Course features

You will begin by examining the foundational concepts of ethics, morality, and law, and how they intersect in military contexts. Building on this, the course explores the boundaries between lawful and ethical action, highlighting real-world dilemmas faced by individuals and institutions in operational environments.

The heart of the course lies in its in-depth examination of the three main traditions of ethical thinking: virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology (duty-based ethics). You will learn to analyse situations through these different lenses and appreciate how each framework offers distinct insights and potential solutions. Through interactive content, reflective exercises, and practical case studies, you will develop a nuanced understanding of how to evaluate complex moral questions.

In the final part of the course, you will learn how to apply ethical triangulation—a method that draws on all three traditions—to resolve challenging ethical dilemmas in realistic military scenarios. This structured approach empowers you to move beyond theoretical understanding and apply ethical reasoning in practice.

Designed by Professor David Whetham, a leading expert in military ethics, the course draws on years of experience teaching ethics to military officers around the world. It is self-paced, accessible, and requires no prior qualifications.

Course format

This self-paced course is delivered through the edX learning platform and is designed to be completed in approximately 5 hours.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Define ethics, morality, and law in military settings

• Examine how law and ethics work together

• Identify ethical problems in military life

• Distinguish between lawful and ethical actions

• Understand virtue-based ethical decision-making

• Understand consequentialist ethical decision-making

• Understand duty-based ethical decision-making

• Compare key ethical frameworks for military use

• Apply ethical models to real-world dilemmas

• Analyse complex military scenarios using case studies

• Evaluate ethical outcomes of military decisions

• Use ethical triangulation to resolve dilemmas

• Navigate competing values under operational pressure

• Develop critical thinking around conflict ethics

• Make informed, principled decisions in warfare contexts

Entry Requirements

No formal requirements. English proficiency recommended (IELTS Level 6).

Further information

King’s College London has partnered with the online education platform edX to deliver self-paced short courses to learners worldwide. Anyone can audit the course materials for free, excluding graded assessments, for a limited time.

For full access to the course, including graded assessments, and to obtain a verified certificate upon successful completion, the USD fee is $249.

The GBP course fee displayed on this page is for illustrative purposes only and subject to change in line with current exchange rates.

Payment for verified access to the course is made directly via edX. Please see edX Terms of Service for further information.