MA Human Rights - Law/Political Science Pathway (Standard Route) / Course details

The aims of this course unit are:

To develop your understanding of health law and bioethics in a global context.

To enable you to critically analyse differing national responses to universal problems in the healthcare context and to consider the factors that contribute to these responses.

To develop your capacity for critical analysis and logical thinking and to encourage independent learning and commitment to scholarship.

To develop a range of transferable and generic skills in problem-solving and reasoning, computer literacy, time management and written communication.

Contact/Interaction Time: 20 hours (this includes at least nine two-hour sessions). 

The additional two hours will be made up either by another two-hour session or through clearly communicated office hours. 

This course unit comprises nine or ten two-hour sessions. The exact format may vary from year to year. Most sessions will involve a presentation by the lecturer together with the opportunity for the class to discuss case studies and other issues raised by the topic. Students may also be placed into small groups to work together on a case study to present to the class at a later session.

Additionally, the students will be expected to undertake private study, approximately as follows:

Preparation for classes: 30 - 50 hours
Research and directed reading: 60 hours
Preparation of assignments: 40 hours


Total time: 150 hours

Have developed a detailed and critical knowledge of how different states have responded to the same healthcare issues.

Have developed a greater understanding of bioethics internationally.

Have developed an understanding of existing regulations and conventions which operate across national boundaries.

Have enhanced your ability to reflect on and to critically analyse a range of issues, specifically in relation to the differing national responses to healthcare issues.

Have reflected on and critically analysed the extent to which, if at all, universal 'codes' are workable in this context.

Have enhanced your ability to undertake independent research using a variety of sources.

Have developed your ability to write critically and analytically on issues raised by the course.

One assessed essay of 4,000 words

Note:  There will be a clear demarcation between essay assignments that are legal in nature and those that deal with ethical issues.

As for Philosophical Bioethics and Medico-Legal Problems; specific reading will be prescribed in advance of each  session.

The following is recommended for the course as a whole:

L.O.Gostin, Global Health Law (HUP, 2014). This is available electronically via the university library.

Information
Formative feedback within this course unit is provided in class discussions.

Feedback on assessed written work is provided through comprehensive written electronic feedback giving both broad indications and detailed comments on strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.

This is an optional course unit for campus-based Health Care Ethics & Law programmes in The School of Law.

Timetable
See CSEP timetable