The certificate in Ethics and Public Affairs at the University of Utah is an interdepartmental program administered through the Graduate School and the Philosophy and Political Science departments. The 15-credit program (four courses and a research paper) is meant to encourage ethical consideration of important domestic and international issues related to public and professional life.  The program seeks to serve two categories of students:  1) Those whose hold bachelor's degrees but are not currently matriculated at the university, 2) Currently enrolled graduate students in Political Science and Philosophy and 3) Graduate students belonging to departments outside Philosophy and Political Science.  Students are able to focus their study in areas such as conflict resolution, healthcare, bioethics, human rights, education, social services, the environment, the legal system, and government.

The program's curriculum is designed to draw attention to the complex ethical features and obligations that attach both to democratic citizenship and to the particular careers, offices, and institutions to which students gain access with university degrees. Through this certificate program and the guidance of faculty advisors, students are encouraged to extend their knowledge and understanding of policy analysis, ethical reasoning, and the critical thinking necessary to evaluate and create policy in today's complex world.

The University of Utah in Salt Lake City is uniquely placed as a leadership institution within the state of Utah and the Intermountain West.  Its Department of Philosophy is internationally recognized for its research in applied ethics.  The Political Science Department is home to the Maxwell Presidential Endowed Chair in Political Theory, Public Policy, and Public Service.  Faculty research, teaching, and service in these areas is supported by prominent campus centers such as the Tanner Humanities Center, the Center for Public Policy and Administration, and the Bennion Community Service Center.  Thanks to such resources, the Certificate Program in Ethics and Public Affairs offers students a rare opportunity to explore and renew the ethical dimension of their various professions.

University Requirements

Admission to the Ethics and Public Affairs Certificate Program is by competitive application only. The certificate program accepts approximately ten students each year. All applicants are required to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, and earned a 3.0 grade point average or better.

In order to apply, please complete the following:

1. If you are not currently enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Utah, you will need to submit to the Admissions Office the Undergraduate Application with the required processing fee, in order to receive permission to register as a Non-Matriculated Student. The application can be accessed here. Non-Matriculated Student information can be accessed here.

2. Print and complete the Program Application form.  A copy can be downloaded here.

3. Include the following with the Program Application form:

• A five hundred word essay describing your personal and professional goals
• A transcript documenting the completion of a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or better
• Two personal or professional letters of recommendation
  (one must come from a professor or academic advisor; exceptions may be made for applicants who have been away from an academic setting for an extended time)
• A current resume

Dr. Luke Garrott, Administrative Director
Ethics and Public Affairs Certificate
University of Utah
260 S. Central Campus Dr., Rm. 252
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Fax: (801) 585-6492

Program Application Form
Undergraduate Application for Non-Matriculated Consideration Form

General Program Description

1. Students must hold a B.A. or B.S. degree (or its equivalent), and meet all other admission requirements.

2. Students must complete with a grade of B- or better 15 credits of acceptable course work from the certificate program list.

3. As part of the 15 credits, students are required to complete the core course, which is the Pro-Seminar in Ethics and Public Affairs (POL S 6005).

4. Students are also required to write a research paper upon the completion of the four courses. Students will register for 3 credits of independent research while completing this paper.

5. No pass/fail credits will count toward the graduate certificate.

6. When the 15 credits are completed, the student is to turn in the Certificate Completion Form to their Ethics and Public Affairs Advisor. The Completion form has to be signed by the advisor and submitted to the Ethics and Public Affairs supervisory committee for approval. Once approval is granted by supervisory committee signatures, student will be mailed the Certificate and program completion will be registered on the student's transcript.

Course of Study

Students are required to pass four courses with a grade of B- or better and to write a research paper upon completion of these courses, for a total of 15 credits.  Each student must take, in his or her first semester, the Ethics and Public Affairs Pro-Seminar.

Core:  Pro-Seminar in Ethics and Public Affairs, POL S 6005 or PHIL 6015

Elective Courses Applicable to the Program:
Students must take at least one elective in each department.

Political Science (POL S)
6000 Foundations of Political Thought: Ancient & Judeo-Christian
6010 Political Thought from Machiavelli
6015 Theories of Democracy
6020 Liberalism and its Critics
6025 American Political Thought
6030 Pro-Seminar in Political Theory
6035 Contemporary Political Thought
6090 Political Thought in Islam
6140 Feminist Political Theory
6610 International Law
6870 Public Administration and Ethics
6960 Special Topics: Moral Conflicts in Politics

Philosophy (PHIL)
6130  History of Ethical Theory
6500 Contemporary Ethical Theory
6510 Applied Ethics
6520 Advanced Bioethics
6700 Advanced Political Philosophy
6750 Advanced Philosophy of Law
7080 Seminar in Philosophical Feminism
7510 Seminar in Applied Ethics
7700 Seminar in Political Philosophy

Class Schedules
General Course Catalog

Faculty

To enroll in the certificate program or for more information contact Luke Garrott, Administrative Director of the certificate program. The Faculty below participate in the certificate program and are involved in the coursework.

Luke Garrott, Political Science, Administrative Director
Chrisoula Andreou, Philosophy
Peggy Battin, Philosophy
Mark Button, Political Science
Dean Chatterjee, Philosophy
Leslie Francis, Philosophy
Robert Huefner, Political Science
Eric Hutton, Philosophy
Bruce Landesman, Philosophy
Brenda Lyshaug, Political Science
Ronald Mallon, Philosophy
Cynthia Stark, Philosophy
Hakan Yavuz, Political Science

Total Course Work

Upon completion of the 15 credits, student will turn in the Certificate Completion Form to their Ethics and Public Affairs Advisor. The Completion form has to be signed by the advisor and submitted to the Ethics and Public Affairs supervisory committee for approval. Once approval is granted by supervisory committee signatures, student will be mailed the Certificate and program completion will be registered on the student's transcript.

Tuition

The cost of the two-semester program is the same as graduate tuition for the University of Utah.  Currently (2002-03), the cost for 3 graduate credits (resident) is $710, while the cost of 6 graduate credits (resident) is $997. Tuition must be paid at the beginning of each semester in accordance with the University of Utah payment schedules.  For updated information and tuition schedules for nonresidents, please visit the University of Utah tuition website at: http://www.acs.utah.edu/tuition