Ethics Bowl

*The Kegley Institute of Ethics is hosting the 11th Annual CSUB Ethics Bowl on Febuary 19th, 2026, at 5:45 pm in the Student Union Multi-Purpose room. To register for the competition, please contact Dr. Nate Olson, KIE Director.

What is the Ethics Bowl?

The Ethics Bowl is a competitive academic activity where teams engage in structured debates discussing ethical dilemmas and analyzing moral reasoning to develop thoughtful and well-reasoned arguments. Through intense deliberation and collaboration, students develop skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, and team building. At CSUB, students of all majors are welcome to participate in the Ethics Bowl Regional Competition and annual CSUB Ethics Bowl.  

Ethics Bowl Regional Competition (Fall):

Every year, the CSUB Ethics Bowl Club sends a team of undergraduate students to compete in the California Regional of the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. In preparation for the competition, teams spend months ahead of time reviewing 12 cases of ethical dilemmas provided by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. These cases cover a variety of issues in areas such as politics, education, technology, and medicine. Students utilize a variety of ethical theories to reach a position on the cases presented. 

The regional competition often consists of 3 rounds, with a semi-final and final round. Each round contains a moderator and a panel of judges. Within each round, a case is selected from the set of 12, in which a moderator poses questions grounded in the case. The questions are intended to examine the case’s ethical dimensions in greater depth. Judges then challenge the teams to justify their responses and evaluate them according to clarity and organization, analysis of the ethical dimensions of the case, and awareness and thoughtful consideration of different viewpoints. 

If you wish to participate in the Ethics Bowl Regional Competition, please contact Travis Rosenlieb, faculty advisor of the CSUB Ethics Bowl Club and Ethics Bowl coach.

CSUB Annual Ethics Bowl Competition (Spring):

Every spring semester, the Kegley Institute of Ethics hosts an on-campus Ethics Bowl competition. Students are encouraged to form teams of 3 – 6 people, where they are presented with a total of 5 cases of ethical dilemmas. In a similar format to that of the regional competition, the on-campus competition consists of two rounds, each containing a panel of judges and a moderator. Similar rules apply to the CSUB Ethics Bowl competition as that of the regional competition.

The Kegley Institute of Ethics is hosting the 11th Annual CSUB Ethics Bowl on February 19, 2026, at 5:45 pm in the Student Union Multi-Purpose room. To register for the competition, please contact Dr. Nate Olson, KIE Director.