Course description
* two compulsory subjects
* one of the following options:
OPTION 1:
* A thesis (37.5 points)
* 3 elective subjects
OR
OPTION 2:
* A thesis (50 points) and
* 2 elective subjects
Total 100 points. Subjects are 12.5 points each unless otherwise stated.
Compulsory subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
161-507 Ethical Theory and Practice
This subject involves the philosophical study of issues in professional and applied ethics. It introduces students to a range of concepts and theories relevant to that study, including the nature of moral reasoning and philosophical argumentation. Dr... Semester 1 12.50
161-521 Issues in Professional & Applied Ethics
This course will examine some of the central debates in applied ethics, focussing on ethics and the law. Topics discussed may include ethical issues associated with intellectual property, self-regulation and meta-regulation, social responsibilty of t... Semester 2 12.50
Thesis subject (one of):
Subject Semester Credit Points
161-590 Professional Ethics Thesis
Students enrolled in this subject will be required to produce an original piece of work of approximately 12 000 words length on a topic in professional ethics. Topics may include conceptual investigations into the foundations of professional ethics, ... Semester 1, Semester 2 37.50
161-527 Longer Applied Ethics Thesis
The thesis provides students with the opportunity to research, design and write an original thesis on a topic in applied ethics. Students will also acquire research skills and an understanding of the methods required for advanced research in philosop... Semester 1, Semester 2 50
Elective subjects available at the University of Melbourne:
Subject Semester Credit Points
161-513 Reality and Value
The course asks the questions 'What is the fundamental nature of reality?’, ‘What is the nature of value?’, and ‘What is the relationship between these two things?’. It will proceed by ... Semester 1 12.50
161-515 Global Justice
This subject begins with an analysis of recent attempts to justify the claim that duties of justice apply to the world as a whole. This cosmopolitan point of view is contrasted with nationalist positions which seek to limit duties of distributive jus... Semester 1 12.50
161-518 The Ethics of Sex
The subject explores the nature and moral significance of sex and the central issues in sexual morality. In the first part we look into the main conceptions of human sexuality: the traditional view of sex as meant for procreation, the “ro... Semester 1 12.50
121-545 Understanding Development
This subject forms an introduction to the main past and current theories of development, involving the approaches of several social science disciplines. It also considers many of the major issues in development, including the environment, gender, hum... Semester 1 12.50
161-508 Applied Ethics: Directed Research
An individually negotiated research project in which students investigate a topic in applied ethics. Internship option: With the permission of the subject coordinator, students may undertake this subject as an internship. In this option students will... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
161-519 Ethics of Environmental Responsibility
In this subject we will draw on and examine philosophical theories of responsibility as a means to understand specific environmental controversies. The particular controversies examined may vary from year-to-year in the light of class interests, but ... Semester 2 12.50
161-514 Violence, War and Terrorism
Today, war is still a salient feature of international relations, while terrorism takes on ever more international character and scope. The subject will explore the philosophical—conceptual and moral—issues to do with violence... Semester 2 12.50
505-505 Bioethics: The Fundamental Debates
This subject introduces students to the classic debates in bioethics about reproduction, life and death. Specific topics may include: active and passive euthanasia, abortion, organ transplantation, reproductive and genetic technologies (e.g. cloning,... Semester 2 12.50
505-507 Current Issues in Health Ethics
The subject will involve the identification and exploration of theoretical and philosophical frameworks of participants in debates, resolutions/outcomes, and investigation of alternative positions. Possible topics include allocation of resources, acc... Semester 2 12.50
161-510 Current Issues in Professional Ethics
This subject will not be available in 2009
Elective subjects available from Australian National University (ANU)*:
Subject Semester Credit Points
922-501 ANU-PAAE8008:Criminal Justice Ethics
The institutions and practices of criminal justice are replete with ethical issues: law enforcement, judicial and correctional institutions require justification, and those who work within them must craft a professional ethic for the responsible fulf... Semester 2 12.50
922-502 ANU-PAEE8009:Research Ethics
This course will examine a range of issues in research ethics. It will consider ethical issues relating to the conduct of researchers from research on biomedical issues, through experimentation on animals, to experimentation on human subjects and the... Semester 2 12.50
922-503 ANU-PAAE8001:Political Ethics
This subject will not be available in 2009
922-504 ANU-PAAE8002:Global Justice
Is the scope of duties of justice limited to the nation-state, as has often traditionally been thought? Or are there cosmopolitan duties of justice duties that apply globally? What might the content of any such duties be? And what implications might ... Semester 1 12.50
922-505 ANU-PAAE8003:Mental Health Ethics
This subject will not be available in 2009
922-506 ANU-POGO8076:Corruption & Anticorruption
Contrary to what is sometimes said and thought, corruption is, at its core, a species of moral wrongdoing or of unethical behaviour. While many examples of corrupt activity are also examples of illegal activity, it is not always the case that corrupt... Semester 2 12.50
922-507 ANU-PAAE8005:Ethics and IT
The new computer and information technologies raise numerous ethical issues. The ethical issues themselves are not new, and in many cases have been discussed in a formal and rigorous way at least since the time of the ancient Greeks. But new technolo... Semester 1 12.50
XNTS00023 ANU-PAAE8006:Business Ethics
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
922-509 ANU-PAAE8007:Bioethics
This subject will focus on providing a comprehensive understanding of current key debates within bioethics including: the normative effects of medical technology, in relation to reproductive options and decision making, genetic testing, screening, en... Semester 1 12.50
*Students wishing to take subjects offered by ANU are required to enrol on a Complementary Course basis. Please contact the Faculty of Arts for more information.
