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

LearnKartS
Certified Ethical Hacking (v12)
Skills you'll gain: Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks, Cloud Security, Penetration Testing, Network Security, Malware Protection, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Mobile Security, Application Security, Cyber Attacks, Cyber Security Assessment, Security Testing, Threat Detection, Information Systems Security, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Virtualization, Firewall, Vulnerability Assessments, Threat Modeling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
143 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Stanford University
Writing in the Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Grant Writing, Peer Review, Technical Writing, Technical Communication, Writing, Journals, Editing, Science and Research, Grammar, Proofreading, Storytelling, Data Ethics
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
9.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing
Skills you'll gain: Auditing, Internal Controls, Financial Auditing, External Auditing, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, Internal Auditing, Financial Controls, Compliance Auditing, Verification And Validation, Risk Analysis, Business Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Investigation, Risk Management, Probability & Statistics
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
254 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Ethical Issues in AI and Professional Ethics
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Diversity Awareness, Generative AI, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Cultural Diversity, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Social Justice, Machine Learning, Algorithms
Build toward a degree
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
Key Technologies for Business
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Services, Cloud Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Mining, Cloud Platforms, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Cloud Storage, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Big Data, Emerging Technologies, Data Analysis, Data Science, Deep Learning, Digital Transformation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
97K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Northeastern University
Intro to Managing Ethics in the Workplace & Marketplace
Skills you'll gain: Business Ethics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Health Care Administration, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Patient Safety, Decision Making, Risk Management, Business Management, Conflict Management, Organizational Strategy, Business Strategy
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Johns Hopkins University
COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Skills you'll gain: Interviewing Skills, Infection Control, Rapport Building, Interpersonal Communications, Epidemiology, Data Ethics, Community Outreach, Infectious Diseases, Investigation, Patient Assistance, Case Management, Medical Science and Research, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Risk Analysis, Medical Terminology, Emerging Technologies
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
95K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
IBM & Darden Digital Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Digital Transformation, Business Strategy, Cloud Computing Architecture, Competitive Analysis, Cloud Services, Business Transformation, Cloud Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Big Data, Cloud Platforms, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Apache Hadoop, Product Lifecycle Management, Business Technologies
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
42K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google Cloud
Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Google Cloud Platform, Business Ethics, Application Development, Accountability, Compliance Training, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Governance, Organizational Effectiveness, Machine Learning, Project Design, Decision Making, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning Methods, Corporate Strategy, Performance Tuning, Business Leadership
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.8K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
CertNexus
Promote the Ethical Use of Data-Driven Technologies
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Emerging Technologies, Business Ethics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Big Data, Information Privacy, Personally Identifiable Information, Diversity Awareness, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
256 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: [object Object]
IBM
IBM AI Product Manager
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, New Product Development, Product Management, Product Development, Innovation, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Roadmaps, ChatGPT, Product Planning, Commercialization, Product Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Project Management Life Cycle, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Product Marketing, Stakeholder Management, Competitive Analysis, Product Testing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
IBM AI Foundations for Business
Skills you'll gain: Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, Information Architecture, Strategic Decision-Making, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science, Deep Learning, Digital Transformation, Data Strategy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Artificial Neural Networks, Business Strategy, Business Process Automation, ChatGPT
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
90K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months