Master of Bioethics

Bioethics is concerned with ethical questions that arise in the contexts of biological and health sciences.

Social concern about such issues has grown with the advancement of biomedical and reproductive health technologies, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research.The study of bioethics has traditionally addressed issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the relationships between health care providers and patients, research involving humans and animals and justice in the distribution of health resources.

Emerging ethical issues are related to risk and health, nanotechnology and global public health.Questions you will address can include:

Who should own bodily material, such as sperm and eggs, or embryos?

When are invasive treatments to sustain life required or unjustifiable?

Can we ever lie to patients?

Should we tell the obese to lose weight, even when we know they feel stigmatised?

Should doctors and health policy makers feel morally obligated to become advocates for social justice?

Admission criteria

Admission to the Master of Bioethics requires

• a bachelor's degree with a credit average from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification in the field of science, medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, philosophy/ethics, sociology, anthropology, history, law or other relevant field; or
• completion of the requirements of an embedded graduate diploma or equivalent qualification.

What you'll study