PD 9Ethical Decision Making
- Units
- 0.50
- Subject
- Professional Development
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 4 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Borrowing from philosophy, game theory, and economics, this course equips students with the theoretical knowledge required to objectively evaluate and discuss ethical issues in the workplace. It provides students with practical advice regarding how to make ethical decisions in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Topics include the ethics of profit-making, why good people make bad decisions, moral hazard, and personal responsibility in group contexts.
Prerequisites
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in Experiential Education (EDGE) Certificate
- Enrolled in a co-operative program
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 081 | 7351 | 0 / 2000 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 082 | 7352 | 0 / 1000 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 083 | 7353 | 0 / 200 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 8095 | 307 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
45% liked it82% easy39% useful
From 56 ratings and 17 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
It was chill, forgot everything I learned but I got a good mark on all my assignments.
Nov 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Business ethics isn't very ethical
May 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
not too bad as far as PD courses go.
May 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I genuinely enjoyed this PD course. The case studies were interesting, simulation based assignments were thought provoking, and lecture notes were concise but informative. It actually made me reconsider some of the ethical situations I've encountered and how to analyze them from a broader perspective. I also liked how true to the course theme, the course does not shy away from taking a neutral, balanced stance on issues that have a more societally acceptable approach. Really interesting content and with fairly easy assignments--- would recommend to everyone.
Nov 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Pleasantly surprised, considering this is a PD course. Workload is light and easy to get through. I finished the entire course within the first month of my work term. The content was pretty interesting. Highly recommend taking this PD course.
Aug 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
67 posts and comments in 45 threads mention PD 9, November 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2023
WHICH PD COURSE SHOULD I TAKE 5 points, 6 comments
“i have my 3rd work term in January and have not enrolled in a PD course yet. Which one should I enroll in? I was thinking PD 8? Thoughts/recommendations lmk!!”
u/breakbake: “Pd9 wasn’t too bad. It was ethics”
Easy pd courses 1 point, 1 comment
“Just curious what the easiest/least effort pd courses are cause I’m trying to get away with doing the least amount of work possible.”
u/guitardesk: “i thought PD9 didn't require much brain power”
Spring 2023
Would it make a difference if PD was removed forever? 1 point, 13 comments
“also would the university ever consider doing this? sorry if it’s a dumb question lol”
u/ClarkeVice: “It actually would. PD (or work-term reports) are required for a program to be an accredited co-op program and get all of the nice tax breaks that come with that. …”
u/1000Ditto: “… the ontario engineering law and filling in the blanks (pd22) straight up philosophy (pd9) then it just defeats the purpose if it”
PD Course - Easiest one? 11 points, 14 comments
“Need to take one PD course. I heard they are all shit. Which one requires the least amount of work?”
u/TheSeoulSword: “PD 9 was pretty chill”
Fall 2022
holy shit you guys are not gonna believe this 53 points, 13 comments
u/aduckthateatsfruit: “PD 9 is actually a pretty interesting course? what the fucking fuck? is PD good now?”
u/SoldOutDates: “hello TA for PD9”
u/DarkEmperor7135: “honestly yeah pd 9 was not so bad, relatively bearable and the content wasn’t completely useless”
Which PD course requires the least amount of work? 4 points, 3 comments
u/hahnoob1: “I need to choose 2 from this list: and I'm wondering which will need the least amount of work. - PD3 - PD4 - PD5 - PD6 - PD7 - PD8 - PD9 - PD10 - PD11 - PD13 - PD22”
Spring 2022
What PD courses to take? 1 point, 3 comments
u/Vladamir_Putin_007: “PD9 is easy.”
Winter 2022
Which PD makes you say “fuck PD” the least? 35 points, 28 comments
u/astoriaa_: “… Therefore, my options for Spring 2022 are: • PD 7: Conflict Resolution • PD 8: Intercultural Skills • PD 9: Ethical Decision Making • PD 10: Professional Responsibility in Computing • PD 13: Research in the Workplace Of these, which is/are the most bearable? Thanks in advance! …”
u/tendstofortytwo: “I've been told 9 is good, even enjoyable. I'm taking it next term. Hoping for the best. 10 isn't great. …”
u/astoriaa_: “Might join you on the PD 9 boat… enjoyable may be a stretch though, no?”
u/XDME: “I liked 9, but I'm a PHIL student so it was up my alley.”
u/astoriaa_: “This makes two votes for PD 9!”
Fall 2021
To whoever overcharges in this housing crisis 56 points, 16 comments
“To whoever overcharges people to make a profit in this housing crisis, you are a terrible and shitty human being and I hope you have an awful 2022”
u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet: “OP Econ101 enrolment is still open for winter term”
u/Jimmooooo: “Pd9 offered all terms too!”
Spring 2021
Are there any useful PD courses? 5 points, 8 comments
“Serious question, cus I'm thinking of dropping EDGE if there's no benefit to it.”
u/Laeriana: “Of the co-op PD courses I took, I enjoyed PD 9 (Ethical Decision Making) the most, but honestly the PD courses offered primarily to alumni seem "better"/"more useful".”
u/NH-INDY-99: “PD9: ethical decision making wasn’t bad”
Winter 2021
How bad is PD22 really? 0 points, 7 comments
“I know all PD courses are boring and stupid and easy etc etc, but PD 22 seems to be a bit different since it's an ethics course run by Douglas Harder himself. …”
u/IcyProfit03: “… have to do on a Weekly Basis It is definitely not the most engaging PD out there, I've done PD 9 and PD 10 and found them more interesting. But then again this is PD, they are obviously not supposed to be the most engaging courses out there. …”
Spring 2020
PD9 1 point, 2 comments
u/ktrxn23: “Has anyone taken this course before?? If so, how was it? What was the course load compared to other PD courses like PD6 or PD7?”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them