E15: Global Ethics

A woman holding a burning globe depicting Australia's climate crisis.

Course Overview

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

Global Ethics examines the ethical issues that affect nations, peoples, and the world at large. This course covers the definition and scope of global ethics, key international laws including the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the sources and protection of human rights, the ethical obligations of wealthy nations to provide foreign assistance to poorer nations, and the complex question of when nations should extend forgiveness for historical wrongs. Learners will engage with real-world case studies, including NATO’s intervention in Kosovo and President Reagan’s visit to the Bitburg cemetery to develop their ethical reasoning on global issues.

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Define global ethics and explain its scope in relation to citizens, political leaders, and international laws
  2. Identify key international laws including the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  3. Define human rights and categorize them into the three main groups, freedom from government violation, fulfillment of basic needs, and civil and political liberties
  4. Describe the two main sources of human rights abuses, selfishness and lack of knowledge
  5. Explain three strategies nations can use to protect human rights including economic sanctions and humanitarian intervention
  6. Analyze the ethical arguments for and against wealthy nations providing foreign assistance to poorer nations
  7. Apply the three positions on foreign assistance, national obligation, voluntary charity, and global obligation, to real-world scenarios
  8. Discuss the ethical dimensions of national forgiveness and reconciliation using historical case studies

Course Format and Faculty

Course Format:

Online linked resources and lectures available anytime, 24/7. Includes one multiple-choice exam taken at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Upon passing, learners may print their certificate immediately.

Course Developers and Instructors:

R. Klimes, PhD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University) is a scholar and author in health-related research, health behaviors, ethics, end-of-life care, and overall wellness. He has written numerous research reports and books and has held academic and leadership roles in higher education and public health internationally.

Course Time:

Approximately 3 hours for online study, test taking, course evaluation feedback, and certificate printing.