Ethics is a foundational element of psychological literacy, yet undergraduate psychology programs often address it narrowly, focusing primarily on research ethics and approval processes through Human Subjects Review Boards. At the graduate level, ethics courses are more common but typically center on applied issues in clinical or organizational psychology. Professional codes of conduct, such as those from the APA, BPS, or EFPA, offer essential behavioral guidelines; however, they emphasize procedural compliance rather than the philosophical foundations of ethical decision-making. Davidson and Morrissey (2011) have argued that ethics education should include more than just adherence to rules—it should engage students in moral theory in order to develop deeper ethical reasoning. While research ethics protect participants and codes of conduct set professional standards, they do not fully prepare students to navigate complex or emerging ethical dilemmas that lie outside established guidelines, as was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrating moral theory into undergraduate education equips students to critically evaluate ethical issues and articulate the rationale behind their decisions. For instance, Kantian deontology focuses on absolute duties and categorical imperatives, prohibiting actions like harming research participants or engaging in dual relationships, regardless of consequences. Utilitarianism, in contrast, evaluates actions by their outcomes for the greater good, sometimes justifying controversial practices like deception in research. Virtue ethics highlights the development of moral character traits such as humility, honesty, and prudence, which are also central to positive psychology. Principlism, developed by Beauchamp and Childress (2019), advances four core principles—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice—yet offers limited guidance when these principles conflict. By expanding ethics education to include these moral frameworks, psychology programs can foster stronger critical thinking, promote a richer understanding of ethical standards, and better prepare students to address complex challenges in research, practice, and public engagement.