Master of Bioethics
The discipline of bioethics is concerned with ethical questions arising in contexts of biological and health sciences. Social concern about such issues has grown with advances in biomedical technologies, as illustrated by contemporary debates over reproductive technologies, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research.
Traditional topics in bioethics include abortion, euthanasia, relationships between health care providers and patients, research involving humans and animals, and justice in the distribution of health resources. Emerging topics include ethical issues related to risk and health, nanotechnology and global public health.
Overview
Bioethics is an inherently interdisciplinary field located at the intersections of ethics, policy and the biomedical sciences. The University has a range of postgraduate programs in the field of bioethics that are unique in their explicit engagement of this interdisciplinarity.
Increasing levels of expertise are provided through completion of an articulated coursework masters program. The programs include:
- Graduate Certificate in Bioethics
- Graduate Diploma in Bioethics
- Master of Bioethics
- Master of Bioethics (Honours)
Design, teaching and coordination of the program is jointly provided by the Unit for
History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) in the Faculty of Science and the Centre for
Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine (VELIM) in the Faculty of Medicine.
Who should study this program?
These programs respond to the widely recognised growing need for ethics education for scientists, researchers and professionals working in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, health law, health and public policy, science communication and related fields.
These programs are also likely to be of interest to students who wish to explore the relationships between science and society or disciplines related to bioethics such as applied philosophy, politics, law, sociology and anthropology.
All bioethics units of study are standalone and may be taken one at a time by students not enrolled in Bioethics or other programs. Certain units offered through this program (such as Core Concepts in Bioethics; Human and Animal Research Ethics; Ethics and Public Health; and Clinical Ethics) are expected to be popular with postgraduate students pursuing degrees in other fields such as medical humanities, law, biological sciences, health sciences, public health, and disciplines involving human or animal experimentation. Bioethics units of study (especially Clinical Ethics) are also relevant to clinicians and other professionals working in health-related fields.
Mode of Delivery
The Master of Bioethics program can be completed in one year by full-time students or over two years by part-time students. To accommodate working professionals, class sessions will generally be held in the evening or in intensive formats.
Admission Requirements
Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters programs:
- a Bachelor degree in science, medicine, allied health sciences, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, history, law, or other relevant field
Master of Bioethics (Honours):
- admission requirements are as above, but students must complete at least four units of study in the Bioethics program and achieve a distinction average or better before upgrading to this degree program.
Program Requirements
Graduate Certificate in Bioethics (GradCertBioethics):
- satisfactory completion of 24 credit points (cp) including Core Concepts - BETH5000
- any two foundational units
- one additional foundational or elective unit
Graduate Diploma in Bioethics (GradDipBioethics):
- satisfactory completion of 36 cp including Core Concepts - BETH5000
- any three foundational units
- two additional foundational or elective units
Master of Bioethics (MBioethics):
- satisfactory completion of 48 cp including Core Concepts - BETH5000
- all four foundational units
- three elective units
Master of Bioethics (Honours) [MBioethics(Honours)]:
- satisfactory completion of 60 cp including all requirements for the Master of Bioethics
- two research project units - BETH5301, BETH5302
Units of Study
Please note that not all units of study are offered in both semesters. All units of study are 6 credit points. Up-to-date information on units of study offered in the Bioethics program.
Credit for previous study
It is possible to count units of study (taken previously within the Bioethics program as free-standing units) towards the available award courses upon application to the program. Credit may also be obtained for bioethics units of study offered through the University’s professional Master of Medicine program so long as these same units are not counted towards another degree being conferred to the student. Information about credit for units of study taken at other universities is available on request.
Annual intake
30
Minimum Program Duration - Full Time
- GradCertBioethics - 1 semester
- GradDipBioethics - 2 semesters
- MBioethics - 2 semesters
- MBioethics(Honours) - 3 semesters
Minimum Program Duration - Part Time
- GradCertBioethics - 2 semesters
- GradDipBioethics - 3 semesters
- MBioethics - 4 semesters
- MBioethics (Honours) - 5 semesters
Is Mid-Year Entry Available?
Yes
Application Information
Application information for Local Students
Application information for International Students
English Language Requirements
For more information on the Bioethics Program please visit its website: www.usyd.edu.au/bioethics