Biology 301

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