Bioethics
Office: 524 Cabell Hall;
Phone: (434)924-7863
The interdisciplinary minor in bioethics has been designed for students who wish to pursue a rigorous course of study in biology, medicine, ethics, law, and the social sciences. Bioethics courses explore the relevance of philosophical and theological ethics for social problems emerging from recent developments in biology and medicine, and provide students with a solid background in basic biology and moral/political philosophy.
The bioethics minor course requirements include 21 credit hours. A student must take:
- one course at the introductory level [RELG 265--Theology, Ethics, Medicine (fall) or PHIL 154--Life and Death (spring)];
- BIOL 121 (Human Biology) or BIOL 201-202;
- 6 credits at the 300-level or higher in ethical and/or political theory (3 hours of which must be in ethics); and
- 9 credits at 300-level or higher in bioethics electives or closely related courses (6 credits of which must be in regular bioethics courses).
Beginning students are strongly advised to take RELG 265 and BIOL 121 (or BIOL 201-202) during their first or second years.
For more information on the undergraduate bioethics program, please see the web site. The director of the bioethics minor is John Arras, Porterfield Professor of Biomedical Ethics, Department of Philosophy, 524 Cabell Hall, e-mail: .