Online · College of Arts & Sciences · Philosophy

Applied Ethics in Public Policy

ETHC-324

Summer B 2019 Section B01 05/13/2019 to 07/05/2019 Modified 05/02/2019  Contact Information

See detailed faculty information in Blackboard.  Course Description

The goal of the course is to prepare the Christian public policy specialist to maneuver intellectually in the public square. This course examines the ethical dimensions of policy problems in a manner that addresses the tension between secular society and the traditional Christian faith. It explains the moral foundations of institutions and how conceptions of liberal society seek to define them. The course will equip the student to analyze major secular moral theories employed in policy arguments and to cogently represent the Christian conscience on important policy issues. It will discuss the proper uses of the Bible in formulating policy arguments and the role of science in policy deliberation. In addition, it will illuminate the way in which Christian beliefs may become involved in policy deliberation.

Requisites Prerequisite

ETHC 323

 Rationale

The application of an ethical, Biblical worldview requires an understanding of the actual context in which ethics occur. This course focuses on one such context—the public policy arena—and all that comes with it. The student will understand the challenges of the political arena, and how to make ethical policy decisions.

 Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Examine how conceptions of the liberal society influence the ethical dimension of policy, with particular focus on the tension between Christianity and political Liberalism.

B. Develop analytical skills for assessing and comparing how the most important contemporary, secular, ethical theories interact with public policy analysis and development.

C. Explain a reasonable approach to rational policy analysis that can reasonably be called moral or ethical assessment (i.e. ethical public policy analysis).

D. Formulate reasonable ethical positions on public policy that give due consideration to the historical Christian conscience.

E. Defend the employment of Christian commitments (metaphysics) in conducting ethical public policy analyses on a representative

array of policy issues.

 Course Resources

Required Resources

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The resources below are provided in the course at no cost to the student:

Mitchell, Basil. Why Social Policy Cannot Be Morally Neutral. London: Social Affairs Unit, 1989.

Monsma, Steve. Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

Additional Materials for Learning

A. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

B. Internet access (broadband recommended)

C. Blackboard recommended browsers (https://liberty.service-now.com/kb_view.do?

sys_kb_id=38a8e4bd75c210c0b9a9ec15cb9606a2)

D. Microsoft Office

E. Turabian Writing Guide: https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/turabian/

(https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/turabian/)

 Course Assignments

  Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.

Discussion Board Forums (4)

Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be 450–500 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and contain at least 3 references from required readings and at least 2 biblical integrations. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–250 words, and contain at least 1 reference and a biblical integration.

Focused Ethical Policy Analyses (3)

For each essay, the student will write a 750–1000-word analysis-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on a topic provided by the instructor. Each paper must include at least 6 scholarly references from the required reading and 3 biblical references.

Ethical Public Policy Analysis

The student will write a 1,500–1,750-word analysis-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on a topic provided by the instructor. The paper must include at least 6 scholarly references from the required reading and 3 biblical references.

 Course Grading

Course Requirements Checklist

10

Discussion Board Forums (4 at 100 pts ea) 400

Focused Ethical Policy Analysis (3 at 150 pts ea)

450

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Ethical Public Policy Analysis (full) 150

Total

 Course Policies

1010

 Policies

Late Assignment Policy

Course Assignments, including discussion boards, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email. Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive a 10% deduction.

2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive a 20% deduction.

3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted.

4. Group projects, including group discussion board threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due

date.

Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.

Instructor Feedback and Response Time

Responses to student emails will be provided within 36 hours and assignment feedback will be given within 5 days from the assignment due date.

Disability Assistance

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu for accommodations. Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition. For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at equityandcompliance@liberty.edu. Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

Course Attendance

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion board posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

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Grading Scale

ABCDF

900-1010 800-899 700-799 600-699 0-599

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

Add/Drop Policy

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory

(https://wiki.liberty.edu/display/IE/Dropping+and+Adding+Online+Classes). Honor Code

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/community-life/graduate-and-online- students/.

 Schedule

                      ETHC 324

Textbooks: Mitchell, Why Social Policy Cannot Be Morally Neutral (1989).

Monsma, Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy (2008).

Points

10 0 100

Module/Week Reading\&Study Assignments

    1

Monsma: ch. 1 4 presentations 4 websites

Course Requirements Checklist

Class Introductions DB Forum 1

   2

Monsma: ch. 6 4 presentations 3 websites

Essay 1

150

4 of 5

      3

2 presentations 1 website

1 PDF

DB Forum 2

100

   4

Monsma: chs. 2–5 3 presentations

1 website

Essay 2

150

     5

Mitchell: entire book Monsma: ch. 10

3 presentations

1 website

DB Forum 3

100

     6

Monsma: chs. 11– 12

6 presentations 4 websites

Essay 3

150

    7

Monsma: chs. 8–9 3 presentations

1 website

DB Forum 4

100

   8

Monsma: ch. 7 6 presentations 4 websites

Ethical Public Policy Analysis

150

Total 1010

DB = Discussion Board

NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.

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