Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Applicants for Faculty Fellowships in Ethics should hold a doctorate in philosophy, political theory, theology, or a related discipline; or a professional degree in business, education, law, medicine or public policy. Preference will be given to applicants at an early stage of their careers, normally no more than ten years from their first academic appointment. Applicants are judged on the basis of the quality of their achievements in their field of specialization and their ability to benefit from work in the Center; the contributions they are likely to make in the future in higher education through teaching and writing about ethics issues; and the probable significance of their proposed research and its relevant to the purposes of the Center's mission. The Faculty Fellowships are open to all, regardless of citizenship, race, religion, or orientation.

Edmond J. Safra Graduate Fellowships in Ethics are awarded to a small number of outstanding students at Harvard who are writing dissertations on topics relevant to practical ethics. Students should be enrolled in a doctoral program of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or in one of the University's professional schools. Applicants should have completed all course requirements and general examinations by September prior to the Fellowhip year. In professions such as law or medicine, where a doctoral dissertation is not required for an academic career, advanced students, recent graduates, and Harvard affiliates engaged in postgraduate training are also eligible.

For more information on how to apply, please visit the Fellowships page or send questions to the Center staff. (top)

Faculty Fellows receive stipends based on one-half of their academic year salaries, not exceeding a maximum stipend of $45,000. Their home institution is expected to provide at least half of their salary, plus all benefits. Overseas Fellows and those without regular academic appointments, or any other sources of income, receive a stipend based on individual circumstances. more info

Graduate Fellows' stipends vary according to individual circumstances, not exceeding a maximum stipend of $22,000. Candidates' other sources of funding will be taken into account. (top)

For information on degree programs at Harvard College please visit the Faculty of Arts and Sciences homepage. For information on ethics-related courses in various disciplines across the University, visit the online course catalog listing. You can search for offerings in ethics by specifying criteria such as course title, description, semester schedule, teaching faculty, and professional schools or departments.

For information on professional degree or certificate programs in ethics outside Harvard University, please visit the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE). (top)

The most common approach to a professional degree in Ethics is an applied or practical ethics specialization within a regular degree such as a PhD in Moral Philosophy, Political Theory, Health Policy, Religious Ethics, or Social Theory. Another common track is an ethics specialization in a professional degree such as an MD, JD, MBA, or DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration). Visit the APPE website for more information on these programs.

For information on the Master's Degree in Teaching Ethics and the Advanced Graduate Studies in Teaching Ethics (certificate program) at the University of Montana, please visit the Practical Ethics Center. (top)

The Ethics Center does not distribute ethics publications. For a selected list of publications by former Faculty Fellows, Graduate Fellows, and Visiting Professors, please click here. (top)

For information on visiting scholar or other non-degree programs at Harvard University, please click here or send an email to the Special Student/Visiting Fellow office. The Ethics Center is unable to accommodate short-term visiting scholars. Those selected by the University Faculty Committee in the fellowships applications process commit to a full academic year residential fellowship.(top)

To subscribe to the Center's mailing list, click here and fill out the form. (top)

The primary mission of the Center is to encourage teaching and research about ethical issues in public and professional life and thereby help meet the growing need for teachers and scholars who address questions of moral choice in business, education, government, law, medicine, and public policy. By bringing together those with competence in philosophical thought and those with experience in professional education, we promote a perspective on ethics informed by both theory and practice. The Center also assists colleges and universities wishing to develop ethics curricula and establish their own ethics centers. The Center does not (1) influence or defend the policies of Harvard University; (2) publish a code of ethics; (3) help resolve ethical dilemmas.

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics provides information about individuals, colleges and organizations involved in the study of practical and professional ethics and facilitates contacts among them. The site also lists colleges and universities offering degree courses that have an ethics component. For more information about this resource, visit the APPE website. (top)