Ethics Certificate
Philosophy

Ethics Certificate

An Ethics certificate is designed to teach students to reason and develop thoughtful frameworks for decision making in order to live the “good life.” A certificate in Ethics will be an excellent complement to any major and will prepare students to confront complicated moral dilemmas in the workplace, in their communities and in their own personal lives.

The Ethics Certificate is open to all undergraduate students. Students will take at least 10 units of ethics courses from at least two departments. Students must earn a “C” or higher in each course in order to be given credit toward the certificate. At least two of the courses must be taken at Saint Mary’s.

Apply Request Info

Learn More About the Program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their academic specialties. Or explore scholarship opportunities.

Faculty
Scholarships

Curriculum

Ethics, Undergraduate Certificate

An Ethics certificate is designed to teach students to reason and develop thoughtful frameworks for decision making in order to live the “good life.” A certificate in Ethics will be an excellent complement to any major and will prepare students to confront complicated moral dilemmas in the workplace, in their communities and in their own personal lives. The Ethics Certificate is open to all undergraduate students. Students will take at least 10 units of ethics courses from at least two departments. At least two of the courses must be taken at Saint Mary’s.

Learning Outcomes

  • 1: Relate virtue to character, happiness and the “good life.”
  • 2: Apply theoretically-informed ethical reasoning and decision-making to concrete, complex moral problems.
  • 3: Distinguish between ethical and pragmatic questions and understand how different thinkers develop, interpret and apply ethical theories.

Requirements

General

Take one of the following two courses (4 units)

  • Ethics (4 units)
  • Modern Ethics (4 units)
  • Tech Ethics (3 units)
  • Media Ethics and Ecologies (3 units)
  • Business Ethics & Social Resp (4 units)
  • Contemporary Problems in Ethic (4 units)
  • The Bible & Economic Justice (3 units)
  • Topics: Christian Ethics (3 units)
  • Christian Ethics (3 units)
  • Medical Ethics (3 units)
  • Catholic Social Teaching (3 units)
  • Virtues and Vices (3 units)
  • Tensions in Catholic Ethics (3 units)

What's Happening Now

six Dante club students standing with Italian Professor De Angelis
School of Liberal Arts
Dante Club earns National Grant from the Italian American Foundation
Saint Mary's Italian Club selected as one of twenty clubs in the nation for NIAF Campus Partnership...
Student Lauren Cardinale, right, with theatre manager of the Roxie during SF Film Festival 2026
NewsCenter
Beyond the Screen: Gaels Discover Inspiration at San Francisco International Film Festival
For those studying media production at Saint Mary’s, behind-the-scenes access to the...
Jaden De Souza portrait
NewsCenter
Making Family History: Jaden De Souza ’25, MA ’26 on her Route to Teaching and Surfing Around the World
She’s a “first-gen” college student and runner from Kauai. She left a record-breaking legacy with...
Female student holding diploma and smiling and waving at 2026 Undergraduate Commencement
NewsCenter
Stories, Scenes, and Snapshots: Video Highlights from Commencement 2026
Watch videos, check out photos, and hear stories from new grads in their own words in these...

School and Department Information

Philosophy Department
School of Liberal Arts

© 2026 Saint Mary’s College of California