What are ethics, and why are they important to learn about?

Ethics is the system of principles that determine whether the behavior of a person or organization is right or wrong from the perspective of morality and society. An understanding of ethics is important in our personal lives as well as in business and public life, where ethical leadership can inspire and motivate your team - and unethical actions can permanently tarnish the way you or your company is perceived, or even have legal repercussions. While fundamental principles of ethics have been a subject of moral philosophy since the days of Aristotle, the modern era has led to countless questions about the ethical use of new technologies. For instance, the convergence of the internet, social media, and data science has made privacy and the proper use of individuals’ data an important subject for business ethics. Similarly, many technologists have expressed concern that unethical forms of artificial intelligence (AI) could have harmful consequences for society.

What kinds of careers can I have with a background in ethics?

Strong principles of business ethics and an understanding of the power of ethical leadership can be an asset for any career in management. Many people want to work for companies that are helping to make positive change in the world - and very few want to work for or with an actively unethical organization. Being able to give voice to values and establishing yourself as an ethical leader can help attract and retain top talent as well as align and motivate your team to success. As our society becomes more and more dependent on the internet and artificial intelligence (AI), the ethics of the development, deployment, and use of these emerging technologies is becoming a critical subject of discussion in universities and tech companies around the world. Data scientists and AI engineers are thus increasingly expected to have a background in the potential ethical issues surrounding their work. According to Glassdoor , AI Engineers earn an average annual salary of $114,121.

Can I learn about ethics by taking online courses on Coursera?

Yes. Whether you want to learn about ethics from a personal or philosophical interest or to inform your career, Coursera offers a range of courses to fit your needs. You can learn remotely from top-ranked institutions from around the world, including Yale University, University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, the University of Lausanne, and the University of Amsterdam, all for a significantly lower tuition than on-campus students. You can even get a professional certificate in the ethics of technology through Coursera and CertNexus, giving you a valuable credential for careers in tech.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn ethics?

Good reading skills are typically the main skill you need to have before starting to study ethics. This is because the concepts can be complex and cases studies can contain a number of details to consider. Compassion for others can be useful because it might help you to consider how others would feel in a given situation. Critical thinking skills can also typically help you when learning about ethics. A background in philosophy can support the ethics topics you may choose to study. Business courses may also provide some background that you can quickly apply to topics you study in the field of ethics.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in ethics?

People who care more about doing what’s right than they care about making popular decisions are typically best suited for roles in ethics. These are often people who show respect for others even if they don’t agree with them, and people who treat others fairly without showing any type of bias. People who are honest and who lead by example are also often well suited to ethics roles. These may be people who enjoy exploring historical events or who study business areas like international trade, in which companies can make unethical blunders based on lack of knowledge about local customs or environmental issues.

What are common career paths for someone in ethics?

Some common career paths for someone in ethics include the health field and the legal field. These fields typically require people who have a high level of ethics due to the complexity of cases and the amount of privacy regulations involved. Education and research are two fields that can provide career paths for someone who studies ethics. Compliance specialists and ethics managers are two more paths that typically fall under the ethics topic. Ethics analysts and social services case workers also generally require a solid understanding of ethics.

What types of places hire people with a background in ethics?

Public service agencies and charitable organizations typically hire people who understand and practice ethics. Additionally, companies that engage in international trade and that need business management professionals can sometimes specifically seek out corporate social responsibility professionals to support ethical business practices. Tech companies like AI developers can hire ethics professionals. Additionally, marketing firms and accounting firms can seek out employees who have ethics training.

What are the benefits of taking an online Ethics course?

Online Ethics courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Ethics skills. Choose from a wide range of Ethics courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Ethics courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Ethics, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Ethics Courses - Learn Ethics Online

Explore the Ethics Course Catalog

Parsons School of Design, The New School
Using Design to Generate Innovative Business Solutions
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Process Design, Business Solutions, Service Design, Business Modeling, Business Strategies, Corporate Sustainability, Growth Strategies, Strategic Thinking, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Design, Value Propositions, New Business Development, User Experience, Business Ethics, Sales Process, Customer Insights, User Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Starweaver
Mastering Digital Communication: Effective Online Engagement
Skills you'll gain: Content Creation, Crisis Management, Digital Communications, Social Media Marketing, Strategic Communication, Communication Strategies, Social Media, Digital Marketing, Data Ethics, Target Audience, Social Media Content, Customer Engagement, Email Marketing, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Presentations, Emerging Technologies, Storytelling
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
Introduction to Using Generative AI in Public Health
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Medical Science and Research, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Public Policies, Emerging Technologies, Social Sciences, Data Analysis
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
Organizaciones data-driven: principios y prácticas
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Data Governance, Data Collection, Process Improvement, Data Strategy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Performance Improvement, Data Visualization Software, Data Management, Agile Project Management, Business Intelligence, Data Infrastructure, Organizational Leadership, Business Leadership, Strategic Decision-Making, Project Management, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Data Ethics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Meta
Princípios básicos da publicidade em mídias sociais
Skills you'll gain: Instagram, Regulation and Legal Compliance, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Personally Identifiable Information, Social Media, Marketing Materials, Social Media Management, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Advertising Campaigns, Social Media Content, Facebook, Information Privacy, Social Media Strategy, Data Ethics, Content Creation, Marketing, Media Buying, Copywriting, Data Collection
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Cybersecurity Analysts
Skills you'll gain: Cyber Threat Intelligence, Cyber Security Assessment, Cybersecurity, Threat Detection, Incident Response, Cyber Operations, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Security Testing, Vulnerability Assessments
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
AI in Workforce Management
Skills you'll gain: Workforce Management, Human Resource Strategy, Workflow Management, Human Resources, Workforce Planning, Business Process Automation, HR Tech, Performance Improvement, Strategic Decision-Making, Operational Efficiency, Business Process Improvement, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Employee Engagement, Performance Analysis, Business Strategy, Business Ethics, Compliance Management
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Introduction to Generative AI in Human Resources
Skills you'll gain: HR Tech, Human Resources, Data Ethics, Generative AI, Recruitment, Talent Recruitment, Employee Engagement, Artificial Intelligence, Human Resource Strategy, Employee Performance Management, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Data-Driven Decision-Making
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Fractal Analytics
Generative AI in User Research and Design Thinking
Skills you'll gain: User Research, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Generative AI, Data Synthesis, Artificial Intelligence, User Experience, Persona (User Experience), User Flows, Customer Insights, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Data Collection, Business Ethics, Ethical Standards And Conduct
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Glasgow
Clinical Decision Support Systems - CDSS 4
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Information Privacy, Data Validation, Decision Support Systems, Predictive Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Analysis, Human Centered Design, Data Mining, Artificial Neural Networks
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California San Diego
Teaching Impacts of Technology: Global Society
Skills you'll gain: Pedagogy, Blockchain, Data Ethics, Teaching, Emerging Technologies, Computer Networking, Internet Of Things, Instructional Strategies, Cybersecurity, Information Privacy, Encryption, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Social Studies, Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Crafting AI Identities: Strategies & Ethical Considerations
Skills you'll gain: Information Privacy, User Research, Persona (User Experience), Diversity and Inclusion, User Experience Design, Artificial Intelligence, Accountability, Human Machine Interfaces, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Business Ethics, Multimedia, User Centered Design
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks