Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Biomedical Ethics (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 3050-01

Course: BIOL 3050-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: BIOL
CRN: 30855

Course Description

Exploration of current ethical problems in the medical research and psychological disciplines and their impacts on society through a Socratic seminar discussion. Additional consideration is given to how religion, culture, and experience contribute to individual perceptions and ethics. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a biological science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other biology course. 
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2010 or equivalent - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

This is a face-to-face course that is in the format of discussions and other in-class activities. Your weekly attendance and timely arrival is vital and required for this class.

We will be covering topics and issues that affect each of us. All of these issues encompass a diversity of experiences and opinions, and some of these issues may be very sensitive or personal to you or your peers. It is therefore of utmost important that you consider other viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences, and opinions, and that all discussion and presentation of viewpoints are respectful of others.

Part of this course will involve case study discussions that will take place in the style of a Socratic seminar. The purpose of this format is to help you develop and exercise the following skills:

  • listening to other's viewpoints and learning to develop empathy for multiple perspectives
  • finding your own voice as you make intellectual connections
  • learning how to converse with others respectfully, without contention and with the goal of contributing to shared experiences (not convincing others of your viewpoints)

Required Texts

  • ATTENDING: MEDICINE, MINDFULNESS, AND HUMANITY by Ronald Epstein, M.D.; ISBN: 9781501121722

We will  be reading this nonfiction work this session. You will be journaling about and discussing the experiences, messages, and philosophies from this text that you found especially meaningful to you, society, or the profession. 


Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify rationales and ethical principles as applied to controversial issues in applications of science.
  2. Investigate scientific background relevant to controversial issues in applied science.
  3. Provide situational judgments for case studies and medically and socially relevant scenarios.
  4. Listen to others' viewpoints and engage in respectful discussion.

Course Requirements

Daily attendance (required): 5 pts. each

Discussions and Quick-write activities:
In-class discussions: 5 pts. each
Quick-writes: 10 pts. each

Reading-based activities:
Reading journal: 15 pts. each
In-class insights: 5 pts. each

Course project:
Pitch session & initial sources: 20 pts.
Annotated bibliography draft: 10 pts.
Final annotated bibliography: 30 pts.
Infographic: 15 pts.
Mini-documentary transcript draft: 15 pts.
Mini-documentary final transcript with bibliography: 50 pts.
Mini-documentary final project: 50 pts.

Grading scale: A: >93; A-: 90-92.9; B+: 87-89.9;  B: 83-86.9;  B-: 80-82; C+: 77-79;  C: 73-76;  C-: 70-72; D: 65-69;  F: < 65

Course Outline

Week 1: Practice in discussing ethics and moral judgments
Week 2: Pillars of biomedical ethics & situational judgments
Week 3: Weighing beneficence & nonmaleficence
Week 4: Justice and Henrietta Lacks; medical oaths
Week 5: Autonomy and shared decision-making
Week 6: End of life decision-making
Week 7: Reproductive autonomy
Week 8: Mental health (infographic workshop)
Week 9: Cultural competency
Week 10: Healthcare systems
Week 11: Project workshop
Week 12: Belmont principles & human experimentation
Week 13: Institutional research board & proposals
Week 14: Mini-documentary project showings

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All course requirements are due by the due date indicated on the assignment. Because I will be aiming to give all feedback on assignments before the next class meeting, I will grant a two (2) day extension if you request an extension from me in writing, via Canvas messages or email. I will not accept assignments past the due date unless you had contacted me before the due date and asked for an extension. Exceptions to this course policy will be granted if you request accommodations as authorized by the Disability Resource Center (see University ADA statement). Other extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other reasons evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis. 

Attendance Policy

This is a face-to-face discussion-based class, and your attendance is required. There are no make-ups for discussion or other in-class activities. Exceptions to this course policy will be granted if you request accommodations as authorized by the Disability Resource Center (see University ADA statement) or for the following types of activities: athletic competitions, academic competitions, fine arts performances, course-related field trips, and professional/academic conferences (as per SUU Policy). Other extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other reasons evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis. If the activities are known prior to the beginning of the semester, you must provide me with a written schedule during the first week of class showing the days you expect to miss. All other notices must be given at the earliest opportunity. You are responsible for material that was covered during your absence(s). Please take advantage of my office hours. 

Course Fees

There are no fees associated with this course. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.