Bachelor of Arts in Ethics and Public Policy

The ethics and public policy major emphasizes the study of reasoning and prepares students to bring a sophisticated, cross-disciplinary perspective to diverse fields such as business, government, urban and regional planning, social work, and law. Ethics and public policy looks at the complex connections between economics, law, philosophy, political science, and sociology--disciplines that deal with questions about how people should behave and how we should regulate the behavior of others. The consequences of these behaviors are complex. They affect our economic lives, social and legal issues and policies, and even our ideals and values.

The Departments of Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology and Criminology collaborate to present the major in ethics and public policy. The major is administered by the Department of Philosophy.

By drawing on the faculty expertise in other areas (philosophy, economics, law, political science, and sociology), this program provides the kind of interdisciplinary educational experience you'll find only at a major university like Iowa. Given the structure of this major, it is easy to combine it with a second major in one of the fields of specialization--economics, philosophy, political science, or sociology--or a related discipline to enhance your graduate study or career options.

Students must meet the following requirements for admission: completion of academic upper secondary school (generally a total of 12-13 years of primary and secondary education); a corresponding secondary school diploma or leaving certificate; completion of minimum high school course requirements of the following: 4 years of English/language arts; 2 years in a single language of world languages; 3 years including courses in physical science, biology, chemistry, environmental science and physics of natural science; 3 years of social studies; 2 years of algebra; and 1 year of geometry.

English Language Requirements:

• An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) total score of 6.5, with no sub score lower than 6.0
• Internet-based test (iBT): 80 with no sub score lower than 17
• Revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test: no sub score lower than 17
• Paper-based test (PBT): 530
• An ACT English sub score of 21
• An SAT Reading score of 29
• A Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 53 with no sub-scores lower than 47