Overview

This unit introduces students to a selection of the most pressing ethical questions and concerns raised by current and recent developments in the so-called ‘biotech revolution’, especially in the sphere of body-modifying technologies. It will prepare students to play an active part in forging new ethical frameworks and social policies for the future.

Requisites

Prerequisites
SOC30021 Bioethics and Biotechnology

Rule for this unit

50 credit points

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Analyse competing sources of evidence about the influence of health technologies and technologies that influence health and well-being across the human life course.
  • Assess the main social implications of the ‘biotechnology revolution’.
  • Distinguish a social science approach to technologies from technological determinism.
  • Communicate social science ideas/theories, principles and knowledge in oral and written form.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Various
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Online QuizIndividual 25% 2,3,4 
Oral AssessmentIndividual 30% 2,3,4 
Written AssignmentIndividual 45% 1,2,4 

Content

  • The ‘biotechnology revolution’ creates choices where once there were none.
  • Social and ethical implications of new technologies such as genetic engineering, infertility technologies, stem cell research, therapeutic cloning or genetically modified foods. 
  • An introducion to a selection of the most pressing ethical questions and concerns raised by current and recent developments in the so-called ‘biotech revolution’, especially in the sphere of body-modifying technologies. 

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.