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

Edureka
Generative AI's Applications in Marketing Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Generative AI, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Effectiveness, Feature Engineering, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Personally Identifiable Information, Predictive Analytics, Customer Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Emerging Technologies, Personalized Service, Data Cleansing
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
Introduction to Social Computing
Skills you'll gain: Behavioral Economics, Analytics, Network Analysis, Media and Communications, Socioeconomics, Social Sciences, Sociology, Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Research, Human Computer Interaction, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Data Collection, Game Theory, Psychology
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Evaluating Large Language Model Outputs: A Practical Guide
Skills you'll gain: Program Evaluation, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Google Cloud Platform, Natural Language Processing, Quality Assessment, Analysis, Performance Measurement, Business Metrics, Human Factors, Performance Metric
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Software Engineering Teams
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Tools, Software Development Methodologies, Agile Project Management, Agile Methodology, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Tools, Data Ethics, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Fractal Analytics
Generative AI - Your Personal Code Reviewer
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Code Review, Debugging, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Program Development, Data Processing, Maintainability, Applied Machine Learning, Data Cleansing, Computer Programming, Natural Language Processing
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Adobe
Multichannel Content Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Channel, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Effectiveness, Digital Marketing, Campaign Management, Marketing Automation, Lead Generation, Marketing Analytics, Market Research, Presentations, Advertising Campaigns, Integrated Marketing Communications, Competitive Analysis, Performance Metric, Brand Strategy, Emerging Technologies, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Ethics
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
University of Maryland, College Park
Cómo combinar y analizar datos complejos
Skills you'll gain: Data Integration, Data Ethics, R Programming, Data Sharing, Statistical Methods, Statistical Analysis, Sampling (Statistics), Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Descriptive Statistics, Information Privacy
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Ball State University
Introduction to Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Collection, Data Visualization, Probability & Statistics, R Programming, Data Science, Sampling (Statistics), Database Software, Simulations, Data Wrangling, Analytical Skills, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Regression Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Structures
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Fundamentos de analítica de datos educativos
Skills you'll gain: Data Collection, Data Ethics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Strategy, Data Storytelling, Analytics, Looker (Software), Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Information Privacy, Microsoft Excel, Data Security, Ethical Standards And Conduct
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Computer Support Specialists (IT Support)
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Technical Support and Services, Technical Support, Help Desk Support, IT Automation, Self Service Technologies, Data Ethics, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Automation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
Foundations of Neural Networks
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Reinforcement Learning, Generative AI, Debugging, Artificial Intelligence, Unsupervised Learning, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Image Analysis, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Applied Machine Learning, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Network Model, Bayesian Statistics, Network Architecture, Unstructured Data, Linear Algebra
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Scrimba
Intro to Claude AI
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Cloud Development, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Applications, Application Programming Interface (API), Natural Language Processing, Data Ethics, Application Deployment, Image Analysis
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks