Having graduated from UTEP myself, I can tell you that there are definitely some very good faculty members there. The MA program had just been created as I was leaving. If you're into continental then it might also be a good fit for you. The current chair is continental, as are some other members (although, to be frank, they are older and probably closer to retirement). As for ethics, the dept. has the CSTEP which should weigh in on the minds of prospective students interested in this field. There is one particular member which, in my opinion, raises the analytic significance of the dept. I would say that this dept. would also be an option for ppl interested in analytic philosophy and that for some reason or another haven't been able to get into a higher-ranked school. There is much to learn in this dept.