Posted: Monday, February 20, 2017

The University of Evansville has announced the addition of a new ethics and social change major, available beginning in fall 2017. The new major, which will be housed within the philosophy and religion department at UE, combines academic study with field experience in order to equip students to address complex problems in our local communities and the world.

"This innovative new major bridges the gap between theory and action,” said Lisa Kretz, ethics program director and professor of philosophy at UE. “At college you often get a lot of textbook knowledge, which is important, but it is limited if you don’t know how to translate that into real world change.”

Kretz says fieldwork is built directly into the required curriculum. “Students can be a part of the university’s anti-bias team, propose solutions to real world problems as part of our Changemaker Challenge, participate in UE’s existing social responsibility certificate program, and take part in internships with our established network of community partners.”

The major will prepare students for a wide variety of careers and graduate study in areas such as non-profit work, business, community activism, diplomacy, economic development, education, government, humanitarian and international aid work, law, journalism and media, faith based organizations, medicine, politics, public policy, and more.

“This major is a vehicle for students who want to make a difference,” said Kretz. “For example, if a student is seriously concerned about injustice and oppression and wants to figure out the best way to work toward making the world a better place, this program would be the perfect fit.”

A multidisciplinary approach will allow students to complement an ethics core with concentrations in two other areas. They may choose from a variety of pairings including business, cognitive science, criminal justice, and more.

“At the University of Evansville, our core purpose is to provide students with life transforming educational experiences that prepare them to engage the world as informed, ethical, and productive citizens,” said Tom Kazee, UE’s president. “This program is truly a curricular expression of the essence of a UE education.”

Students majoring in other areas may double major by adding the ethics and social change major or can choose to minor in the program.

“We expect that this program will appeal to a wide variety of students because of its flexibility and application across careers,” said Kretz. “The major facilitates an academic experience tailored to students’ career goals, passions, and values.”

To learn more about the new ethics and social change program at the University of Evansville, please call the office of admission at 812-488-2468 or visit the Ethics and Social Change page on UE's website. 

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