E14: Social Ethics

Course Overview

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

Social Ethics examines the ethical dimensions of relationships at the family, community, national, and governmental levels. This course explores ethical decision-making in marriage and lifestyle choices, obligations to community members including the poor, the ethics of democracy, punishment, and discrimination, and the Social Accountability Model for evaluating public trust and governance. Learners will apply the four ethical imperatives, Help, Fairness, Honesty, and Freedom, to real-world social and political case studies to strengthen their ethical reasoning in professional and civic life.

Course Learning Objectives

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

  1. Identify the major ethical considerations that arise in family, community, and governmental relationships
  2. Describe the four ethical imperatives: Help, Fairness, Honesty, and Freedom, and explain how they apply to social relationships
  3. Explain the four models of help: Good Samaritan, nonprofit, governmental, and Libertarianand identify when each may be appropriate
  4. Describe the ethical obligations individuals have to their communities including considerations of poverty and care
  5. Explain the relationship between ethics and democracy including the role of history in ethical decision-making
  6. Define discrimination and explain how ethical frameworks apply to issues of equality and justice
  7. Apply the Social Accountability Model to analyze cases involving public trust, politics, and governance
  8. Use the four ethical imperatives to evaluate cases involving right vs. right ethical dilemmas in professional and social settings

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.