Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
2011-2012 Ethics Data
Research in Progress
(based upon data from 2010–11 course catalogs and faculty communication)
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Emerson Listed Courses | 802 | 100 |
| 2. Emerson Ethics Courses (Lines 3+4) | 80 | 10 |
| 3. Courses with Ethics in the Title | 12 | 2 |
| 4. Courses with Ethics Explicit Content in Course Descriptions | 68 | 8 |
| 5. Total Number of Academic Units (Department/Institute) | 8 | 100 |
| 6. Number of Units Offering Courses with Ethics in the Title | 4 | 50 |
| 7. Number of Units Offering Courses with Ethics Content in Course Description | 8 | 100 |
| 8. Number of Units with ≥ 10% of Courses with Ethics in the Title | 1 | 13 |
|
9. Number of Units with ≥ 5% of Courses with Ethics in the Title |
2 | 25 |
|
10. Number of Units with ≥ 2% of Courses with Ethics in the Title |
4 | 50 |
|
11. Number of Units with ≥ 10% of Courses with Explicit Ethics Content in the Course Description |
4 | 50 |
|
12. Number of Units with ≥ 5% of Courses with Explicit Ethics Content in the Course Description |
6 | 75 |
| Total Courses (Undergraduate) | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Undergraduate courses listed | 573 | 100 |
| 2. Courses with "ethics" in the title | 9 | 2 |
|
3. Courses with explicit ethics content (in course or faculty description) |
54 | 9 |
| 4. Total "ethics" courses (Lines 2+3) | 63 | 11 |
| Total Courses (Graduate) | ||
| 1. Graduate courses listed* | 229 | 100 |
| 2. Courses with "ethics" in title | 3 | 1 |
| 2a. Courses with "ethics" in title (if 500 level courses included) | 3 | 1 |
|
3. Courses with explicit ethics* content (in course or faculty description) |
19 | 8 |
|
3a. Courses with explicit ethics* content (if 500 level courses included) |
23 | 10 |
| 4. Total "ethics courses" (Lines 2+3)* | 22 | 10 |
|
4a. Total "ethics courses" if 500 level courses are included (Lines 2a+3a) |
26 | 11 |
*Not including 500 level courses already counted as undergraduate courses.
Departmental and School Undergraduate Ethics Offerings 2010–11
School of the Arts |
|||
| Department | Total School and Dept. Catalog Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Title Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Description Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Performing Arts |
144 |
0 (0%) |
1 (1%) |
| Undergraduate | 118 | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) |
| Graduate | 26 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
|
Visual & Media Arts |
151 |
3 (25%) |
19 (25%) |
| Undergraduate | 121 | 2 (17%) | 15 (20%) |
| Graduate | 30 | 1 (8%) | 4 (5%) |
|
Writing, Literature & Publishing |
111 |
1 (8%) |
4 (5%) |
| Undergraduate | 65 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Graduate | 46 | 1 (8%) | 4 (5%) |
|
School of the Arts (Subtotal) |
406 |
4 (34%) |
24 (31%) |
| Undergraduate | 304 | 2 (17%) | 16 (21%) |
| Graduate | 102 | 2 (17%) | 8 (10%) |
|
|||
| Department | Total School and Dept. Catalog Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Title Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Description Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Communication Science & Disorders |
97 |
0 (0%) |
4 (5%) |
| Undergraduate | 54 | 0 (0%) | 3 (4%) |
| Graduate | 43 | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) |
|
Communication Studies |
78 |
6 (50%) |
22 (29%) |
| Undergraduate | 55 | 6 (50%) | 17 (22%) |
| Graduate | 23 | 0 (0%) | 5 (7%) |
|
Journalism |
90 |
2 (16%) |
12 (16%) |
| Undergraduate | 61 | 1 (8%) | 7 (9%) |
| Graduate | 29 | 1 (8%) | 5 (7%) |
|
Marketing Communication |
73 |
0 (0%) |
9 (12%) |
| Undergraduate | 41 | 0 (0%) | 5 (7%) |
| Graduate | 32 | 0 (0%) | 4 (5%) |
|
School of Communication (Subtotal) |
338 |
8 (66%) |
47 (61%) |
| Undergraduate | 211 | 7 (58%) | 32 (42%) |
| Graduate | 127 | 1 (8%) | 15 (19%) |
|
Department |
Total School and Dept Catalog Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Title Courses | Number (Percent) of Emerson Ethics Description Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute | 59 |
0 (0%) |
6 (8%) |
| Undergraduate | 59 | 0 (0%) | 6 (8%) |
| Graduate | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
General Education
There are nine undergraduate courses which count as ethics and values perspectives courses as one of Emerson College’s general education requirements. Eight of these (89%) are taught within the Communication Studies department, seven (78%) of which are listed as PH (philosophy) courses and one (11%) as PO (political communication). One (11%) ethics and values perspective course is taught as an Honors course within the Institute. Thus, with the exception of the one Honors course, all Ethics and Values Perspectives courses are currently taught within the School of Communication.
NOTE ON METHODS: All data above is based upon the current undergraduate and graduate catalogs as well as input about courses by participating faculty. This is draft data and most numbers (other than percentages) are likely to be lower than the actual number of ethics courses being taught since some faculty have not participated and, of these, some may be teaching ethics modules or segments within their classes without so indicating within their course descriptions. Courses which are in development and being piloted are not included. Data regarding “free standing” courses with the word “ethics “ in their title should reveal a high degree of accuracy. The data does not take into account class size, student level (e.g. sophomore or junior), nor the number of sections per course.
(Data compiled by Dr. Tom Cooper and VMA graduate student Qinshu Zuo, September 2011 – February, 2012)
contact the ethics circle
To participate in the Ethics Circle as a regular or occasional guest, contact Tom Cooper at 617-824-8812.
