PHIL 2625 A01: Intro to Professional Ethics

PHIL 2625 - Introduction to Professional Ethics

Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section A01, CRN 43945,

Credit hours: 3

Course Meeting Times

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Instructor

Samantha Fritz

Email: slfritz@ysu.edu

Public Instructor Information

Instructor Title: Dr. Samantha Fritz
Instructor Professional Qualifications: PhD in philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, 2025
Instructor Office Location: Debartolo Hall, 4th Floor
Instructor Office Phone: 330-941-3448

Private Instructor Information

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Course Description

2625. Introduction to Professional Ethics. An examination of the ideals and virtues central to professionalism; study of selected codes of professional ethics and their roots in classical ethical traditions; and analysis of selected ethical issues and problems in a variety of professions. 3 s.h.

Course Readings

Group Title Author ISBN
Required No Textbook, all readings on Blackboard Various

List of Readings on Blackboard:
"Basics and Background," Joan Callahan.
"Professions/Professionalization," Michael Bayles.
"Professions and Emerging Professions," Bernard Barber Giuffra.
"Professional Responsibility of the Criminal Defense Lawyer," Monroe Freedman.
"Is Business Bluffing Ethical," Albert Carr.
"The Business of Ethics," Norman Gillespie.
"Models for Ethical Medicine in a Revolutionary Age," Robert Veatch.
"From Loyalty to Advocacy: A New Metaphor for Nursing," Gerald Winslow.
"Academic Paternalism," Joan Callahan.
"Should Doctor's Tell the Truth," Joseph Collins.
"Lying and Lies to the Sick and Dying," Sissela Bok.
"Can you pass the job test?" Newsweek.
"Privacy, Morality and the Law," WA Parent.
"Invasions of Privacy in Social Science Research," Terry Pinkard.
"Corporate Moral Agency," Peter French.
"Corporate Moral Agency: The Case for Anthropological Bigotry," John Danley.
"In Defense of Whistle Blowing," Gene James.
"Ten Whistleblowers and How They Fared," Myron Glazer.
"Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibilities," Sissela Bok.
"The Social Responsibility of Business," Milton Friedman.
"Changing the Social Contract: A Role for Business," Melvin Anshen.
"Nurses' Roles and Reponsibilities in Providing Care and Support at the End of Life," American Nurses Association.
"The Nurse's Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying," American Nurses Association.

The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.  

Additional Course Materials

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Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives/Goals

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How to Succeed in This Course

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Attendance Expectations

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Late Work Submission Policy

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Additional Course Expectations

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Artificial Intelligence Policy Statement

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Assignments/Assessments

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Grading and Grading Scale

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University Policies

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Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Reading(s) Proposed Topic Due/To Prepare for Class
8/24 Basics and Background, Joan Callahan Introduction to Moral Theory Module 1
8/31 The Professions, Michael Bayles; Professions and Emerging Professions, Bernard Barber Giuffra Professions/Professionalization Module 2
9/7 Professional Responsibility of the Criminal Defense Lawyer: The three hardest questions, Monroe Freedman; Is business Bluffing Ethical, Albert Carr; The business of ethics, Norman Gillespie Occupational and Ordinary Morality Module 3
9/14 Models for ethical medicine in a revolutionary age, Robert Veatch; From Loyalty to Advocacy, Gerald Winslow; Academic Paternalism, Joan Callahan; Should doctors tell the truth, Joseph Collins; Lying and Lies to the Sick and Dying, Sissela Bok Professionals and Clients; Deception Module 4
9/21 Can you pass the job test? Newsweek; Privacy Morality and the law, WA Parent; Invasions of privacy in social science research, Terry Pinkard; Corporate moral agency, Peter French; Corporate moral agency: the case for anthropological bigotry, John Danley Privacy and Confidentiality; Individual and Collective Responsibility Module 5
9/28 In defense of whistle blowing, Gene James; Ten whistleblowers and how they fared, Myron Glazer; Whistleblowing and professional responsibilities, Bok; The social responsibility of business, Milton Friedman; Changing the social contract: a role for business, Melvin Anshen Social Responsibility, Professional Dissent, and Justice Module 6
10/5 Nurses' roles and responsibilities in providing care and support at the end of life; The nurse's role when a patient requests medical aid in dying (both from the American Nurses Association) Nurses Role Module 7

The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.