Graduate Certificate in Ethics, Law, and Politics

The Ethics, Law and Politics Graduate Certificate is tailored for graduate students seeking to complement their primary field of study with expertise in ethical theory, philosophy of law and political philosophy. This certificate empowers scholars to engage in interdisciplinary exploration and bolsters their qualifications. It's valuable for those pursuing law or medicine, students in fields like political science, social work and history, as well as individuals interested in comprehending the interplay of politics, ethics and legal systems. Offering improved employability both within and beyond academia, this certificate provides a focused study and continuous learning opportunity for personal enrichment in philosophy. Please note that students solely enrolled in this program are ineligible for Federal Financial Aid.
The ethics, law, and politics graduate certificate is designed for graduate students who wish to attain and demonstrate competence in ethical theory, philosophy of law, and political philosophy as an adjunct to their graduate studies in another area. Students who pursue the ethics, law, and politics graduate certificate will enhance their credentials as a scholar who can undertake cross-disciplinary inquiry.

The certificate can be valuable to students going on to law or medical school, students studying political science, social work, history and other areas, and to students simply seeking to understand the complex interrelations between political structures, ethical aims, and legal constraints. The ethics, law, and politics graduate certificate is a credential that can improve a student's attractiveness to employers both inside and outside the academy. The certificate also provides a well-defined focus of study and continuing education opportunity for people who wish to study philosophy for personal enrichment.

As a result of obtaining this certificate, students will be able to:

State a thesis about an ethical, legal or political problem or text, explain the thesis, and provide evidence and argument (including replies to counter-arguments) in its defense.
Explain and interpret the ideas associated with major figures and movements in ethical, legal, and political philosophy.
Distinguish better and worse reasoning, and recognize relevant logical relationships and patterns of inference.
Show what is at stake in an abstract debate in ethics, law, or politics and indicate how different positions in these debates might have concrete or theoretical implications.

Some of the students accepted into the certificate program in philosophy have completed undergraduate philosophy majors or minors, but we also accept students with degrees in other areas.
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Letter of Intent: a letter describing your interests and goals and explaining why you want to pursue your studies in our department. Be sure to indicate that you are interested in the Ethics, Law and Politics Graduate Certificate.
Transcripts
Writing Sample: a sample of your recent writing in philosophy, if you have one, or of some other type of recent writing that will indicate your aptitude for philosophical work.
References: two letters of recommendation

TOEFL: 550 (paper) or 79 (internet)
IELTS: 6.5 (academic version)