Issues in Professional & Applied Ethics

Subject 161-521 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 2-hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Admission to the MA in Professional and Applied Ethics, or by permission of the course co-ordinator.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Dr Neil Levy
Subject Overview:

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 the professionals, defamation, racial vilification, problems raised by new developments in biotechnology, treatment of asylum seekers and suspected terrorists and the ethics of war and military intervention. The course will also introduce students to normative ethical theories as an aid to the developing coherent position on the controversies discussed.

Assessment: A 1500 word essay 30% (due at the end of the fifth week of the semester) and a 3500 word essay 70% (due at the end of semester).
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

A booklet of prescribed readings will be issued to students.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • understand and analyse complex ethical issues;
  • detect ambiguity, vagueness, inconsistency, and other weaknesses in the expressions of ideas;
  • distinguish different types of question, claim or argument, and respond to them appropriately;
  • distinguish what is relevant to a given issue from what is not;
  • see ways in which an argument or explanation could be improved.
Related Course(s): Master of Arts (Science, Communication and Society)
Master of Arts in Professional and Applied Ethics
Master of Public Health
Master of Public Policy and Management (Coursework)
Master of Social Health (Health Ethics)
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Ethics
Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Ethics

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