by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Applied & Professional Ethics involves the study of Applied And Professional Ethics. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of Ethical Issues In The Workplace And Public Life, And The Application Of Ethical Decision-Making To The Practical Problems Of Society And The Professions. Includes Instruction In Ethical Theory; History Of Ethics; Contemporary Social Dilemmas; Methods In Applied Ethics; And Applications Including Medical Ethics, Legal Ethics, Business Ethics, Environmental Ethics, And Criminal Justice Ethics. Examples: [Applied Ethics], [Professional Ethics], [Engineering Ethics]. Continue reading for the key facts every applied & professional ethics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering applied & professional ethics programs.
Across the country, applied & professional ethics is a widely-pursued major, with 234 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Applied & Professional Ethics Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for applied & professional ethics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of applied & professional ethics programs later in this article.
Coursework for Applied & Professional Ethics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations applied & professional ethics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a applied & professional ethics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a applied & professional ethics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several applied & professional ethics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 107 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 111 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
People currently working in careers related to applied & professional ethics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 73.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in applied & professional ethics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying applied & professional ethics can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to applied & professional ethics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to applied & professional ethics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of applied & professional ethics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,242 |
| 4 years | $46,522 |
| 5 years | $56,339 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for applied & professional ethics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers applied & professional ethics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
With 26 different applied & professional ethics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased applied & professional ethics school rankings to help you.
Those considering applied & professional ethics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 8,253 |
| Philosophy, Other | 328 |
| Ethics | 147 |
| Logic | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
