Course Syllabus

Summer 2027 | PHI-1040-VO03 - Introduction to Ethics

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Mercedes Pour-Previti
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Heath Fuller

General Education Requirements

Humanistic Perspectives

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course examines personal and professional issues from an ethical point of view, emphasizing how we decide what is right and wrong in our daily lives. Issues might include: civil rights, health care, political concerns, business decisions, war, and the environment.

Essential Objectives

1. Explain the basic concepts of classical and contemporary theories in ethics as they pertain to right and wrong, the individual and society, objectivity and subjectivity, happiness and suffering, free will, and fate.
2. Discuss the ideas of selected theorists, the methods they used to develop their ideas, and the cultural factors which influenced their theories.
3. Identify and describe the major influences in our society which shape our values.
4. Apply ethical theories of decision making and critical thinking skills to problems of social justice and propose just solutions.
5. Apply the basic concepts of classical and contemporary theories in ethics to the field of business and professional ethics.
6. Develop an ethical framework for defining and addressing issues in one's own life.
7. Describe his or her own decision-making process.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

An introductory ethics class will be engaging for many different kinds of students. Those who love to simply pursue knowledge (“philo” – love; “sophos” – wisdom) will enjoy the classical readings and epistemology. Those interested in modern politics and social justice will find the tools to both understand and advocate for their ideas. Anyone who has more college study in their future will find that a philosophy course makes you a more powerful and capable writer. And for those who simply find themselves here, hopefully this course enables you to be a more engaged and compassionate citizen in our complex world.

There are no prerequisites for this class, but students should be confident in their reading and writing skills.

We will spend some time exploring the ethical landscape and argument procedures so that we are able to frame each question rationally and begin our discussions from a shared starting point. From that foundation we will move into the classical ethical theories while always exploring their modern relevance. It is imperative that all members of this class realize that we are going to have to tackle issues which may involve faith, traditional belief, cultural sensitivities, and some personal experience. Respect for all voices is paramount; an open mind is essential.

As an online class, we will obviously gather virtually - but a lot of the work you do will be almost physical. You will need to read materials carefully, view streamed lectures and videos critically and carefully, write academic essays and posts, and keep notes of all this activity so that you are ready to share your insights with your peers. My responsibilities also include posting the following: "terms" of week so we all learn to use and understand a new vocabulary of ethics, mini-video introductions of each week's topic, frequent and timely response to both your work in discussion forums and your written assignments, and honest and constructive feedback on your writing and ideas.

In order to explore this topic we must first agree that this course will be a bit different than other courses. The topic demands your participation and your contributions. For that reason, your “presence” in the discussion forum is paramount to your success in this course, and I will use your participation in the discussion board to log your attendance. The community you create will be the best place to wrestle with different ideas, learn to handle opposite viewpoints, and perhaps find new ways of looking at complex issues.

As this is in an online course, expect the amount of personal work to be serious, but not overwhelming. You will be reading and writing every week and should really work to stay current if not ahead of the reading in order to be successful. You have all assignments outlined or planned below so should be able to plan around any significant busy times in your own lives. As this is an online course I need to be rather firm with deadlines – for both your benefit and mine. Any late written work (essays/exams) is automatically graded a full point lower for every day it is late and will not be accepted a week past the due date. Discussions forums are only counted if posted within the week; participation outside of week is not graded. However, since we are all adults and realize that life does happen, know that if you do have a personal emergency you can always email me before the work is due.

In terms of the actual methods we will use to explore this topic, you can expect:

· Weekly microlectures which may or may not include a powerpoint.

· Assigned reading/viewings almost every week (which I expect you to keep notes on).

· Discussion forums weekly (except in major assignment weeks).

· Writing posts, one independent presentation, and a few short quizzes (outlined below).

· Regular visits and interaction with the course and your peers through Canvas. I do expect everyone to be on the site and active at least three times a week for a total minimum of three hours.

· Interaction with your instructor either by email, Canvas message, or phone as you feel is needed.

* Please note: THERE IS NO traditional TEXTBOOK FOR THIS CLASS. This class will be taught exclusively with Open Source and Hartness Library materials. You will need reliable and ready access to a good internet connection. If you think you need the structure and traditional support of a text, please choose one of the other sections of Introduction to Ethics.**

I do reserve the right to shift this syllabus slightly as the course progresses if our class situation warrants so.

Evaluation Criteria

Please know that this course runs Tuesday - Monday night. Work must be posted before 12 am on Tuesday to be considered submitted in the week prior. However, in the forums below take note of the due dates of original posts and responses.

In anticipation of internet/computer/access issues please have a backup plan. Know where you can access a computer and/or internet in your community and utilize multiple backup options. Your local CCV and libraries are great resources. Extensions for computer issues do not exist.

35% Discussion Forum:Most weeks I will pose a question or questions on the week’s topic. In your response, I ask that you demonstrate that you have done the readings or the viewings, have thought critically about the issues at hand, and are attempting to share your experiences to further the group discussion. This is where I am looking for you to use the week's readings or viewings to inform your answers to posted questions or discussion topics. This forum is a bit more informal - though all writing should have a tone fitting for professional exchange(No "text-language" - though the occasional smiley face helps to alleviate any miscommunication in our online community). I drop your lowest grade in this forum (so you can miss or goof one week without worries). In order to earn full credit in this forum:

• the original post must be a minimum of a full paragraph piece 250-400 words
• you must have at least two responses to your peers which approach short paragraphs (simple affirmations will not earn full credit; you need to move the discussion forward.)
• you must use your peers' names when you respond to them

Discussions only count if posted within the week they are due. In order to receive full credit and allow time for your peers to comment, please post by Friday night.

25% Posts (both public Forums and private Journals):Most weeks I ask you to post a more formal reflection on the week’s topic. This is a writing you compose and then post for your peers to read (post forum) or post privately to the instructor (journal post) depending on the week's question and topic. I would expect these posts to be one – two short paragraphs (minimum of 250 words) and demonstrate both mastery and familiarity with topics, readings, and viewings from the weeks prior. This is where I will expect you to begin to synthesize your thoughts as we move through the course. Posts only count if posted within the week they are due. In order to receive full credit please post by Sunday night.There are no replies required for this forum.

Both of the forums above will be graded according to their respective descriptions, these minimum expectations, and the following rubric:

1. Directly address the prompt

2. Include course grounded evidence

   • Meaningful incorporatation of2+ references from the week’s assigned materials.
   • Limit quotations to ≤10% of your post; paraphrase in your own words
   • Concrete connection to context/content/module/topic at hand
   • Language and concepts of course thus far are evident

3. Length & structure

   • Original post:250–400 words (clear paragraphs with full sentences).
   • Peer replies (at least 2):100–150 words each; advance the discussion (pose a question, add evidence, offer a counterpoint, or synthesize).

4. Timeliness & interaction

   • Original post by the deadline stated in the syllabus/Canvas
   • Replies (2 minimum) completed by the end of week deadline to allow dialogue (not for post forum)

5. Professional tone & netiquette

   • Respectful, inclusive, and academic language; correct grammar and mechanics.

6. Academic integrity & AI transparency (required statement)

   • If any AI tool was used (for brainstorming, outlining, proofreading, etc.), include a brief AI Transparency Note at the end of your post that states:
     • Tool(s) used andexact purpose
     • What text is fully your own
     • How you verified accuracy(e.g., doublechecked definitions/timestamps/page numbers)
   • Undisclosed or AI-generated content presented as your own may result in a 0 and academic integrity referral per the syllabus.

Overall Scoring Caps:

Missing peer replies = -3 points regardless of original post quality

Materials or post that seem not to match course context without a reference = -3 regardless of post quality

Missing course references = -3 regardless of post quality

AI generated response without transparency note = 0 regardless of post accuracy. If i get a similar output from AI as you post; I will assume AI generation.

10 points — Superior

• Timeliness: Original post and ≥2 replies meet deadlines and foster ongoing conversation.
• Prompt alignment: Fully addresses all parts of the prompt; references the question(s) explicitly.
• Course integration: 2+ precise references to assigned materials
• Evidence & analysis: Accurately interprets course concepts and applies them to a concrete, well-explained example; demonstrates original synthesis(e.g., compares frameworks, integrates sources).
• Writing quality: Clear, well-organized, minimal errors; professional tone.
• Replies: Substantive (builds, challenges with reasons, introduces new source/idea, or synthesizes peers’ points)
• Integrity: Proper paraphrasing and citations; AI Transparency Note included if applicable.

8–9 points — Strong

• Timeliness: Meets deadlines for original post and replies.
• Prompt alignment: Addresses most prompt elements.
• Course integration: At least one course references with correct anchors and accurate concept use.
• Evidence & analysis: Solid application to a relevant example; shows understanding, though synthesis or comparative insight may be lighter.
• Writing quality: Organized and generally polished; tone appropriate.
• Replies: Two on time replies that extend the conversation (some analysis or a meaningful question).
• Integrity: AI transparency provided if applicable; minor citation gaps at most.

6–7 points — Satisfactory

• Timeliness: Original post is late or replies are on time but minimal; interaction is present but limited.
• Prompt alignment: Responds to the prompt or shows completion of materials, but not both robustly.
• Course integration: At least one reference to course materials, though anchors may be partial or concept use is somewhat generic.
• Evidence & analysis: Basic explanation with limited application or originality; example may be brief or underdeveloped.
• Writing quality: Understandable but with organization/grammar issues; tone acceptable.
• Replies: Minimal agreement/disagreement with little elaboration; may lack course tieins.
• Integrity: No signs of plagiarism; AI transparency missing only if no AI was used.

4–5 points — Developing

• Timeliness: Late original postorfewer than required replies; limited interaction window.
• Prompt alignment: Misses key parts of the prompt.
• Course integration: Little to no specific course reference or anchoring ; concepts are named incorrectly or used vaguely.
• Evidence & analysis: Assertions lack support; examples are generic or off-topic.
• Writing quality: Noticeable organization/grammar problems; tone may be informal.
• Replies: Minimal or perfunctory; does not advance dialogue.
• Integrity:Citation practices weak; no AI transparency despite usage suspected (warning/penalty per policy).

2–3 points — Minimal

• Timeliness: Late and/or only nominal participation.
• Prompt alignment: Barely engages with the question.
• Course integration: No meaningful references to course materials.
• Evidence & analysis: Little to no reasoning; offtopic or repetitive content.
• Writing quality: Inappropriate tone or frequent errors that impede understanding.
• Replies: Missing or clearly perfunctory.
• Integrity: Questionable originality; likely AI-like generalities with no anchors.

0–1 points — Unacceptable

• No participation or plagiarized content (including uncredited AI generated text).
• Missing AI Transparency Note despite evidence of AI use.
• Fails to meet basic community standards (disrespectful language, academic dishonesty).

20% Weekly Quizzes (5%) & Final Exam (15%):Quizzes are typically multiple-choice and a maximum of 5 questions. These are just designed to make sure we are all earning the vocabulary/themes and able to apply them appropriately. The final exam will consist of short answer, vocabulary, and some content-related questions.

20% Independent Project:One narrated virtual presentation on a topic or case study in bioethics.

Please know that work posted beyond the week it is due will not be graded (without prior excused absence). This class does not have extra credit.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

In order to explore this topic, we must first agree that this course will be a bit different than other courses. The topic demands your participation and your contributions. For that reason, your “presence” on the different forums is paramount to your success in this course, and I will use your participation in the discussion board to log your attendance. Engaging with your peer and our topics in the forums is central to this course. That is where most students create meaningful connections to our course content.

Our weeks run from Tuesday to Monday night this semester. Any participation in a forum after Monday night does not count toward the previous week. Since this is an accelerated course, missing even one week has a significant impact on your grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

You have all assignments outlined or planned below so should be able to plan around any significant busy times in your own lives. As this is an accelrated online course I need to be rather firm with deadlines – for both your benefit and mine. Any late work is automatically graded lower for every day it is late and will not be accepted a week past the due date. However, since we are all adults and realize that life does happen, know that if you do have a personal emergency you can always email me before the work is due. As a rule, late work is not graded without communication; there is no "extra credit" in this course as there are many ways to earn credit.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/student-support/accessibility-services/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.