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HE Unit Template
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Applied Ethics in Contemporary Societies
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BAXDC2004 - Applied Ethics in Contemporary Societies
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20270200
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Course
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4.0
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Humanities and Social Science
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Institute of Education, Arts & Community
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Humanities and Social Sciences
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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090599
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Human Welfare Studies and Services, n.e.c.
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090599 - Human Welfare Studies and Services, n.e.c.
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/baxdc2004">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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Bachelor Degree
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Intermediate
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1
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<p>Ethical issues permeate society and frequently interrupt people's life. They appear in diverse contexts such as personal and social spheres, the ecological, and even the professional domains of our existence. Our response to these ethical issues illustrates who we are as people, determines which organisations and institutions we engage with, and demonstrates the values we express in the world. Identifying and reflecting on ethical issues throughout society is critically important and enables us to responsibly navigate the complexity of social and professional life. This unit is an Applied Ethics unit, typically taught at an intermediate bachelor level, that introduces students to key ethical theories and principles, values, and codes of ethics aiming to deepen student thinking regarding the ethical issues they are likely to encounter as social agents, as professionals and as practitioners in the community. In this unit we take a reasoned and affective approach to ethical issues as we contemplate and apply ethical theories, principles, values, and codes of ethics to case studies and other real-world scenarios. Students will develop skills researching issues of personal and professional relevance and interrogating these through key ethical lenses.</p>
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<p>Topics may include:<br>
•Introduction to Applied Ethics<br>
•Normative Theories for Applied Ethics (inc. Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Utilitarianism, Relational Ethics)<br>
•Ethical obligations towards organisational/professional codes of ethics.<br>
•Business Ethics (inc. Sustainable Development Goals, Corporate Social Responsibility, Whistleblowing, Corruption)<br>
•Ethical dilemmas and models for ethical decision making.<br>
•Individual and Human Rights<br>
•Autonomy and the Body<br>
•Animal Ethics<br>
•Ethics and technology (inc. AI)<br>
•Ethical responsibilities to diverse peoples.<br>
•Ethical considerations in relation to sustainability and the environment.<br>
•Critical Reflection and Critical Thinking<br>
•Inequality<br>
•Moral Reasoning<br>
•Personal and Professional Values<br>
•Feminist Ethics<br>
•Intercultural Ethics</p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>Ethical issues permeate society and frequently interrupt people's life. They appear in diverse contexts such as personal and social spheres, the ecological, and even the professional domains of our existence. Our response to these ethical issues illustrates who we are as people, determines which organisations and institutions we engage with, and demonstrates the values we express in the world. Identifying and reflecting on ethical issues throughout society is critically important and enables us to responsibly navigate the complexity of social and professional life. This unit is an Applied Ethics unit, typically taught at an intermediate bachelor level, that introduces students to key ethical theories and principles, values, and codes of ethics aiming to deepen student thinking regarding the ethical issues they are likely to encounter as social agents, as professionals and as practitioners in the community. In this unit we take a reasoned and affective approach to ethical issues as we contemplate and apply ethical theories, principles, values, and codes of ethics to case studies and other real-world scenarios. Students will develop skills researching issues of personal and professional relevance and interrogating these through key ethical lenses.</p>
Unit content
<p>Topics may include:<br> •Introduction to Applied Ethics<br> •Normative Theories for Applied Ethics (inc. Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Utilitarianism, Relational Ethics)<br> •Ethical obligations towards organisational/professional codes of ethics.<br> •Business Ethics (inc. Sustainable Development Goals, Corporate Social Responsibility, Whistleblowing, Corruption)<br> •Ethical dilemmas and models for ethical decision making.<br> •Individual and Human Rights<br> •Autonomy and the Body<br> •Animal Ethics<br> •Ethics and technology (inc. AI)<br> •Ethical responsibilities to diverse peoples.<br> •Ethical considerations in relation to sustainability and the environment.<br> •Critical Reflection and Critical Thinking<br> •Inequality<br> •Moral Reasoning<br> •Personal and Professional Values<br> •Feminist Ethics<br> •Intercultural Ethics</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Discipline:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090599 - Human Welfare Studies and Services, n.e.c.
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/baxdc2004">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
<p>must not have completed PHILO1004 OR must not have completed <a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=BAXDC3004" target="_blank">BAXDC3004</a></p>
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Describe ethical principles and theories and grasp their implications for contemporary ethical issues and professional practice.</p>
K2
<p>Interrogate how values (personal/professional/political/social) inform the way we address ethical obligations in a diversity of contexts, including everyday contexts and/or micro practice, institutional and organisational contexts.</p>
K3
<p>Explain the requirements of ethical reasoning and decision-making.</p>
K4
<p>Demonstrate awareness of the competing perspectives and norms at work in debates concerning ethical conduct, contemporary ethical issues, and frameworks for professional ethical practice.</p>
S1
<p>Effectively apply ethical reasoning and argument to situations relating to everyday and professional contexts.</p>
S2
<p>Examine and evaluate ethical arguments and conclusions through independent research.</p>
S3
<p>Demonstrate proficiency in expression and defence of ethical positions and arguments in both oral and written forms.</p>
A1
<p>Recognise and reflect on different accounts of ethical norms, decisions, and actions.</p>
A2
<p>Articulate and justify ethical positions in verbal and written form, demonstrating developing skills in the conventions and techniques of ethical argument and decision-making.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Identify, select and describe ethical principles, theories and contextual factors relating to a case study or issue presented orally with a written reflection.</p>
<p>Oral presentation with written reflection</p>
<p>40-50%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S3, A1, A2
2
<p>Using relevant sources, describe a contested ethical issue, apply ethics instruments and theories, and present this in extended written form.</p>
<p>Written Assessment</p>
<p>40-50%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1
3
<p>Compose response to unit topics to engage in class discussions.</p>
<p>Active engagement assessment task</p>
<p>10-20%</p>
K1, K3, K4, S3, A1, A2
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Discipline:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090599 - Human Welfare Studies and Services, n.e.c.
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/baxdc2004">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: BAXDC2004 - U4.0