Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2035: Critical Bioethics

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:

  • History and themes of bioethics
  • Abortion
  • Bioethics, philosophy and empirical social sciences
  • Direct to consumer genetic testing : sex selection
  • Genetic engineering
  • Global Bioethics
  • Prenatal testing

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 22Weekly 1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar. Each student will once submit a summary of a reading prior to the seminar.
Guided Independent study128Independent, guided study: Weekly reading (44 hours), preparation of seminar presentation (20 hours), research for the essay (50 hours), preparation for the essay (64 hours).

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Contribution to seminar discussionsContinuous1, 4, 5, 7, 8Oral

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
70030

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay703000 words1-10Oral and Written
Presentation and handout3010 minutes and 500 words1,3,4,5,6Oral and Written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssayEssay (3000 words)1-10August/September reassessment period
Presentation and handoutSummary of 1 module reading (1000 words)1-10August/September reassessment period