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

Status: Free

Erasmus University Rotterdam

지속 가능한 금융의 원칙

Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Corporate Sustainability, Business Ethics, Asset Management, Finance, Corporate Communications, Risk Management, Business Strategy, Insurance, Stakeholder Management, Business Modeling, Environmental Policy

Status: Free

University of Pennsylvania

사회적 영향을 위한 비즈니스 전략

Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Philanthropy, Corporate Sustainability, Strategic Leadership, Business Strategies, Strategic Thinking, Return On Investment, Business Metrics, Business Planning, Business Modeling, Business Ethics, Organizational Leadership, Sustainability Reporting, Socioeconomics, Investment Management, Investments, Governance, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Performance Measurement, Cost Benefit Analysis

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

Données pour l'efficacité des politiques publiques

Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Policy Development, Policy Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Tree Maps, Data Analysis, Data Collection, Data Management, Program Evaluation, Data Quality, Research

Status: Free

Google Cloud

Introduction to Responsible AI - 한국어

Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Accountability, Business Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Governance, Organizational Strategy, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Decision Making, Needs Assessment

Google Cloud

Introduction to Gemini for Google Workspace - Français

Skills you'll gain: Google Workspace, Generative AI, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Data Ethics

Tecnológico de Monterrey

ChatGPT - Usos e Estratégias

Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, OpenAI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Business Ethics, Education and Training, Communication, Productivity Software, Natural Language Processing, Content Creation, Innovation

Google Cloud

Responsible AI: Applying AI Principles with GC - 繁體中文

Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Business Ethics, Google Cloud Platform, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Auditing, Compliance Auditing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Accountability, Continuous Improvement Process, Safety and Security

Google Cloud

Innovating with Google Cloud Artificial Intelligence - Français

Skills you'll gain: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Google Cloud Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Data Ethics, Business Process Automation, Data Quality, Business Intelligence, Machine Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Cloud API, Natural Language Processing, Image Analysis

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence

Skills you'll gain: Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Data Ethics, Advanced Analytics, Business Process Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Robotic Process Automation, Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies, Cloud Computing, Internet Of Things, Cybersecurity

Status: Free

Fundação Instituto de Administração

Strategic Marketing

Skills you'll gain: Marketing Planning, Strategic Marketing, Global Marketing, Business-To-Consumer, Marketing, Business Strategy, Marketing Strategy and Techniques, Consumer Behaviour, Value Propositions, B2B Sales, Business Ethics, Customer Insights, Market Research, Culture Transformation

Google Cloud

Responsible AI: Applying AI Principles with GC - 简体中文

Skills you'll gain: Governance, Data Ethics, Business Ethics, Compliance Management, Google Cloud Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Accountability, Auditing, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Stakeholder Engagement, Continuous Improvement Process

Status: Free

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Eye tracking y el estudio de la percepción visual

Skills you'll gain: Research Design, Report Writing, Experimentation, Research, Scientific Methods, Research Methodologies, Technical Writing, Design Research, Usability Testing, Data Analysis, Usability, Data Ethics, Human Computer Interaction, User Research, Data Collection, Anatomy

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