Key facts

Overview

This is a short (ten week) online course designed to help students of science and working scientists to understand, reflect on and engage with some of the key ethical and social issues thrown up by biological science and technology.

Programme details

View a sample unit of this course.

Through guided readings, online discussion, case studies and other activities participants will consider the social and ethical implications of increases in life span, cloning, genetic modification, genetic differences in race and gender, clinical trials in the developing world, eugenics, private markets in organs for transplant and the ownership of human tissue.

The course was created by Marianne Talbot, Director of Studies in Philosophy for the Department for Continuing Education.

She adds: "These days science students cannot afford to be oblivious to the ethical and social issues surrounding their subjects. The online course in bioethics is designed especially for science graduates with no background in philosophy. All who complete it will find that they can discuss these issues with confidence."

Requirements

Minumium Specification Hardware: PC 600Mhz 128MB of RAM 400MB of free hard disk space. SVGA display 800x600. CD-ROM drive (4X). Speakers and Soundcard. 56K Modem (if connecting by phone line). Mouse / keyboard/ 3.5" floppy drive or some other means of offline storage. Internet access. We strongly recommend that students have access to a printer.

Software: Windows 2000, XP or Vista. Either Internet Explorer 6 (or above) or the latest version of Mozilla Firefox. The following plug-ins - Flash 5 Player or higher; Adobe Acrobat 4 viewer or higher (standard edition); QuickTime Player; Microsoft Office 2000 Professional/Premium, Office XP Professional, or Office 2003 Professional or Office 2007 Professional. All the above components must be installed and maintained correctly.

Course aims

This course will help participants to:

• acquire a sensitivity to the social and ethical context in which science must work
• understand some of the key ethical and social issues related to bioethics
• analyse and evaluate arguments for the different positions that people might adopt with respect to these issues
• reflect on and argue for their own position in relation to these issues
• acquire an understanding of the key drivers in the formation of public opinion.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms are rated 3-star, and come with free high-speed internet access and TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

Scholarships

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Students enrolled on MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care: £1575.00

Students enrolled on Postgraduate Cert in Health Research: £1575.00

Students enrolled on Postgraduate Dip in Health Research: £1575.00

Short course in health sciences: £1890.00

Programmes including this module

This module can be studied as part of these programmes:

• MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research
• Short courses in health sciences