NMSU Ethics Courses

This listing includes all courses listed in the NMSU Catalog which include “ethics” in their course description. The department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences teaches a number of ethics courses required of majors in other colleges; those are listed under Arts and Sciences in this listing. Please notify us of any errors or omissions.

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

GRADUATE COURSES

Family and Consumer Science: FCS 584. Family Law and Ethics 3 cr. Study of selected aspects of federal and state laws and ethical issues as they relate to the family system. Prerequisite: either FCS 585 or consent of instructor.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

College of Arts and Sciences

GRADUATE COURSES

Biology: BIOL 540. Science and Ethics 1-3 cr. Ethical concerns facing researchers in the basic and applied biological sciences. Coverage of responsible conduct in research including scientific integrity and research misconduct, mentor/trainee responsibilities, data management, authorship, publication practices, human subjects, animal welfare, intellectual property, conflicts of interest and effort and collaborative science. Emphasis on ethical reasoning skills. Discussion of ethical and societal implications of issues selected from a broad range of contemporary research areas (genetics, reproductive biology, environmental sciences, nanoscience, drug discovery, bioengineering, and neuroscience). Subtitled. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.
Communications: COMM 545. Seminar in Ethicism, Racism, and Communication 3 cr. Course focuses on theories and research concerning the social, cognitive, and communication aspects of ethnic and racial prejudice. Specific psychological and communication processes of person and group categorization are explored along with findings about the effects of ethnic prejudice on everyday communication (and vice versa).
Criminal Justice: C J 525. Issues in Ethics, Law, and Criminal Justice 3 cr. Examination of the key ethical and decision-making dilemmas facing professionals working in the fields of law and criminal justice. Restricted to majors.
English: ENGL 546. Ethics and Ethos in Rhetoric and Professional Communication 3 cr. Study of the history, theory, and practice of applied ethics and rhetorical concept of ethos.
Government: GOVT 549. Ethics in Government 3 cr. Examination of standards, perspectives, and issues for ethical decision making in public agencies.
Government: GOVT 594. Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Security Studies 3 cr. Examination of major ethical and legal dilemmas in the pursuit of security in the age of terror.
Sociology: SOC 472. Sociology of Medical Ethics 3 cr. Focus on ethics as applied in health care from a sociological perspective. Includes cultural issues and the decision making process, with individual and social implications. Same as SOC 572.
Sociology: SOC 572. Advanced Issues in Medical Sociology 3 cr. Major issues in the roles and relationships of health care providers and consumers, problems in communication, malpractice, patient’s rights, and ethics. Same as SOC 472 but additional work is required.
Creative Media Institute: CMI 496. Media Law/Ethics 3 cr. Overview of legal & ethical issues in creative media elements of business and commercial law. This class will focus on the fundamentals of entertainment law by exploring the business and legal relationships within film industries, and animation. Learn to anticipate and avoid legal problems prior to production. Key issues in the area of copyright law, sources of financing, distribution agreements; insurance and union consideration will be discussed.
Philosophy: PHIL 540. Science and Ethics 1-3 cr. Ethical concerns facing researchers in the basic and applied biological sciences. Coverage of responsible conduct in research including scientific integrity and research misconduct, mentor/trainee responsibilities, data management, authorship, publication practices, human subjects, animal welfare, intellectual property, conflicts of interest and effort and collaborative science. Emphasis on ethical reasoning skills. Discussion of ethical and societal implications of issues selected from a broad range of contemporary research areas (genetics, reproductive biology, environmental sciences, nanoscience, drug discovery, bioengineering, and neuroscience). Subtitled. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Criminal Justice: C J 425. Issues in Ethics, Law, and Criminal Justice 3 cr. Examination of the key ethical and decision-making dilemmas facing professionals working in the field of law and criminal justice. Prerequisite: restricted to majors or consent of instructor.
Cinema and Film/Video Production: CMI 496. Media Law/Ethics 3 cr. Overview of legal & ethical issues in creative media elements of business and commercial law. This class will focus on the fundamentals of entertainment law by exploring the business and legal relationships within film industries, and animation. Learn to anticipate and avoid legal problems prior to production. Key issues in the area of copyright law, sources of financing, distribution agreements; insurance and union consideration will be discussed.
Journalism and Mass Communications: JOUR 377. Mass Media Ethics 3 cr. Philosophical and moral examination of problems relating to mass media. Use of case study method to analyze media situations; development of framework for media professionalism.
Library Science: L SC 230. Issues & Ethics in Libraries and Information Centers. 3 cr. Discussions of current and continuing challenges to effective library and information service. Topics may include copyright, censorship, intellectual freedom, Internet filtering, problem patrons, security, or other current issues. Restricted to: Dona Ana campus only.
Philosophy: PHIL 223G. Ethics 3 cr. The philosophical explication of morality. Significant ethical systems developed in the history of Western thought.
Philosophy: PHIL 302. Business Ethics 3 cr. An analysis of the ethical issues that arise in contemporary business life, including the obligations businesses and employees have to each other, consumers, society and the environment.
Philosophy: PHIL 321. Biomedical Ethics 3 cr. Examines ethical dimensions of such issues as abortion, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide; informed consent as a condition of treating patients and experimenting on subjects; genetic engineering; and alternative reproductive methods, including surrogate motherhood. Also considers what implications moral theories have for these issues.
Philosophy: PHIL 322. Environmental Ethics 3 cr. Explores the ethical and topical issues raised by mining and grazing, air and water pollution, factory farming, global warming, and treatment of animals. It also studies some recent ecological movements such as eco-feminism, social ecology, and deep ecology.
Philosophy: PHIL 323V. Engineering Ethics 3 cr. The moral legal responsibilities of engineers to clients, employers, the public, and the environment. Topics include criteria for judging when risk is acceptable, the duty to safeguard public health and welfare, conflicts of interest, and whistle-blowing. Prerequisite: Junior standing or higher.
Philosophy: PHIL 324. Cyberethics 3 cr. Examines contemporary ethical issues related to personal and business use of computers and the Internet, including Internet governance, advertising and privacy, intellectual property rights, free speech and censorship, encryption, anonymity, and security.
Philosophy: PHIL 327. Ethics and Sports 3 cr. Examines contemporary ethical issues related to sports, including the relationship between morally right action and that required for competitive success, strong paternalism in sports, fair play, doping, sportsmanship, and the impact of sports on society.
Philosophy: PHIL 328. Applied Ethics 3 cr.Examines the implications of utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, natural law theory, and other moral theories for controversial moral issues such as the death penalty, euthanasia, abortion, genetic engineering, gay marriage, affirmative action, and pornography.
Philosophy: PHIL 329. Sexual Ethics 3 cr.Examines different ethical approaches that address the question of how humans are to live as sexual beings. Explores contemporary moral issues about sexual use, rights and responsibilities, reproduction, orientation, and social policies through the lens of the various ethical perspectives.
Philosophy: PHIL 330. Ethics and Biomedical Research 3 cr.Explores some ethical issues raised by biological and biomedical research. Topics include: possible abuses of genetic engineering, cloning, and genetically modified foods; experimentation on humans and informed consent; animal experimentation; honesty in research and conflicts of interest; and intellectual property.
Philosophy: PHIL 332. Ethics and Global Poverty 3 cr. Philosophical scrutiny of and moral reflection on various aspects of global poverty and foreign aid. For example: Is poverty fundamentally a lack of income, or can it be understood as a failure to meet basic needs, or as a lack of valuable freedom? Do human rights exist? What, if any, are the moral obligations of rich countries to poor countries? Can foreign aid be immoral? How should the answers to these questions influence public policy? Restricted to: Main campus only.
Philosophy: PHIL 373. Ethical Theory 3 cr. The critical examination of the justification of ethical theories with particular attention to the language of moral discourse.
Paralegal Studies: PL S 200. Legal Ethics for the Paralegal 2 cr. Introduction to ethical dilemmas faced in the workforce and the rules of ethics developed by the American Bar Association, various national paralegal organizations, and the Supreme Court of New Mexico.
Paralegal Studies: PL S 205. Legal and Ethical Issues for the Web 2 cr. Legal, ethical, copyright, and privacy issues specific to the Internet.

College of Business

GRADUATE COURSES

Accounting: ACCT 459. Ethics & Professionalism in Accounting 3 cr. Introduction to ethical reasoning, integrity, objectivity, independence, and professional accounting issues. Students will apply the concepts and theories to accounting-specific cases. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in ACCT451 or concurrent enrollment or consent of instructor. Same as ACCT 559.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Accounting: ACCT 459. Ethics and Professionalism in Accounting 3 cr. Introduction to ethical reasoning, integrity, objectivity, independence, and professional accounting issues. Students will apply the concepts and theories to accounting-specific cases. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in ACCT 451 or concurrent enrollment or consent of instructor. Same as ACCT 559.
Business Law: BLAW 313. Sports and the Law 3 cr. Introduction to legal concepts related to sports and business including an introduction to U. S. law and the civil practice, agency, sports contracts, sport torts, sport crimes, pertinent federal legislation such as Title IX, drugs and sports, international sports issues, pertinent antitrust issues, intellectual property, ethics and alternative dispute resolution.
Business Law: BLAW 316. Legal Environment of Business 3 cr. Survey of business law including: the legal system (court systems, sources and types of law, litigation and dispute resolution), ethics and corporate social responsibility, administrative law, tort law, contract law, agency and employment law, business structure and governance, securities regulations, and international law. Students may not receive credit for both BLAW 316 and BLAW 317.
Business Law: BLAW 385V. Consumers and the Law 3 cr. Study of the interrelationships between business, legal, and ethical aspects of consumer issues and their attendant civil liability and remedies in domestic and international markets.

College of Education

GRADUATE COURSES

Counseling and Ed. Psych: CEP 524. Professional Issues in Mental Health Counseling 3 cr. History, roles, organizational structures, settings, ethics, standards, laws, and credentialing related to mental health counseling. Group laboratory experience to enhance self awareness and interpersonal skills for effective professional relationships. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Restricted to majors.
Counseling and Ed. Psych: CEP 622. Ethical/Prof. Issues in Counseling Psych. 3 cr. History of counseling psychology, scientist-practitioner model, American Psychological Association s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Focus on current ethical, professional, and scientific issues. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Restricted to majors.
Curriculum and Instruction: EDUC 475. Contemporary Issues in Education 3 cr. Discussion of contemporary issues including: classroom management, motivation, conferences, professional organizations, professional ethics, community influences, cultural pluralism, reform movements, instructional influences, and educational technology. Requires field experience component in a school or community setting. Same as EDUC 575.
Special Education: SPED 625. Legal and Ethical Issues in School Psychology 3 cr. Overview of legal/ethical, and professional standards in school psychology. NASP and APA codes of ethics, NM Mental Health and Children’s codes, and child abuse/neglect laws.
Communication Disorders: CD 521. Prof. Issues & Practices in Comm. Disorders 3 cr. This course includes a range of topics pertinent to students entering professional practice as speech-language pathologists including current legal, ethical, and clinical service provision issues. Restricted to majors. Prerequisites: minimum of 3.0 in all graduate courses required.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Education: EDUC 475. Contemporary Issues in Education 3 cr. Discussion of contemporary issues including: classroom management, motivation, conferences, professional organizations, professional ethics, community influences, cultural pluralism, reform movements, instructional influences, and educational technology. Requires field experience component in a school or community setting. Same as EDUC 575.

College of Engineering

GRADUATE COURSES

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Surveying Engineering: SUR 401. Ethics and Professionalism in Surveying and Mapping 3 cr. Ethics as applied to the surveying profession. Includes case studies and problems. Prerequisites: SUR 312, SUR 328, and senior standing.

College of Health and Social Services

GRADUATE COURSES

Health Science: HL S 489. Ethics and Jurisprudence for Health Personnel 3 cr. Relationships between the law and the health care field. Emphasis on the moral and legal responsibilities of health personnel. Same as MPH 589.
Master of Public Health: MPH 589. Ethics & Jurisprudence for Health Personnel 3 cr. Relationships between the law and the health care field. Emphasis on the moral and legal responsibilities of health personnel. Same as HL S 489 with differentiated assignments for graduate students.
Nursing: NURS 475. Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing 3 cr. Explores the challenges associated with issues and trends in health care and the legal and ethical implications of professional nursing practice.
Nursing: NURS 506. Health Policy & the Environment of Prof. Nursing Practice 3 cr. Conceptual approach to understanding and analyzing the environment of professional nursing practice. Focus on the impact of health care economics, financing, law and regulation, ethics and health policy on individual and collaborative nursing practice. Restricted to majors.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Community Health and Social Services: CHSS 216. Ethical and Research Issues in Human and Community Service 3 cr. Ethical and legal responsibilities of health personnel with emphasis on research applications. May not receive credit for both CHSS 216 and CHSS 316. Community Colleges only.
Community Health and Social Services: CHSS 316. Ethical and Research Issues in Human and Community Service 3 cr. Ethical and legal responsibilities of health personnel, with emphasis on research applications. Web-facilitated course, which may be offered also through distance education format. Same as CHSS 216 with differentiated assignments for students in CHSS 316, but students may not receive credit for both CHSS 216 and CHSS 316.
Health Science: HL S 489. Ethics and Jurisprudence for Health Personnel 3 cr. Relationships between the law and the health care field. Emphasis on the moral and legal responsibilities of health personnel. Same as MPH 589.
Nursing: NURS 182. Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice 2 cr. Introduction to legal and ethical implications of nursing practice (through the holistic approach to wellness) as a registered nurse. Prerequisite: NURS 270, and NURS 271, or consent of instructor. Co requisites: NURS 280, NURS 281, NURS 282, NURS 283, and NURS 284. Alamogordo Community College campus only.
Dental Assisting: OEDA 125. Professional Concepts 3 cr. Emphasis on the development of professionalism for the dental office. Includes oral communication, psychology, patient relations, problem solving skills, stress management, and employability in addition to dental jurisprudence and ethics. Prerequisites: OEDA 111, OEDA 113, OEDA 115, and OEDA 117. Co requisites: OEDA 121, OEDA 123, OEDA 127, OEDA 129.
DHYG – Dental Hygiene/Hygienist: DHYG 224. Principles of Practice 2 cr. Examination of the dental hygienists role in both traditional and nontraditional employment settings. Career planning, resume preparation and interviewing are practices. An understanding of the law, professional ethics of dental hygiene and the need for lifelong learning are emphasized. Future roles of the dental hygienist and emerging issues in dental hygiene will be explored. Prerequisite(s): ‘C’ or above in DHYG 210, DHYG 212, DHYG 214, DHYG 216, and DHYG 218. Co requisite(s): DHYG 220, DHYG 222, DHYG 226. Restricted to: All Community Colleges. Restricted to DHYG majors.
Health Occupations: OEHO 202. Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care 3 cr. Consideration of legal and ethical issues in modern health care delivery.
Practical Nursing: OEPN 122. Practical Role of the Practical Nurse 2 cr. Provides knowledge and skills to make a successful transition from student to licensed practical nurse, including scope of practice, the Nurse Practice Act, legal and ethical responsibilities, opportunities for employment and professional development, and job-seeking skills. Prerequisite: OEPN 116. Co requisite: OEPN 120. Restricted to majors.

Honors College

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Honors: HON 225G. History of Ethics 3 cr. A critical examination of questions with respect to the meaning and justification of moral judgments and principles. Provides a basic preparation for serious study of contemporary moral problems.
Honors: HON 306V. Science, Ethics and Society 3 cr. Investigation of the ethical issues related to scientific investigation and the ethical implications of scientific discoveries for society. Emphasis on discussion of case studies about specific ethical issues in science, and readings by both scientists and non-scientists.