Bioethics focuses on the ‘reasonableness’ of human choices and actions that typically occur in health sciences practice, such as end-of-life decision-making, artificial reproduction / genetic manipulation, medical research practices and population-level allocation of health resources. The course begins with a general consideration of ethics before delving into medical practice and bioethics in particular. Students learn to debate ethical issues such as conflicts in honoring patient requests, when randomized trials are acceptable, how to think about rationing limited health or nutritional resources, and appropriate responses to patient requests to be informed about health and longevity prospects. One goal of this course is to raise awareness and inform students about the moral choices and decisions that are a part of health care careers.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply scientific processes to make evidence-based decisions on bioethical issues.
2. Examine & explain basic concepts, theories, and principle approaches to the study of bioethics.
3. Identify the roles, responsibilities, and codes of ethics of stakeholders involved in decision-making processes.
4.  Analyze and describe ethical dilemmas faced in scientific research, examine how the research may impact individuals, communities, and society across the globe and provide solutions to these problems/solutions.
5. Apply bioethical principles through analysis of case studies.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 – Introduction to Bioethics

Week 2: Unit 2 – Ethics of Environmental Issues

Week 3: Unit 3 – Ethics Associated with Climate Change

Week 4: Unit 4 – Ethics Associated with Genetic Engineering

Week 5: Unit 5 – Bioethics of Health Care

Week 6: Unit 6 – Ethics Associated with Disease Treatment and Prevention 

Week 7: Unit 7 – Bioethics and the Use of Human Subjects in Research

Week 8: Unit 8 – Ethics associated with End of Life

Week 9: Unit 9 – Course Review and Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Introduction to Bioethics

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Ethics of Environmental Issues

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: Ethics Associated with Climate Change

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: Ethics Associated with Genetic Engineering

• Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: Bioethics of Health Care

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Ethics Associated with Disease Treatment and Prevention 

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 7: Bioethics and the Use of Human Subjects in Research

• Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Ethics associated with End of Life

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation
• Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
• Take the Review Quiz

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
• Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
• The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor