Curriculum, Course Descriptions and Learning Outcomes

The minor in bioethics requires at least seven courses completed with a grade of “C” or better. The science requirement is satisfied by four courses in biology or three courses in the natural sciences. The ethics requirement is satisfied by completing three courses in philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology, or health systems management. Finally, one interdisciplinary course is required (BIET 395: Special Topics). See below for detailed information about which specific courses satisfy these requirements. Students also must officially declare the minor by going on LOCUS to add the bioethics minor.

Please note that one of the three ethics courses must be taken at the 300-level. This means that in addition to BIET 395 one of the three ethics courses must be a 300-level course.

Science Requirement

Students will choose one of the following areas to fulfill the science requirement.

Biology (BIOL) (all four)

• BIOL 101: General Biology I
• BIOL 111: General Biology I lab
• BIOL 102: General Biology II
• BIOL 112: General Biology II lab

Life Sciences (any three)

• ANTH 101: Human Origins
• ANTH 103:Bio Background for Human Social Behavior
• ANTH 104: Human Ecological Footprint
• ANTH 105: Human Biocultural Diversity
• ANTH 106: Sex, Science & Anthropological Inquiry
• ANTH 280: Evolution of Human Disease
• ANTH 303: People and Conservation
• ENVS 204: Evolution and Genetics
• ENVS 207: Plants and Civilization
• ENVS 218: Biodiversity and Biogeography
• ENVS 223: Soil Ecology
• ENVS 224: Climate and Climate Change
• ENVS 226: Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems
• ENVS 273: Energy and the Environment
• ENVS 274: Chemistry of the Environment
• ENVS 280: Principles of Ecology
• ENVS 283: Environmental Sustainability
• ENVS 301: Environmental Health
• ENVS 385: Introduction to Global Health
• ENVS 387: Principles of Ecotoxicology

Ethics Requirement

Note: Starting in fall 2019, all students who declare the Bioethics Minor will be required to take Philosophy 284 (Introduction to Health Care Ethics) as a foundations course for the degree.  Students who declared the minor prior to fall 2019 may choose to either fall under the previous requirements or the new ones set for fall 2019.

Beyond the foundations course, students take 2 additional ethics courses, one of which must be at the 300 level. The courses from which to choose include:

History (HIST)

• HIST 301: Plagues: The Black Death and Other Pandemics

Philosophy (PHIL)

• PHIL 284: Health Care Ethics (note: this is the required foundational course for the minor)
• PHIL 287: Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 355: Neuroethics
• PHIL 369: Philosophy of Medicine
• PHIL 398: The John Grant Seminar in Health Care Ethics

Theology (THEO)

• THEO 182: Moral Problems: Medical Issues
• THEO 184: Moral Problems: Ecology
• THEO 204: Religious Ethics & the Ecological Crisis
• THEO 342: Perspectives on Life and Death
• THEO 343: Contemporary Christian Sexuality
• THEO 344: Theology and Ecology 

The following courses count for the minor if the specific topic treated relates to bioethics:

• PHIL 324: Topics in Ethics
• PHIL 389: Contemporary Issues
• PHIL 398: John Grant Seminar in Health Care Ethics
• THEO 180: Theology and Interdisciplinary Study
• THEO 192: Moral Problems
• THEO 393: Religion and Ecology 

Health Systems Management (HSM):

• HSM 110: Health Care in America
• HSM 210: Introduction to Global Healthcare
• HSM 220: Aging in America
• HSM 230:  Fundamentals of Health Equity

Psychology (PSYC):

• PSYC 235: Psychology of Human Sexuality
• PSYC 238: Gender & Sex Differences & Similarities
• PSYC 349: Maturity & Aging
• PSYC 373: Health Psychology

Sociology (SOCL):

• SOCL 226: Science, Technology and Society*
• SOCL 225: Sociology of Health Care
• SOCL 270: Sociology of Science*
• SOCL 272: Environmental Sociology 
• SOCL 278: Global Health

* These courses count only when they address topics in bioethics.

Interdisciplinary Requirement

• BIET 395: Special Topics (for example: Environmental Ethics; HIV/AIDS; Reproduction & Reproductive Technologies, Death & Dying, Neuroscience & Neuroethics). Prerequisites: Must have completed two of the science requirements and two of the ethics requirements.

Double-Dipping Policy

• Students may not major and minor in the same discipline.
• Majors: Not less than 21 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each major; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one major, not of more than one major.
• Minors and interdisciplinary minors: not less than 8 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each minor; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one minor, not of more than one minor or major.