Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2014-2015 (archived)

Module THMN3047: Selected Questions in Ethics

Department: Theology and Ministry

THMN3047: Selected Questions in Ethics

Type Open Level 3 Credits 10 Availability Not available in 2014/15 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To help students grapple with the major ethical issues faced within and by society today in the medical, political and social spheres.

Content

  • 1. Medical ethics: the beginning of life; abortion; reproduction techniques; medical research and experimentation; the end of life, including euthanasia
  • 2. Social issues; war and peace, including nuclear weapons; church and politics; crime and punishment; business/economics and ethics, including the world of work; professional ethics and the media.
  • 3. Environmental ethics; population; treatment of animals.
  • 4. Sexual ethics: marriage, including divorce and remarriage; extra marital intercourse; homosexuality.
  • 5. Macro-issues: the integrity of creation; forgiveness for past wrongs in a social context; global justice issues.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
  • Show knowledge of the Bible and church teaching relevant to these problems
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Evaluate in a critical way proposed solutions to these problems in a pluralist society.
Key Skills:
  • Recognise the major issues of the day

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • 14 hours contact time including lectures, group discussion, and seminars.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours

Summative Assessment

Component: Essay Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 2500 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

In-class exercise


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University