Program Overview

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University Program Information

The university offers a wide range of programs, including short and online courses, undergraduate, postgraduate, professional, and research programs.

Subject Areas

• Archaeology and anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Theological Studies
• Architectural history
  • Architectural History
• Business and management
  • Business and management
• Data science, computing, maths
  • Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies and law
  • Diplomatic Studies
• Economics and politics
  • Economics and politics
• Education and study skills
  • Education
• Environment and sustainability
  • Environment and sustainability
• History of art
  • History of Art
• History, including local and social
  • History
  • English Social and Local History
• Languages and cultural studies
  • Languages and cultural studies
• Literature, creative writing and film studies
  • English Literature
  • Creative Writing
• Medical and health sciences
  • Medical and health sciences
• Music
  • Music
• Natural sciences
  • Natural sciences
• Philosophy
  • Philosophy
• Psychology and counselling
  • Psychology and counselling
• Religion and theology
  • Religion and theology
• Technology and AI
  • Technology and AI

Course Formats

• Day and weekend events
• In-person learning
• Lecture series
• Online learning
• Professional
• Summer schools
• Weekly learning

Academic Credit

Many courses can be studied for academic credit, which means they can count towards a recognized qualification.

Undergraduate Programs

Certificates

• Archaeology
• Certificate of Higher Education
• English Literature
• History
• History of Art
• Theological Studies

Diplomas

• Archaeology
• Creative Writing
• English Social and Local History
• History of Art

Advanced Diplomas

• British Archaeology
• IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)
• Local History (Online)

Pre-Master's

• Advanced Pre-sessional Course for Graduate Students (nine weeks, full-time)
• Foundations of Diplomacy Pre-Master's Course (six months, full-time)

Postgraduate Programs

Certificates

• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Ecological Survey Techniques
• Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Health Research
• Historical Studies
• Nanotechnology
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Psychodynamic Counselling
• Qualitative Health Research Methods
• Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care

Diplomas

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Severe Mental Health Problems
• Health Research
• International Wildlife Conservation Practice
• Psychodynamic Practice

Master of Studies (MSt)

• Creative Writing
• Diplomatic Studies
• Historical Studies
• History of Design
• Literature and Arts
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Practical Ethics
• Psychodynamic Practice

Research Degrees (DPhil)

• Archaeology
• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Literature and Arts
• Sustainable Urban Development

Master of Science (MSc)

• Applied Landscape Archaeology
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Evidence-Based Health Care Medical Statistics
• Evidence-Based Health Care Systematic Reviews
• Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education
• Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
• Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Sustainable Urban Development
• Translational Health Sciences

Professional Programs

Continuing Professional Development

• Business and management
• Cultural heritage
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies
• Education
• Environment and sustainability
• Medical and health sciences
• Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• Philosophy and ethics
• Psychology and counselling
• Research methods and skills
• Technology and AI
• Urban studies

Research

The university has an active interdisciplinary research community, with a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences.

Research Community

• Academic staff profiles
• Part-time DPhil programmes
• Research areas
• Research students

Research Forums

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Steering Group
• Lifelong Learning Pedagogies forum
• Research Ethics Colloquium
• The Vice-Chancellors Colloquium

Course Details

Contemporary Moral Crises

• Code: O25P592PHW
• Credit: 10 CATS points
• Fees: From ｣300.00
• Dates: 21 Apr 2026 - 23 Jun 2026
• Sessions: 10
• Day of week: Tuesday
• Time: 7:00-9:00pm
• Location: Ewert House, Ewert Place, Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DD

Overview

This course explores five of the greatest moral problems facing the world today: freedom of speech and action, environmental ethics, war and peace, the ethics of A.I., and economic justice.

Programme Details

• Week 1: Normative ethics
• Week 2: Meta-ethics
• Week 3: Paternalism and risk: freedom of speech
• Week 4: Paternalism and risk: freedom of action
• Week 5: Environmental ethics: intrinsic and instrumental value
• Week 6: Environmental ethics: global responsibility
• Week 7: A.I innovation, regulation and autonomy
• Week 8: Just war and pacifism
• Week 9: Pre-emptive force and terrorism
• Week 10: International economic justice and rights

Certification

• Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points
• Digital Certificate of Completion

Fees

• Course fee (with no assessment): ｣300.00
• Assessment and Accreditation fee: ｣60.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Tutor

• Dr Magnus Moar

Course Aims

This course aims to enable students to engage with philosophical approaches to five of the most critical moral problems facing the world today.

Teaching Methods

The course will be a mix of lecture-style teaching and seminar discussion based on weekly readings.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:

• The key contributions made to moral philosophy of the thinkers studied.
• The impact their ideas have on the topics studied.
• What risks are posed to humanity by the issues covered.
• Key advice on how to write critically.

Assessment Methods

Students can choose between either option of a single piece of coursework or two shorter pieces. Students will also have the opportunity to submit an essay proposal or plan as a formative assignment during the course.

Level and Demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes.