Master in Ethics [120.0] - ETHI2M

The objective of the master en éthique is to train students in how to analyse the ethical issues prompted by decision processes and practices, both at individual level and social and political level.
At the end of his training, the student should be able to analyse the following four fields which correspond to the four professional focuses: ethics in science and techniques; ethics in public policy; ethics, norms and societies; bioethics and biomedical ethics.
In this regard, the student must develop the following skills:
• a grasp of the theories, concepts and methods behind philosophical ethics;
• a grasp of the theories, concepts and methods behind ethical reflection specifically related to one of the four fields mentioned above;
• an ability to use, on a scientifically-documented basis, these theories, concepts and methods in analysing the normative issues inherent to decision processes and practices in the field in question;
• an ability to debate these issues and analyse them with specialists from other scientific disciplines and key players in the field in question;
• an ability to conduct original, individual research (drafting and oral defence of a dissertation).

The master 120 en éthique is two years long (60 credits per year) and involves core courses (60 credits), a professional focus (30 credits) and options (30 credits).
- The core courses are made up of courses and seminars (30 credits) as well as a seminar in preparing a dissertation, which the student must enroll on during the first year (5 credits), and a dissertation (25 credits). The student chooses 25 course credits in the core courses in the first year and 5 credits in the second year. He completes his dissertation during the second year.
- The student also chooses one of the following four professional focuses (30 credits):
• EPP: Public Ethics and Policies (this specialisation involves participating in at least one research seminar shared with the corresponding KULeuven master),
• EST: Ethics in Sciences and Techniques (this specialisation involves a study visit to a partner European university),
• EBM: Biomedical Ethics and Bioethics,
• ENS: Ethics, Norms and Societies.
The courses chosen by the student in his choice of focus can be taken in the first or second year of the master.
- Finally, each focus offers a series of options (30 credits) which give the student a deeper grounding in philosophy or an introduction to other disciplines. They should be chosen to fit the focus and can be taken in the first or second year of the master.
Whatever the focus or the options chosen, the programme of this master shall total 120 credits, spread over two years of study, each of 60 credits
Core courses
• Professional focus in public ethics and policies
• Professional focus in sciences and techniques
• Professional focus in biomedical ethics and ethics
• Professional focus in ethics, norms and societies
Options

The master 120 en éthique gives access to the doctorate in philosophy as well as to the ‘programme d'agrégation de l'enseignement secondaire supérieur’ (AESS).
Nevertheless, it is important to note that combining this master with the AESS grants the title suffisant but not the title requis to teach.

The masters programme involves in particular programmes for both university certificates (‘certificat universitaire en éthique biomédicale’ and ‘certificat universitaire en éthique économique et sociale’). On file, some of the activities taken as part of the certificates can be credited in the masters programme.