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Bioethics Minor

Minor

Degree Type:
MIN
College:
College of Arts & Sciences
Department:
Interdisciplinary Studies

Ask big questions. Explore pressing issues. Make informed decisions.

With rapid advancements in healthcare, genetics, data science, and artificial intelligence, the field of bioethics is more relevant and critical than ever. This exciting, timely minor explores the connections between science, medicine, philosophy, religion, law, and business.

Rooted in Philosophy

Study history’s biggest thinkers. Gain a foundation in philosophical and religious perspectives through courses like ethical theory and Catholic moral theology.

Focused on Practical Application

Explore the ethical implications of medical and scientific research — and develop the skills and knowledge to help you navigate bioethical issues in professional settings.

  • Rooted in Philosophy

    Study history’s biggest thinkers. Gain a foundation in philosophical and religious perspectives through courses like ethical theory and Catholic moral theology.

  • Focused on Practical Application

    Explore the ethical implications of medical and scientific research — and develop the skills and knowledge to help you navigate bioethical issues in professional settings.

Program Overview & Outcomes

Conception and birth. Sickness and health. Aging and dying. The bioethics minor explores complex moral issues surrounding these aspects of humanity, and more. You’ll draw from deep intellectual and spiritual traditions of philosophy and theology as you approach emerging technology and the contemporary healthcare and research landscape.

Curriculum: What You Will Learn

You'll complete 18 credit hours across philosophy, theology, and historical, social, and scientific perspectives on health and medicine.

View Program Catalog

  • Philosophical and Religious Perspectives (choose one)

    Arrupe Scholars: Social Justice Research

    3 Credits

    PJHR3500

    Delve into social justice research by creating a focused reading list and writing a substantial paper that informs your advocacy project.

    Ethical Theory

    3 Credits

    PL2081

    Detailed examination of some of the major philosophical theories about the nature and justification of moral principles of rightness, obligation, and value. Special emphasis is given to the contemporary developments of such theories.

    Catholic Moral Theology

    3 Credits

    TRS3530

    Engage with Catholic moral theology by exploring conscience, sin, and the Church's role in current ethical debates on sexuality, healthcare, and social justice.

  • Bioethics Core (choose one)

    Bioethics

    3 Credits

    PL2088

    Navigate the ethical landscape of bioethics, tackling pressing issues like organ transplantation and patient rights while exploring the future of healthcare.

    Knowledge and Reality: Special Topics

    1-3 Credits

    PL2098

    In-depth study of specific philosophical theories and problems or of a particular philosopher’s work.

    Health Care Ethics

    3 Credits

    TRS3583

    Navigate the ethical landscape of healthcare delivery, exploring how moral considerations shape practices and policies.

  • Additional Philosophical and Religious Perspectives (choose two)

    Philosophy of Science

    3 Credits

    PL2041

    Major philosophical problems raised by science: the nature of scientific inference, the structure of scientific theories, causality, explanation, scientific change, and the role of values in science.

    Feminist Philosophies

    3 Credits

    PL2051

    Challenge norms by dissecting feminist philosophies that intersect gender with race, class, and more through global readings and discussions.

    Ethical Theory

    3 Credits

    PL2081

    Detailed examination of some of the major philosophical theories about the nature and justification of moral principles of rightness, obligation, and value. Special emphasis is given to the contemporary developments of such theories.

    Contemporary Ethical Problems

    3 Credits

    PL2085

    The application of ethical concepts to some of the most pressing moral problems of today. Topics come from areas such as the environment, medicine, and law.

    Bioethics

    3 Credits

    PL2088

    Navigate the ethical landscape of bioethics, tackling pressing issues like organ transplantation and patient rights while exploring the future of healthcare.

    Knowledge and Reality: Special Topics

    1-3 Credits

    PL2098

    In-depth study of specific philosophical theories and problems or of a particular philosopher’s work.

    Catholic Moral Theology

    3 Credits

    TRS3530

    Engage with Catholic moral theology by exploring conscience, sin, and the Church's role in current ethical debates on sexuality, healthcare, and social justice.

    Bioethics

    3 Credits

    TRS3563

    Debate pressing bioethical issues in healthcare, integrating diverse moral perspectives, including Catholic teachings, on topics like genetic manipulation and euthanasia.

    Health Care Ethics

    3 Credits

    TRS3583

    Navigate the ethical landscape of healthcare delivery, exploring how moral considerations shape practices and policies.

  • Historical, Social, and Scientific Perspectives (choose two)

    Social Inequality and Disease

    3 Credits

    BL2600

    Connect poverty and health by examining real-world issues like diabetes and HIV/AIDS; confront ethical dilemmas in public health through a global lens.

    ISJ: History of Medicine in America

    3 Credits

    HS1137

    Investigate the transformation of healthcare in America, from colonial healing practices to modern medical advancements and the social implications of disease.

    ISJ: History of Science and the Body in America

    3 Credits

    HS1138

    Investigate how societal constructs of race, sex, and gender impact scientific understandings of the human body and social inequalities.

    ISJ: Health, Medicine, and Society

    3 Credits

    HS1239

    Explore the history of health, disease, and medicine in the West, with attention to science, treatment, gender, class, and access to care.

    Current Issues in Public Health

    1 Credits

    PBHL2500

    Engage in pressing public health debates and tackle real-world issues impacting communities through an interdisciplinary lens.

    Healthcare Professionals: Clinical Decision Making, Ethics, & Justice

    3 Credits

    PHP2790

    Analyze complex clinical scenarios through case studies, focusing on ethics and justice in healthcare decisions regarding life, rights, and access.

    Comparative Health Systems

    3 Credits

    PO3270

    Critique healthcare systems worldwide, equipping you with the tools to navigate public health dilemmas and policy challenges.

    Public Health in U.S. Society

    3 Credits

    SC2730

    Identify public health disparities in the U.S. and confront the social inequalities affecting treatment access through targeted discussions on critical health issues.

    Gender, Health and Medicine

    3 Credits

    SC3250

    Investigate the intricate ties between gender and health, focusing on medical practices, technologies, and the impact of social inequalities on health outcomes.

    Culture, Environment, and Global Health

    3 Credits

    SC3700

    Patterns of disease and illness in relation to subsistence patterns and the natural environment; nutrition and life cycle effects of disease distribution; disease, economic development, and the epidemiological transition; cross-cultural and international medicine in a global context; current major global health problems.

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Bioethics pairs well with a range of academic programs. Here are some related areas of study to explore.

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