Program in Values and Public Life
Director
Melissa S. Lane
Executive Committee
Kwame Anthony Appiah, Philosophy, University Center for Human Values
Charles R. Beitz, Politics
Sandra L. Bermann, Comparative Literature
John M. Cooper, Philosophy
Christopher L. Eisgruber, Woodrow Wilson School, University Center for Human Values
Elizabeth Harman, Philosophy, University Center for Human Values
Kim Lane Scheppele, Woodrow Wilson School, Sociology, University Center for Human Values
Melissa S. Lane, Politics
Stephen J. Macedo, Politics, University Center for Human Values
Jan-Werner Müller, Politics
Alan W. Patten, Politics
Philip N. Pettit, Politics, University Center for Human Values
Peter A. Singer, University Center for Human Values
Michael A. Smith, Philosophy
The Program in Values and Public Life, an undergraduate interdisciplinary certificate program offered by the University Center for Human Values, focuses on modes of inquiry into important ethical issues in public life. The program helps students develop competence in pursuing such inquiries generally and supports them in applying these intellectual skills to the advanced analysis of one or more related topics. Students attaining the certificate will be equipped to bring informed discussion of values into the public sphere and to integrate a critical value perspective into their future studies and pursuits. The program is open to undergraduates of all disciplines.
Admission to the Program
Students interested in applying to the program are advised to begin to consider their interests and a tentative course of study as early as possible, which they are encouraged to do in consultation with the program director. In 2010-11, as the program is launched, most students will apply in the fall of their junior year; sophomores may also apply. In the future, students normally will apply at the end of their sophomore year.
Students will be considered for admission upon meeting the following prerequisites: submission of an essay describing the rationale for completing the certificate and plans for the junior and senior year; an interview with the program director about this rationale; completion of at least one of the core courses (PHI 202, WWS 301, or POL 307) by the end of sophomore year with a grade of B+ or higher; a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall. A faculty committee of the University Center for Human Values will determine admission.
Program of Study
To qualify for a program certificate, students are required to complete three core courses, two thematic courses, and independent work as described below.
Core Courses (3 courses):
Students must take: (1) PHI 202 Introduction to Moral Philosophy (also CHV 202); (2) either WWS 301 Ethics and Public Policy (also CHV 301, POL 308) or POL 307 The Just Society; (3) a Junior/Senior Seminar in Values and Public Life, or if necessary, another seminar on normative issues approved by the program director.
Thematic Courses (2 courses):
Students must identify an area of focus and take 2 courses with an explicit values component related to it, chosen by the student in consultation with the program director. Some illustrative focus areas (or "themes") are:
public morality
Independent Work. Students will write a senior thesis (or, in exceptional circumstances, another substantial piece of independent work) on a normative topic approved by both the director of the program and the student's department of concentration. Students will be expected to participate in a senior thesis colloquium convened by the program.
Note: no more than two of the courses used to satisfy the course requirements for the student's concentration may also be counted toward satisfaction of the course requirements for the values and public life program certificate.
Certificate of Proficiency
Students who fulfill the requirements of the program receive a certificate of proficiency in values and public life studies upon graduation.