Dr. Szentkirályi’s interdisciplinary research centers on diverse, contemporary problems of applied ethics, including environmental health risks, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, gun violence, and disaster risk reduction. In striving to develop ethically-justified yet pragmatic policy proposals, the broader aim of his research is to explore practical ways in which vulnerable groups in our communities can be protected from injustices. For example, Dr. Szentkirályi’s first book, The Ethics of Precaution (New York: Routledge, 2019), defends safeguards against scientifically-unverified environmental health threats and argues that industry is morally obligated to take reasonable strides to prevent putting others in the way of potential albeit uncertain harm—especially vulnerable groups, like children, the elderly, the poor, and marginalized minority groups. Similarly, his most recent manuscript, “Run, Hide, and Fight?!,” aims to raise the standard of corporate social responsibility by arguing that businesses have significant duties of due care to strive to safeguard the public against possibilities of gun-related injuries and deaths, which the gun industry has routinely failed to heed. Dr. Szentkirályi’s current book project, Future Uncertain, is a co-authored edited volume that critically engages genuine and manufactured challenges of uncertainty and brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners across the natural, social, and policy sciences, on a host of climate-change-related problems. In exploring prevailing uncertainties with the impacts of climate change on diverse issue-areas (like ocean health, infectious diseases, food systems, and water security), this book indicts those who would abuse uncertainty to sow doubt and confusion or to advance private agendas at the expense of truth and the public’s interest, and it reaffirms our capacity to overcome uncertainty and achieve greater environmental sustainability.
keywords
environmental justice, ethics of risk, moral responsibility, environmental health, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, just war theory
Teaching
courses taught
BCOR 1015 - The World of Business
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024
Provides an overview of the nature business in a global economy. In addition to exploring the economic, governmental, social and environmental context in which businesses operate, students will discover how business creates value and takes advantage of opportunities and challenges. Using examples, cases and projects, students will learn about the business functions in an integrated format. Weekly discussion of current events will focus on entrepreneurship, ethics, international business, business and society, and other topics.
BCOR 2302 - Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Summer 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023 / Spring 2024
Throughout this course students will consider the interconnectedness of law, ethics, values, public policy and regulation. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of individual and organizational responsibility for business. Allows students to consider the relationship between business and ethics in the broader social context, which is necessary to successfully navigate an increasingly complex, global business environment. Duplicate degree credit not granted for BCOR 3010, BCOR 2003.
BUSM 3060 - Environmental Sustainability in a Globalized World
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Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Rigorous survey of contemporary environmental sustainability problems that define, constrain and propel the business world. Apply lessons learned to real-world business problems in order to understand the broader social and ethical implications, think critically about the role business and science should have in creating policy, and develop a sense of civic responsibility to promote environmental sustainability and social justice.
ENES 1010 - Humanity in a Technological Age
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023 / Fall 2023
This seminar considers what it means to be human in an increasingly technological age. Designed for engineering students, it also looks at the role of technology designers and creators in shaping the human environment. Students focus on sharpening their written and oral communication skills through a series of iterative assignments and projects. Fulfills College of Engineering writing requirement for first-year students only.
ENVS 4850 - ENVS Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
To be taken in final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Department enforced restriction: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee.
PHIL 3290 - War and Morality and the Enduring Struggle for Freedom
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Summer 2020
Explores normative theories of just war, political obligation, and collective self-determination, and select empirical studies of the causes and effects of violent revolutions. Designed primarily for PHIL, PSCI, IAFS, and PACS students, this interdisciplinary course involves an intensive two-week abroad study in Budapest, Hungary, where students will visit diverse historical sites that bear out normative and empirical lessons learned in the classroom about collective armed conflict and the enduring struggle for freedom. Recommended prerequisite: Three hours of PHIL coursework.
WRTG 1150 - First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2021
Rhetorically informed introduction to college writing. Focuses on rhetorical analysis, argument, inquiry and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course emphasizes practicing writing strategies for all phases of the writing process. For placement criteria, see the arts and sciences advising office. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
WRTG 3020 - Topics in Writing
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021
Through sustained inquiry into a selected topic or issue, students will practice advanced forms of academic writing. Emphasizes analysis, criticism and argument. Taught as a writing seminar, places a premium on substantive, thoughtful revision. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 3030 - Writing on Science and Society
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Spring 2018 / Summer 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Summer 2021 / Summer 2022
Through selected reading and writing assignments, students consider ethical and social ramifications of science policy and practice. Focuses on critical thinking, revision, analytical writing, and oral presentation. Taught as a writing seminar, the course addresses communication with professional and non-technical audiences. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
WRTG 3035 - Technical Communication and Design
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020
Rhetorically informed introduction to technical writing that hones communication skills in the context of technical design activities. Treats design as a collaborative, user-oriented, problem-based activity, and technical communication as a rhetorically informed and persuasive design art. Taught as a writing seminar emphasizing critical thinking, revision, and oral presentation skills. Focuses on client-driven design projects and effective communication with multiple stakeholders. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
WRTG 3040 - Writing on Business and Society
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021
Through selected reading and writing assignments, students examine ethical and social issues in the context of business decision-making processes. Focuses on critical thinking, revision, analytical writing and oral presentation. Taught as a writing seminar, the course emphasizes effective communication with professional and non-technical audiences. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 3045 - Writing for Emerging Workplaces
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
A rhetorically-informed professional writing course addressing key competencies needed in emerging workplaces. Intended for juniors and seniors from a wide range of majors who anticipate working in communication-intensive capacities. Taught as a writing seminar inspired by design thinking, with a focus on prototyping, revision, critical thinking, and collaborative engagement. Key topics: the future of work, rapid prototyping of career options, proposal writing, writing for policy debates, data analysis and visualization, report writing, and advanced oral presentation and multimedia skills. Satisfies A&S Upper-Division Written Communication requirement.
