy is Nothing to Laugh About
Philosophy's role in shaping leaders: How Philosophy Makes You a Better Leader, by David Brendel, The Harvard Business Review
How philosophy helps in business: The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors Are Changing the World of Business, by Carolyn Gregoire, The Huffington Post
And don't just take it from professors on campus. The Philosophy is a Great Major website spells out all the reasons to become a lover of wisdom.
Even the editorial page of Forbes magazine thinks majoring in philosophy is well worth it.
And here is a poster of famous philosophers to hang on your wall — unless you’d rather just read a long list of famous philosophy majors.

Skeptical about all these claims?
Excellent! You’re ready to be a philosophy major! And don't just take our word for it. Ask members of our faculty and staff — Professor of English (and lawyer) Drew Loewe, Professor of French (and Department Chair) Philippe Seminet, Professor of University Studies Cory Lock, and Vice President of Admission Tracy Manier — if their BA in Philosophy degrees have enhanced their life and work. They’re sure to tell you it helped them prepare for careers and more.

Don’t hesitate to contact our faculty in the Philosophy Department for more information!

Students who wish to earn a Philosophy Minor must take the following coursework, totaling 18 hours.

Required Courses:

Ethical Analysis
Logic
History of Philosophy I, II or III
Philosophy of Religion or Theory of Knowing
Directed Readings or Senior Seminar
Electives

Students may choose any upper division Philosophy elective to complete their minor.

For more information about coursework, please review the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF).

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 have 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.

St. Edward's graduates in cap and gown show off their diplomas

Earn Two Degrees in Five Years

With our Accelerated Graduate Pathways, you can complete your BA in Philosophy and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a master’s degree in Science in Digital Marketing and Analytics in as little as five years, saving time and money. See details and requirements:

Success coaches and academic advisors guide you through undergraduate and graduate courses to maximize benefits.

Learn About All of Our Accelerate Graduate Pathways

UNDERGRADUATE

Ethics and Leadership

Program Snapshot

Program Type

Bachelor of Arts

School

Department