Students must have a 3 or 4 year undergraduate degree. The program is designed for students who have degrees in areas other than Philosophy. While no particular background is presupposed, Diploma students are required to have writing skills sufficiently strong to write essays at the university level.

The Diploma in Ethics is a program of study that may be completed full-time in one year or part-time over a number of years. The Diploma, offered through the Department of Philosophy, is designed as a response to a wide and growing interest in the ethical dimensions of professional and public life. The purpose of this program is to enable participants to strengthen and develop their understanding of ethics so as to enhance their ability to recognize and respond to ethical issues in a wide variety of social settings. The Diploma in Ethics will educate students in the essential concepts, central issues, history, and methodologies of ethical reasoning. The program also emphasizes critical thinking skills, writing skills and verbal skills. The program is geared towards students who have degrees in subjects other than Philosophy, and thus presupposes no prior background in ethics or Philosophy.

The program consists of 5.0 courses.

0.5 course: Philosophy 2700F/G.
An additional 1.5 courses in Applied Ethics at the 2200 level drawn from Philosophy 2701E, Philosophy 2702F/G, Philosophy 2703F/G, Philosophy 2710F/G, Philosophy 2715F/G, Philosophy 2720F/G, Philosophy 2810F/G.
3.0 courses in Ethics at the 2000 level or higher. While the offerings in ethics vary from year to year, typical course selections include, but are not limited to, Philosophy 2023, Philosophy 2033A/B, Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2071E, Philosophy 2073F/G, Philosophy 2074F/G, Philosophy 2077F/G, Philosophy 2080, Philosophy 2370F/G, Philosophy 2630F/G, Philosophy 2710F/G, Philosophy 2715F/G, Philosophy 2730F/G, Philosophy 2800F/G, Philosophy 2801F/G, Philosophy 2810F/G, Philosophy 2821F/G, Philosophy 2822F/G, Philosophy 3170F/G, Philosophy 3180F/G, Philosophy 3700E, Philosophy 3710F/G, Philosophy 3720F/G, Philosophy 3810F/G, Philosophy 4071F/G, Philosophy 4072F/G, Philosophy 4730F/G.

NOTE: All Diploma students must take 5.0 courses as outlined in the program requirements. Courses taken as part of an undergraduate degree may not count towards the fulfillment of these requirements. Students who have satisfied any of the Diploma in Ethics requirements prior to entering the Diploma in Ethics program must consult with the Department of Philosophy to make appropriate course substitutions.

Progression Requirements
A student must maintain at least a 70% average and obtain a mark of not less than 60% in each course to remain in the program.

Graduation Requirements
To qualify for the Diploma in Ethics a student must complete the prescribed program of studies with at least a 70% average and a mark of not less than 60% in each course.