Homepage

A group of students posing for a photo in front of a fountain surrounded by red flowers on campus.

Ethics in the 21st Century: Business, Politics and Technology

Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.

Living in the 21st century can feel complicated. The world has undergone a social and technological revolution, leaving many wondering how to live as employees, entrepreneurs, voters, scientists, caregivers, consumers — and human beings. This course considers urgent moral questions facing 21st-century humans using traditional methods of philosophical inquiry, equipping students to be more reflective and ethical members of society through critical thinking, argumentation and writing skills.

Apply Now

Program Overview

In this course, we will consider urgent moral questions while engaging with influential philosophical texts, documentary films and news media.

Students will articulate and defend their positions in structured, respectful debates.

We will also morally assess governmental and business policy decisions, from socioeconomic inequality and immigration policy to meaningful work, data protection and universal basic income.

Group of students seated on tiered steps posing for a group photo.

Key Information

Topics of Study

Critical thinking and logic
Ethical theories
Business ethics
Political philosophy
Ethics of technology

Learning Highlights

Learn influential philosophical thoughts in normative ethics, political philosophy, business ethics and the ethics of technology
Apply core concepts in philosophy to real-life scenarios in politics, business, technology and beyond
Develop the skill to reconstruct and criticize claims and arguments from philosophical and other complex texts
Strengthen argumentative skills in teamwork and public speaking

Requirements

Students must bring their own laptops

Week	Focus	Key Topics	Assignments and Activities
1	Normative Ethics	Cultural relativism; utilitarianism; Kantian ethics	First short essay.
2	Political Philosophy	Economic inequality; immigration	Second short essay. Field trip.
3	Business Ethics	Exploitation; commodification of organs; meaningful work	Third short essay.
4	The Philosophy of Technology	AI companions; algorithmic bias; genetic enhancement	Final exam. Field trip.

The experience and culture at USC Summer Programs is unmatched. The people you meet and the things you learn will stick with you for the rest of your life.

— USC Summer Programs student participant