The
growth of scientific knowledge and technical ability in medicine and the
biological sciences has led to a number of ethical dilemmas which perplex all
of us, but especially those in the health care field. Does the fact that we
can prolong the life of a patient in a permanent vegetative state mean
that we should do so? Is destructive embryo experimentation justified by
the prospect it offers of alleviating infertility? Should more medical
resources go into intensive care for extremely premature infants given the cost
of such treatment and its mixed outcome? These and many other questions raise
complex ethical and legal issues. The study, discussion and teaching of these
issues has come to be known as bioethics - a field generally defined as
covering the ethical issues raised by medicine and the biomedical sciences.
Courses offered in bioethics aim to provide an interdisciplinary education for
health care professionals, teachers in the health care field, and others with a
general interest in bioethics. It is hoped that those taking these courses will
develop a deeper understanding of the considerations which should enter into
ethically sensitive decisions in this new and complex area.
Academic strengths include ethical issues in patient care, especially involving
autonomy and confidentiality; the ethics of clinical trials; ethical problems
of resource allocation; medical end-of-life decisions; new reproductive
technologies; nursing ethics; surrogacy; disability and discrimination; the new
genetics and ethics; environmental ethics; moral psychology and moral
development. The centre is also strong in ethical theory, especially virtue
ethics and consequentialism, the relevance of emotions to ethics, partiality
and impartiality in ethics, and feminist ethics.
The Centre for Human Bioethics offers PhD and masters by research degrees.
Refer to the front of the Arts postgraduate section for further information.
Further information is also available at the centre's website at
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/bioethics Mid-year entry is
available for all of the courses and programs listed below.
Course code: 0122 * Course fees for students taking CHB5206 as an eight-point subject: Local students - HECS; international students - $A13,000 * pa (students taking CHB5206 as a 12-point subject pay extra fees on a pro rata basis if the total number of points for their course exceeds 48) * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
Course
code: 0122 * Course fees: local students - HECS; international students -
$A13,000 * pa * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
This course is offered at Clayton, and is available on campus and through
distance education, however the 12-point version of CHB5206 (Bioethics
supervised research paper) must be taken on campus.
Over the past two decades, there has been increasing community concern about
ethics in science, especially in the health sciences and the biological
sciences. This course is a response to that concern, and will enable those
taking it to deepen their understanding of ethical issues in health care and
the biological sciences. While the course is particularly well-suited for those
health care professionals and scientists who face complex ethical issues in
their working lives, it will also be valuable for those involved in the
formulation of public policy and law regarding these issues, as well as for
anyone who simply wishes to explore issues of public concern in greater depth.
Candidates must have (a) a degree, gained with at least a credit average in the final year of the course, in medicine or any other health science, in law, the biological or social sciences, or in a branch of the humanities, such as philosophy (or other degree as approved by the faculty board), requiring the equivalent of not less than four years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution; or (b) a degree, gained with at least a credit average in the final year of the course, in any of the fields referred to in (a) requiring the equivalent of not less than three years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution, plus not less than three years of documented relevant practical experience (or equivalent) for example, working as a health care professional at a senior level in an area in which dealing with ethical problems in health care was a component of the duties undertaken; or (c) qualifications and experience which in the opinion of the faculty board are a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.
The course normally consists of two units of 12 points each, and three units of eight points each (a total of 48 points). All students will take CHB5101 (Ethics) in their first semester. Normally, the next unit to be taken will be CHB5102 (Questions of life and death), followed by CHB5203 (Ethical issues in patient care) and either CHB5204 (Legal issues in bioethics) or CHB5207 (Ethical issues in professional life). Note that CHB5207 is not available to distance education students. It is expected that CHB5206 (Bioethics supervised research paper) will be taken simultaneously with the last two units in a student's subject sequence. Full-time on-campus students will enrol in both CHB5203 and CHB5101 concurrently, followed by concurrent enrolment in CHB5102 and either CHB5204 or CHB5207, while they will take CHB5206 throughout the course. Full-time distance education students will enrol in both CHB5101 and CHB5102 concurrently, followed by concurrent enrolment in CHB5203 and CHB5204, while they will take CHB5206 throughout the course.
CHB5206
(Bioethics supervised research paper) can be taken as an eight point subject or
a 12-point subject. The 12-point version of the subject is intended for
students who wish to undertake a more substantial research project. Only the
eight-point version of the subject is available by distance education; the
12-point version of the subject requires attendance on the Clayton campus for
supervision.
For on-campus students who choose to take the 12-point version of CHB5206, the
course may consist of three units of 12 points each and two units of eight
points each. The course structure will then be as above, except that CHB5206
will be taken as a 12-point subject. Students who take this option should note
that the extra work involved in completing the 12-point version of CHB5206 will
not be compensated by a corresponding reduction in the amount of work required
for any of the other subjects in the course, and will increase the value of the
course from 48 points to 52 points.
Note also that the minimum pass grade for subjects in the Master of Bioethics
by coursework is 60 C; that is, a grade of credit or above is required in
every subject. Candidates are also advised that units will be assessed at a
fifth-year-level standard, and essay topics will differ from those set for
parallel units in the centre's graduate diploma and masters qualifying programs.
Candidates who have already completed a unit in ethics that, in the opinion of the graduate coordinator of the Centre for Human Bioethics, is of a standard at least equal to that of CHB5101 (Ethics) and covering essentially the same content as CHB5101 may be given an exemption with credit for that unit. Normally, at least a distinction result must have been achieved for that unit, and it cannot have been part of another degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry requirements for the Master of Bioethics by coursework. If the equivalent unit in ethics was part of another degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry requirements for the Master of Bioethics by coursework, then an exemption without credit may be given for CHB5101.
Program
code: 1988 * Program fees: Local students - HECS; international students -
$A13,000 * pa * Coordinator: Justin Oakley * Offered on Clayton campus
only
Over the past two decades, there has been increasing community concern about
ethics in science, especially in the health sciences and the biological
sciences. This program is a response to that concern, and will enable those
taking it to qualify for admission to a research degree in this field. While
the program is particularly well-suited for those health care professionals and
scientists who face complex ethical issues in their working lives, it will also
be valuable for those who wish to develop their skills in carrying out research
in the formulation of public policy and law regarding these issues. The program
will take one year full-time or two years part-time.
Candidates must have either (a) a degree in a health science, in law, the biological or social sciences, or in a branch of the humanities, such as philosophy (or other degree as approved by the faculty board), requiring the equivalent of not less than three years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution; and for which the student maintained at least a credit average; or (b) qualifications and experience which in the opinion of the faculty board are a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.
The program consists of four units of 12 points each. All students will take CHB4101 (Ethics), in their first semester. Normally, the next unit to be taken will be CHB4102 (Questions of life and death), followed by CHB4203 (Ethical issues in patient care), and CHB4215 (Bioethics supervised research paper). Full-time students will, however, enrol in both CHB4101 and CHB4203 concurrently, followed by CHB4102 and CHB4215 concurrently.
Candidates
who have already completed a unit in ethics that, in the opinion of the
graduate coordinator of the Centre for Human Bioethics, is of a standard at
least equal to and of the same content as CHB4101 (Ethics) and covering
essentially the same content as CHB4101 may be given an exemption with credit
for that unit at the time of application. Normally, at least a result of credit
must have been achieved for that unit, and it cannot have been part of another
degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry requirements for the
Masters Qualifying in Bioethics. If the equivalent unit in ethics was
part of another degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry
requirements for the Masters Qualifying in Bioethics, then an exemption
without credit may be given for CHB4101.
Admission to the Master of Bioethics by research will require a distinction
average, or above, for all units in the masters qualifying year. Students who
obtain outstanding results in the masters qualifying may meet the entry
requirements for PhD enrolment at the centre.
Note that students taking this program are not permitted to enter the Master of
Bioethics by coursework.
Course code: 1158 * Course fees: Local students - $A7500; international students - $A13,000 * pa * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
Course
code: 1158 * Course fees: Local students - $A7500; international students -
$A13,000 * pa * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
Over the past two decades, there has been increasing community concern about
ethics in science, especially in the health sciences and the biological
sciences. This course is a response to that concern, and will enable those
taking it to deepen their understanding of ethical issues in health care and
the biological sciences. While the course is particularly well-suited for those
health care professionals and scientists who face complex ethical issues in
their working lives, it will also be valuable for those involved in the
formulation of public policy and law regarding these issues, as well as for
anyone who simply wishes to explore issues of public concern in greater depth.
Candidates must have (a) a degree in medicine or any other health science, in law, the biological or social sciences, or in a branch of the humanities, such as philosophy (or other degree as approved by the faculty board), requiring the equivalent of not less than three years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution; or (b) qualifications and experience which in the opinion of the faculty board are a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study. (One example of what faculty board considers suitable preparation for this course is where candidates have a General Nursing Certificate plus not less than five years of documented professional experience at a senior level, provided that such experience includes some professional writing and research, and that this experience is verified by two references from suitably qualified people.)
Candidates who have already completed a unit in ethics that, in the opinion of the graduate coordinator of the Centre for Human Bioethics, is of a standard at least equal to that of CHB4101 (Ethics) and covering essentially the same content as CHB4101 may be given an exemption with credit for that unit at the time of application. That unit cannot have been part of another degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics. If the equivalent unit in ethics was part of another degree on the basis of which a candidate has met the entry requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics, then an exemption without credit may be given for CHB4101.
Students in the course will enrol in the following subjects:
Satisfactory completion of
the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics requires achieving an overall grade of pass
(50 per cent) or above for all subjects in the course.
Note that the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics does not meet the entry
requirements for the Master of Bioethics by coursework, the Master of Bioethics
by research, or the PhD. Applicants who do not already meet the entry
requirements for the Master of Bioethics by research or the PhD but who intend
to proceed to either of those courses should apply for the Masters Qualifying
in Bioethics.
Program code: 2525 * Program fees: Local students - $A3750; international students can undertake this program only by distance education * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
Program
code: 2525 * Program fees: Local students - $A3750; international students -
$A6500 * Coordinator: Justin Oakley
This program, which is offered full-time over one semester or part-time over
one year, seeks to provide suitably qualified people with an opportunity to
gain knowledge and skills in bioethics, and to provide those who wish to
proceed into the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics with an introduction to
theoretical frameworks and current issues in bioethics. Students successfully
completing the program will receive a certificate from the Faculty of Arts, but
are not eligible to graduate in a university ceremony.
Candidates must have: (a) a degree in medicine or any other health science, in law, the biological and social sciences, or in a branch of the humanities, such as philosophy (or other degree as approved by the faculty board), requiring the equivalent of not less than three years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution; or (b) a degree in a field other than those referred to in (a), requiring the equivalent of not less than three years full-time study in an approved tertiary institution, plus relevant experience which establishes their capacity for advanced study in bioethics; or (c) qualifications and experience which in the opinion of the faculty board are a suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study. All candidates applying under conditions (b) or (c) must also provide a full curriculum vitae, and a statement of up to 1000 words indicating the applicant's career objectives and reasons for applying for entry. The following principles will form the basis for decisions about admission for candidates without a suitable degree in one of the fields referred to in (a):
The program requires completion of any two 12-point subjects (a total of 24 points), chosen from the following:
Students successfully completing a Faculty Certificate in Bioethics with average grades of credit or above can progress to a Graduate Diploma of Bioethics and receive exemptions with credit for the corresponding subjects in the graduate diploma course.
Inquiries or applications for the Master of Bioethics, Masters Qualifying, the Graduate Diploma of Bioethics, and the Faculty Certificate in Bioethics should be directed, in the first instance, to the administrative officer (telephone (03) 9905 4279). Inquiries concerning the PhD should be directed to Dr Justin Oakley, director, Centre for Human Bioethics (telephone (03) 9905 4266).
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