Course Descriptions

PHIL P540 Contemporary Ethical Theories (3 cr.)
Fundamental problems of ethics in contemporary analytic philosophy from G. E. Moore’s Principia Ethica to the present.

PHIL P547 Foundations of Bioethics (3 cr.)
A rigorous examination of bioethical theory and practice. Stress is placed on moral and conceptual issues embedded in biomedical research, clinical practice, and social policy relating to the organization and delivery of health care.

PHIL P549 Bioethics and Pragmatism (3 cr.)
A survey of recent contributions of American philosophy to bioethics. The course strongly focuses on a growing group of philosophers and ethicists who seek their inspiration in Dewey, James, Peirce, Royce, and Mead, while dealing with contemporary issues in medical ethics.

PHIL P550 International Research Ethics Practicum Orientation (1 cr.)
The course will prepare IUPUI students for their International Research Ethics Practicum experience at Moi University. In order to maximize students’ practicum experience while at Moi, which will involve conducting a research project under IUPUI and Moi faculty supervision that will serve as the capstone for the student’s masters degree, good and proper orientation is required. Understanding the mindset of the people with whom students will be dealing is very important and generates mutual respect, as well as a healthy and fruitful working environment. Students thus need to be introduced to the East African cultural perspective with a focus on Kenya. This course will be offered in the form of an interactive seminar series. There will be two course directors; however, most of the seminars will be led by experts who currently are actively involved with the IU-Moi partnership. There will be a total of 12 one-hour seminar meetings over the course of the semester. This course will be a requirement for any student prior to travelling to Moi University for their practicum.

PHIL P551 Practicum in International Research Ethics (5 cr.)
The practicum is an exciting part of the larger curriculum. Before a student will be allowed to register for the practicum, there will be two 1 credit required preparatory courses – M510 and P550. The M510 course will focus on cultural and health issues in Africa, working from a broader global perspective to a local perspective of issues specific to East Africa. The P550 course will provide an orientation specific to the practicum and what to expect while in Eldoret. The Practicum in International Research Ethics (PIRE) will be a combination of observation and discussion with mentors. Students will spend more time observing and discussing ethical issues with the mentors and develop a theoretical analysis based on their practicum experiences.

PHIL P553 Philosophy of Science (3 cr.)
A study of theories with regard to the nature, purpose, and limitations of science. Attention is given to the cognitive significance of theories, the scientific method (hypothesis formation, theory construction, and testing), research paradigms, reductionism, and social epistemology.

PHIL P555 Ethical and Policy Issues in International Research (3 cr.)
Examines ethical and policy issues in the design and conduct of transnational research involving human participants. Topics discussed include: economic and political factors; study design; the role of ethics review committees; individual and group recruitment/informed consent; end of study responsibilities; national and international guidelines.

PHIL P696 Topics In Biomedical Ethics (3 cr.)
Selected topics in bioethics, such as international research ethics; ethical issues in pediatrics; ethical issues in genetics.

ANTH E445 Medical Anthropology (3 cr.)
A cross-cultural examination of a biocultural systems model of human adaptation in health and disease, including: the interaction of biology, ecology, and culture in health; ethnomedical systems in the cross-cultural conception, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of disease; and sociocultural change and health. This course has been approved for graduate credit.

LAW DN761 Law and Public Health (2cr.)
Covers the law governing the practice of public health by state, local, and federal agencies, as well as health care professionals and institutions. Topics addressed include legal mandates on public health agencies, physician, and other health practitioners regarding testing, reporting, and contact tracing with respect to specific diseases, as well as laws for the imposition of quarantine, civil commitment, and mandatory treatment. Also covered are public health aspects of the regulation of health care institutions, legal issues associated with risk assessment and cost benefit analysis, along with the environment.

LAW DN838 Bioethics and Law (3 cr.)
Biological, ethical, and legal aspects of medical genetics, euthanasia, procreational technologies, abortion, organ transplants, “Baby Doe” cases, or other topics of current interest.

MHHS M510 Culture, History and Contemporary health in Africa (1-3 cr.)
There a growing interest in Africa and especially issues in health and disease. This course is meant to introduce a diverse group of students to the broader cultural and historical context of health and disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The course will first explore some features of indigenous cultural systems and consider how both colonial and post-colonial contexts have influenced the development of contemporary African societies. It will then explore the evolution of contemporary and plural health care systems, the efforts of these systems to meet the health needs and challenges/burdens of such diseases as HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

MHHS M504 Introduction to Research Ethics (3 cr.)
Ethical issues in designing, conducting, analyzing and presenting research; includes historical and theoretical background as well as case studies of such issues as scientific misconduct, data management and reporting, publication practices, intellectual property, funding of research and conflict of interest, human subject research and institutional review boards, and public perceptions of science.

SOC R515 Sociology of Health and Illness (3 cr.)
Surveys important areas of medical sociology, focusing on social factors influencing the distribution of disease, help-seeking and health care. Topics covered include social epidemiology, the health care professions, socialization of providers and issues of cost and cost containment.