Sydney Bioethics Program
5 January 2006
The University of Sydney is pleased to announce a new postgraduate program in bioethics, commencing in March 2006. The program is designed to meet the growing need for ethics education among scientists, researchers, and professionals in health-related fields and disciplines including medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, health law and health policy. The new bioethics program will also appeal to anyone with a general interest in relationships between the biosciences and society, e.g. health journalists, science communicators, and researchers in the social sciences.
Five degrees will be offered through an articulated coursework program:
- Graduate Certificate in Bioethics
- Graduate Certificate in Bioethics (Biotechnology)
- Graduate Diploma in Bioethics
- Master of Bioethics
- Master of Bioethics (Honours)
The Graduate Certificate (Biotechnology) is specifically designed for those concerned with recent developments in genetics and stem cell research. The Master of Bioethics (Honours) degree provides opportunities for in-depth learning in an area of special interest via an individual research project, and research experience necessary for further postgraduate study including a PhD.
Bioethics is an inherently interdisciplinary field, and the University of Sydney’s Bioethics Program has been designed with this in mind. Development and teaching of the program is shared between the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science, and foundational units of study cover philosophical, sociological and legal approaches to bioethics. As well as gaining a general overview of bioethics, students will be able to follow their interests in depth via elective units on biotechnology, research ethics and/or public health. An additional new unit of study in clinical ethics will be introduced in 2007.
Almost all units of study offered through the program “stand-alone” and so may be taken one at a time by students enrolled in degrees other than Bioethics, students pursuing degrees at other universities, and students who are not currently enrolled (and who do not intend to enrol) for any degree at all. Some units of study will appeal to honours or postgraduate students pursuing degrees in the medical humanities, philosophy, law, biological sciences, health sciences, and public health. Some will also appeal to clinicians, researchers, or other professionals who practice in health-related fields or who conduct research involving human beings or other animals.
For complete staff profiles and additional information, visit the program website or contact the Program Coordinator Dr. Michael Selgelid by email at or by phone at +61 (0)2 9351 7652.