Course Description
Community and environmental justice is central to professional planning practice. Understanding ethical requirements is essential in achieving this goal. This course provides students a framework for understanding professional ethical codes of conduct, and gives guidance as to how to handle ethical dilemmas, issues of justice, and standards of professional practice.
Athena Title
ETHICS PRO PRACTICE
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
VALUES: •Understanding the role of planning in delivering fair and equitable services to all members of the community •Understanding issues of race, gender and class as they apply to the planning profession •Understanding the importance of broad based and inclusive community input in decision making •Understanding the importance of maintaining a fair and equitable professional office •Understanding environmental ethics •Understanding social justice ethics •Understanding economic justice ethics KNOWLEDGE: •Learn the standards of ethical practices in the work place •Become familiar with the professional ethical codes of conduct as determined by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and the allied professional codes of landscape architecture (ASLA), architecture (AIA), and engineering •Learn the legal requirements for equitable workplace management •Learn how to negotiate professional ethical codes in daily practice •Understand the importance of professional organizations in advocating and promoting the profession SKILLS: •Understand and role play different ethical dilemmas to understand how to operate in different situations
Topical Outline
Week 1 Introduction to ethics, justice and professional practice Week 2 Social and community justice Week 3 Environmental justice Week 4 Ethical codes of conduct in professional practice Week 5 Comparative ethical codes (AICP, ASLA, AIA, etc.) Week 6 Ethical dilemma research case studies Week 7 Ethical dilemma research case studies Week 8 Ethical dilemma role playing and problem solving Week 9 Ethical dilemma role playing and problem solving Week 10 Professional standards in office practice Week 11 Office management and consensus building Week 12 Spectrum of professional planning practice Week 13 Professional organizations and importance to practice Weeks 14-15 Student research presentations: Ethical situations case studies
Syllabus