BIOL 301
Bioethics
1. Catalog Entry
BIOL 301
Bioethics
Credit hours (2) Two hours seminar
Prerequisite: A grade of “C” or better in BIOL 131, BIOL 132, BIOL 231 and BIOL232;
Biology 301 examines the historical, social, cultural, and philosophical bases of
various bioethical controversies. Students will analyze the assumptions underlying
positions, the arguments presented in defense of these positions, and the possibility
of resolving conflicts that arise over the issues involved.
2. Detailed Description of Course
The course will use a case study approach. Case studies will be selected from among
the following categories:
1) The Ethics of Human Experimentation
2) The Ethics of Animal Experimentation
3) Environmental Ethics
4) Ethics in Research
5) Medical Ethics
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will be run on a modified seminar format. There will be occasional lectures,
but most of the time will be devoted to class discussion. Students will have opportunities
to select readings from the primary literature, lead discussions, and write papers
based on library and web-based research.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
By the end of the course students will be expected to accomplish the following goals:
1) Discuss the historical background of selected bioethical controversies
2) Identify the major positions taken in these controversies
3) Identify the explicit and implicit assumption underlying these positions
4) Take a position and defend it against potential criticism
5) Discuss the similarities and differences among historical and contemporary
cases involving bioethical issues
6) Use search engines to identify and retrieve articles from the primary literature
in bioethics
5. Assessment Measures
Students out comes will be evaluated through a variety of methods, which may include:
1) Tests
2) Short reaction papers written in response to readings
3) Presentations and class discussion
4) Journals and other types of informal writing
5) One or more formal papers involving library research
6. Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
January 2011
June 20, 2015