Master of Arts in Public Philosophy and Ethics

Purpose

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to

• Identify and address context specific ethical dilemmas e.g. fraud in various guises, issues of diversity in employment, issues of access to information and decision-making, justice and democracy in the workplace.
• Progress to a more general level of analysis and understanding by developing a multi-disciplinary approach in conjunction with inputs from specialists in ethical theories, ethical management, labour law and human resource management.
• Utilise both specialised applied knowledge and more general theories, by which learners are trained to understand, contextualise, design and apply procedures to solve the specifically identified moral issues in the workplace.
• Further study at NQF Level 8 on a Doctoral Degree program.

Rationale

Combating corruption and fraud is a priority in the public sector. The government has committed itself to the UN project to fight corruption in the public sector. The private sector Business Against Crime Initiative to combat economic crime and unethical corporate behaviour attests to the moral nature of the crisis in business culture. The second King report on Corporate Governance requires both public and private companies to manage their ethical performance. There is a severe lack of relevant training for managing ethical performance. This M Phil program in Ethics provides in this need on a regional and national basis.

This qualification opens career possibilities in managing and auditing the ethical performance of organisations.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted in accordance with the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the programme. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies at this University.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Arts Honours, NQF Level 8.
• Bachelor of Arts Honours (Philosophy), NQF Level 8.

• Fundamental: 30 credits; Level 8.

Total: 30 Credits.

• Core: 90 Credits; Level 8.

Total: 90 Credits.

Total: 120 Credits; Level 8.

1. Utilise various theories of business ethics, justice, gender, as well as different methodological approaches from relevant specialized disciplines other than ethics to identify and analyse moral problems in the workplace, and to formulate and reflect on appropriate responses.
2. Identify the various levels and the various aspects of a moral dilemma in the workplace in order to define the relevant role player(s) with whom plans of actions will have to negotiate and with whose assistance procedures will have to be implemented.
3. Listen attentively and interpret incisively, through the fair and accurate presentation and evaluation of arguments.
4. Organise and manage study processes, research, information and available resources.
5. Conduct independent research on a specialised topic within each of the designated fields of the course, utilizing the methodological, conceptual and historical background knowledge acquired during the course, as well as electronic and other technologies to gather information, and present the results of that research in an accessible and concise manner.
6. Design, and reflect critically upon applications of ethical theories in our local context and current situation.
7. Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients by using language skills in the modes of oral and written presentation.
8. Work constantly in a two-way direction between specific problem and broader context, specialised knowledge and more general theories in order to cultivate macro vision.
9. Demonstrate their ability to think independently, creatively and critically and to use logical, interpretation, human relations and knowledge assessment skills in order to formulate and reflect upon policy, legal and other relevant solutions to moral dilemmas in the workplace, including the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance where appropriate to empower people previously disempowered by social injustices.
10. Participate in constructive dialogue concerning the moral dimension of public issues.
11. Display an on-going and thorough-going moral sensitivity towards and tolerance of cultural, religious, gender, class, race and other differences as the basis of people's different experiences, histories and principles, without falling into moral relativism, i.e without excluding the possibility of moral judgment.
12. Expand and reinforce existing entrepreneurial opportunities.
13. Expand and reinforce existing entrepreneurial opportunities.

• Demonstrate the ability to utilise different theories of business ethics, justice, and gender, as well as various methodological approaches to identify and analyse moral problems in the workplace.
• Suggest appropriate responses to moral dilemmas thus identified.
• Demonstrate the ability to break problems and solutions down to significant constituent parts.
• Assign constituent parts of a solution to appropriate role players or agents.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the coordination of the constituent agents in the action and apply it to self.
• Listen attentively and read incisively, through the exploration and solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.
• Cross-customary and disciplinary boundaries in the exploration and solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.
• Cooperate with team members by participating in the logistics of research.
• Gather information and obtain required answers from designated sources.
• Research and represent presenting an essay on a topic in the manner of a contribution to a scientific journal.
• Write a research essay according to set standards which:

> Identify the issues/problems at stake.

> Situate those issues/problems within the wider context of the field of research, both historically and methodology.

> Clarifies/analyses the issues indicated and arguing for a certain understanding/hypothesis/solution.

> Presents and evaluates available sources used to further the argument.

> Demonstrate the theoretical and practical workability or unsuitability of proposals towards the solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.

• Demonstrate communication skills by oral and written presentations to audiences.
• Demonstrate the ability to justify designs for the solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace in terms of sustainable environmental and human resources development policies.
• Demonstrate the ability to link specialised knowledge to larger contexts, and to identify, manage and channel impacts from larger contexts to specialised fields of involvements.
• Demonstrate the ability to think independently, creatively and critically and use logical, interpretation, human relations and knowledge assessment skills in order to formulate and reflect on policy, legal and other relevant solutions to moral dilemmas.
• Demonstrate the ability to formulate appropriate solutions to moral dilemmas, including the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance where appropriate to empower people previously disempowered by social injustices.
• Demonstrate the ability to participate in public dialogue through the assignment of defending or opposing given viewpoints.
• Display a good balance between tolerance of diversity and diverse viewpoints on the one hand, and sound moral judgment on the other.
• Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically and creatively on the role of identity differences in a democracy.
• Demonstrate the ability to assess careers in terms of real and possible codes of conduct.
• Demonstrate the ability to found entrepreneurial opportunities on existing and possible national and international moral codes of conduct.

Integrated Assessment

- Formative assessment practices that will be implemented

Learners are continuously assessed via written assignments. Two essays are handed in electronically, annotated by the lecturer, mailed back to the learner, who, if she/he wishes, can revise and resubmit the essay. The extent of all assignments prior to the final research essay amounts to approximately 6000 words. Credits gained on this basis count for 50% of the marks for each semester course. Learners must also present a research proposal in lieu of the final research essay.

- Summative assessment practices that will be implemented

Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, is done through a final research essay of 6000 words. This essay is also assessed externally.

- Pass requirements that will be implemented

> Pass: minimum of 50% on an average between semester marks composed of the marks of the first two essays (50%), and the aggregate of the research essay (50%).

> Distinction: minimum of 75% on an average between semester marks (50%) and the aggregate of the research essays (50%).