Top Ethics Programs

[Theo-Be]

Hello everyone

I am looking at re-applying next year.  If you had to rank the top ethics programs, how would you rank them?  Thanks in advance!

[Lux Lex Pax]

I'd do groupings rather than rankings since the latter give the impression of a precise evaluation that is near impossible. Moreover, each of us is going to evaluate programs differently based on how our own interests align with the strengths of each program. For instance, working with Elshtain at Chicago will appeal to those who want to approach religion and politics in certain way, but working with Bretherton at Duke will appeal to others. Each program offers a very different experience and produces different kinds of scholars.

With that in mind, I'd group them as follows:

1) Yale, Duke, Notre Dame, UVa, Princeton U/PTS

2) Chicago, Emory, Vanderbilt, Brown

I've obviously omitted tons of schools, but these tend to dominate the field.

[thekidisalright]

I would definitely add BC to the first group in the list above, but otherwise agree. There are also really great places to do particular projects (Loyola Chicago and Marquette are wonderful for healthcare ethics, for instance) so it depends on your interest. 

[taycross]

I would echo what has already been said. Ultimately you have to decide which ethics you want to study. As Lux Lex Pax said, each school tends to produce similar students based on the scholars who teach there. It is fairly easy to spot, say, a Duke ethics student who was likely influenced by the Hauerwas school. 

[Theo-Be]

I would echo what has already been said. Ultimately you have to decide which ethics you want to study. As Lux Lex Pax said, each school tends to produce similar students based on the scholars who teach there. It is fairly easy to spot, say, a Duke ethics student who was likely influenced by the Hauerwas school. 

Thanks.  Yes, familiar with Hauerwas school, familiar with Elshtain and Nussbaum at Chicago and Porter and Whitmore at ND.  Can anybody speak more to Vanderbilt and Yale for me?  Thanks!

[Balatro]

I'd say Vandy is focused into two major areas: 1) race, gender, class (and then into further subfields: African American themes, female centered, etc) and 2) medical

[Lux Lex Pax]

From what I understand about Yale, the only tenured faculty member they currently have is Jennifer Herdt, since both Townes and Jenkins are leaving at the end of this school year; Townes to be dean of Vandy and Jenkins to UVa. Herdt is great. She's currently delivering a set of lectures at PTS. Her emphasis is mostly early modern Protestant ethics, but she also knows her Augustine and Aquinas.

[Theo-Be]

From what I understand about Yale, the only tenured faculty member they currently have is Jennifer Herdt, since both Townes and Jenkins are leaving at the end of this school year; Townes to be dean of Vandy and Jenkins to UVa. Herdt is great. She's currently delivering a set of lectures at PTS. Her emphasis is mostly early modern Protestant ethics, but she also knows her Augustine and Aquinas.

Thanks.  Did someone say Jennings is leaving Vandy?