New minor in Bioethics

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By:
Alan Flurry

In an advanced, new linkage between the arts and sciences, the UGA department of philosophy is now offering a minor in Bioethics to enhance students’ ability to think and argue in a manner that will benefit them in a variety of careers and areas of post-graduate study. 

Bioethics is the interdisciplinary study of ethical and philosophical issues that arise in the context of medicine and bioresearch. The minor in Bioethics provides students with the opportunity to achieve a deeper understanding of the ethical questions that arise in the context of medical practice and biomedical research, as well as to increase their familiarity with the concepts and arguments used in the field. 

"The department is excited about our new interdisciplinary Bioethics minor, which we developed in consultation with the Division of Biological Sciences," said Aaron Meskin, professor and head of the department of philosophy. "The program builds on the department's significant research strengths in ethics and applied ethics and is a response to significant student and university interest in the role of ethics in medicine and healthcare more generally." 

The new minor will begin accepting students in Fall 2025 and is linked with a new upper-level course entitled Advanced Topics in Bioethics.

A Bioethics minor will assist students' development of analytical and critical thinking skills with special emphasis on ethical reasoning. The curriculum includes three required ethics courses in philosophy, plus a choice from a range of elective courses across Franklin College departments. These courses cover the fundamental principles of ethical thought, the specific issues and theories addressed in the field of bioethics, and the broader health and medical context, providing students with the tools to address the most critical contemporary issues in bioethics. 

"In a world characterized by rapidly developing technology, the ability to engage carefully and thoughtfully with ethical questions will be immeasurably important," said Melissa Seymour Fahmy, associate professor and undergraduate coordinator in the department of philosophy. "We're very excited to offer students this new opportunity to develop these skills."

 

 
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