Course Overview
Fosters abilities and values required for ethical decision making at work. Develops skills in logical analysis, a working knowledge of moral principles and theories, and the ability to diagnose and resolve moral disagreements commonly found at work. Examines and applies moral principles to historically famous cases in manufacturing, human resources, management, engineering, health care, and computing.
Prerequisite(s)
- BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.
Credits
3.0
Domestic fees
$780.51
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Outline the main tenets of normative ethical theory.
- Describe the main features of utilitarian ethical theory.
- Recognize cases where the principle of utility has guided action.
- Describe the main features of Kantian ethical theory.
- Recognize cases where the principle of respect for persons has guided action.
- Recognize cases where the principle of universalizability has been violated.
- Describe the main features of virtue ethics. Recognize cases where wrongdoing was due to weakness of character.
- Critically analyze common workplace situations calling for principled ethical judgment.
- Conduct a case study analysis that makes intelligent use of the moral principles and methods explored in the course.
- Recognize the violation of a moral principle in an action or proposed course of action.
- Exercise sound judgment in the application of moral concepts to a given case.
- Identify premises and conclusions in a sequence of moral reasoning.
- Evaluate the soundness of sequences of moral reasoning.
- Describe the obstacles that stand in the way of individuals acting ethically in the business world.
- Outline a variety of the ways in which these obstacles can be overcome.
- Articulate to their colleagues a clear sense of where plans, policies or actions fail to live up to acceptable ethical standards.
- Describe the nature of four procedures for testing ethical principles (e.g., universal consequences, role reversal, new cases and subsumption).
- Devise questions that can be used to test the suitability of ethical principles in a given case.
- Explain how these four principle tests actually do test the suitability of ethical principles in a given case.
- Articulate to their colleagues alternative plans, policies or actions that are consistent with acceptable ethical standards.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the place of professional codes of ethics, especially those codes governing their own chosen profession.
- Evaluate the acceptability of actions or policies (as described in a case study) in terms of the relevant professional code of ethics.
- Describe the potential strengths and weaknesses of codes of ethics as guides to ethical conduct.
- Evaluate the suitability of an existing code of ethics.
- Understand the nature of principled moral disagreement and how to resolve such disagreement.
- Identify disagreements over conflicting moral principles.
- Identify disagreements over the relevance of a moral term in a given case.
- Construct an argument that clarifies which principle, among conflicting principles, ought to take priority in a given case.
- Construct an argument that clarifies the relevant application of a moral term in a given case.
Effective as of Fall 2003
Related Programs
Applied Ethics (LIBS 7002) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs with a co-op option.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Business + Media
- Accounting
Bachelor of Accounting Full-time/Part-time
- Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration Full-time/Part-time
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Applied Computer Science (Database Option)
Bachelor of Science Full-time/Part-time
- Applied Computer Science (Games Development Option)
Bachelor of Science Full-time
- Applied Computer Science (Human Computer Interface Option)
Bachelor of Science Part-time
- Applied Computer Science (Network Security Administration Option)
Bachelor of Science Part-time
- Applied Computer Science (Network Security Applications Development Option)
Bachelor of Science Full-time/Part-time
- Applied Computer Science (Wireless and Mobile Applications Development Option)
Bachelor of Science Part-time
- Forensic Investigation (Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option)
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
- Forensic Investigation (Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Option)
Bachelor of Technology Full-time/Part-time
- Forensic Investigation (Forensic Science Option)
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
School of Construction and the Environment
- Architectural Science
Bachelor of Architectural Science Full-time
- Construction Management
Bachelor of Technology Full-time/Part-time
- Environmental Engineering
Bachelor of Technology Full-time/Part-time
- Geographic Information Systems
Bachelor of Technology Full-time/Part-time
- Geomatics
Bachelor of Science Full-time
- Interior Design
Bachelor of Interior Design Full-time
- Residential Interiors
Diploma Part-time
School of Energy
- Electronics
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
- Manufacturing
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
School of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Health Science (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Option)
Bachelor of Health Science Part-time
- Environmental Public Health
Bachelor of Environmental Public Health Full-time
School of Transportation
- Technology Management
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below are three offerings of LIBS 7002 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 32762
Dates
Sep 08 - Dec 11 Loading
- CRN 32762
- $780.51 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
15 weeks
Instructor
Robert Munro
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- *(A)* This is NOT a SELF-PACED course. There will be specific timelines for assignments and exams. Course content, kind and quality of assignments and general standards for this online course are the same as classroom courses. You will have discussions and assignments to complete each week (although you do NOT have to be online at a particular time or day). *(B)* FINAL EXAMS: Final exams will be held IN-PERSON on the Burnaby campus in the last week of the course. If you live outside the Lower Mainland area you will be required to have an approved proctor administer the exam. You are directly responsible for any invigilation fees and related costs.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 32304
Dates
Sep 08 - Dec 11 Loading
- CRN 32304
- $780.51 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
15 weeks
Instructor
Simon Pollon
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- *(A)* This is NOT a SELF-PACED course. There will be specific timelines for assignments and exams. Course content, kind and quality of assignments and general standards for this online course are the same as classroom courses. You will have discussions and assignments to complete each week (although you do NOT have to be online at a particular time or day). *(B)* FINAL EXAMS: Final exams will be held IN-PERSON on the Burnaby campus in the last week of the course. If you live outside the Lower Mainland area you will be required to have an approved proctor administer the exam. You are directly responsible for any invigilation fees and related costs.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 34200
Dates
Sep 08 - Dec 11 Loading
- CRN 34200
- $780.51 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
15 weeks
Instructor
Stefan Lukits
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- *(A)* This is NOT a SELF-PACED course. There will be specific timelines for assignments and exams. Course content, kind and quality of assignments and general standards for this online course are the same as classroom courses. You will have discussions and assignments to complete each week (although you do NOT have to be online at a particular time or day). *(B)* FINAL EXAMS: Final exams will be held IN-PERSON on the Burnaby campus in the last week of the course. If you live outside the Lower Mainland area you will be required to have an approved proctor administer the exam. You are directly responsible for any invigilation fees and related costs.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.