Faculty Certificate in Bioethics

• General information
• Entry requirements
• Course structure
• Advanced standing
• Inquiries and applications

General information

Program code: 2525 + On-campus mode and off-campus distributed learning mode + Program fees: Local students -- $A3,950; international students -- fees to be advised (international students can undertake this program only by off-campus distributed learning) + Coordinator: Justin Oakley
This program, 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.

Entry requirements

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):

• candidates must provide references from at least two suitably qualified people (one of whom should be their employer, if relevant) who can attest to their capacity to undertake tertiary studies involving a high degree of independence in learning
• candidates will be expected to show evidence of substantial employment experience in a professional field related to bioethics, including nursing, pharmaceutical and health care management, and para-legal work dealing with health care
• in such fields, substantial employment experience is defined as a minimum of five years professional experience or independent employment which includes both administrative and managerial duties or equivalent competencies and substantial research experience, preferably involving the production of monographs, papers, or research-based reports
• in other fields of professional employment, evidence of advanced competency in relevant skills, including independent research and analysis, the planning and implementation of a substantial research project and advanced written and oral communication skills.

Course structure

The program requires completion of any two 12-point units (a total of 24 points), chosen from the following:

• CHB4101 Ethics
• CHB4102 Questions of life and death
• CHB4203 Ethical issues in patient care
• CHB4204 Legal issues in bioethics

Advanced standing

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 units in the graduate diploma course.

Inquiries and applications

Inquiries or applications for the Master of Bioethics by coursework, 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, on telephone (03) 9905 4266.

Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents