Course
code: 0122 + Off-campus distributed learning mode, or on-campus mode at
Clayton + Course fees: Local students -- HECS; international students --
$A13,500 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, 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 consists of four units of 12 points each. All students will take CHB5101 (Ethics) in their first semester. Normally, the next unit taken will be CHB5102 (Questions of life and death), followed by CHB5203 (Ethical issues in patient care). For their final unit students must choose one of either CHB5204 (Legal issues in bioethics) or CHB5206 (Bioethics supervised research paper) or CHB5207 (Ethical issues in professional life). Full-time students will enrol in both CHB5203 and CHB5101 concurrently, followed by concurrent enrolment in CHB5102 and either CHB5204 or CHB5206 or CHB5207.
The course consists of four units of 12 points each (a total of 48 points). All students will take CHB5101 (Ethics) in their first semester. Normally, the next unit taken is CHB5102 (Questions of life and death), followed by CHB5203 (Ethical issues in patient care), then either CHB5204 (Legal issues in bioethics) or CHB5206 (Bioethics supervised research paper). Note that CHB5207 (Ethical issues in professional life) is not available by Off-campus distributed learning. Full-time students will enrol in both CHB5101 and CHB5203 concurrently, followed by a concurrent enrolment in CHB5102 and either CHB5204 or CHB5206.
Candidates should note that the minimum pass grade for units in the Master of Bioethics by coursework is 60 C; that is, a grade of credit or above is required in every unit. Candidates are also advised that units will be assessed at a level-five 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.
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