
Ethics in Engineering & Science Online Course
Learn how to apply moral reasoning, professional codes of ethics, and critical thinking to real-world dilemmas in STEM and research fields.
Course Title | PHIL 250: Ethics in Engineering & Science |
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Credits | 3 undergraduate credits |
Pre-requisite | None |
Format | Online - Self-Paced Enroll Anytime |
Estimated time to complete | 5 weeks to 9 Months |
Cost |
Tuition is $384.88 per credit. Note: on July 19, 2025, the undergraduate tuition rate will increase to $407.97 per credit following a university-wide tuition rate change. Visit the Costs & Aid page for more information. |
What does it mean to be an ethical engineer or scientist?
In PHIL 250, you’ll examine what “right” and “wrong” mean in professional practice — and how to reason through complex, real-world ethical dilemmas. This course equips students with practical ethical frameworks and a strong philosophical foundation to support ethical decision-making in STEM careers.
Through 12 flexible online lessons and a final project, you’ll explore a wide range of contemporary topics — from safety and truthfulness in scientific practice to environmental ethics and global justice.
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Articulate different ethical theories and their application to scientific practice.
- Explain what it means to be an “ethical professional” and why it is important.
- Identify different forms of ethical dilemmas, with scientifically relevant examples.
- Determine a variety of possible actions and outcomes for a given situation and identify a variety of tools that aid in trying to understand which is “right.”
- Understand the code of ethics for engineering and the sciences and apply them.
- Exercise deeper and sharper critical thinking skills.
This course is for budding scientists, engineers, researchers, mathematicians, healthcare professionals, philosophers, and any other student curious about what it means to ethically apply our thinking through practice in the world.
Students have up to 9 months to complete 12 lessons and a final project designed to focus your study of Ethics in Engineering and Science, and to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives/outcomes. You will work through a combination of required readings, view captioned videos, and complete quizzes at the end of each lesson. Lesson topics include:
- What is Ethics?
- What is Science?
- Ethics & Professionalism
- Moral Reasoning & Code of Ethics
- Moral Frameworks
- Engineering as Social Experimentation
- Commitment to Safety
- Workplace Responsibilities and Rights
- Truth and Truthfulness
- Computer Ethics
- Environmental Ethics
- Global Justice & Code of Ethics for Engineers
Required Textbook and Materials
Introduction to Engineering Ethics, by Mike Martin & Roland Schinzinger, 2nd edition. ISBN 978-0072483116.
How will the course appear on my transcript?
You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course.
The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered
for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken
during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online
or that you completed it at your own pace.
Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester
information that will appear on a UND transcript.
Why Take Online Classes at UND?
Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:
- Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
- Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
- Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.
Flexible 100% Online Course
You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.
Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.