Courses

College of Law

Bioethics

Course Number: 6555
Professor: Melissa Ballengee Alexander
Credit Hours & Type of Credit: 3
Semester Offered: Fall
Required: No
Prerequisites: Students must have completed their first year of law school
Recommended Courses: None

Course Overview: Interesting issues surrounding euthanasia, assisted reproduction, and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment are in the news constantly. This course analyzes the role law plays in resolving ethical issues in healthcare. In addition to learning substantive law, this course emphasizes critical thinking and is designed to give students practice researching, writing, presenting and making persuasive oral arguments. Class will often include practical exercises, hypotheticals, debate and other active learning.

Course Materials: See the current Book List located under Courses and Curriculum.
Course Format: Class lecture and discussion, presentations, practical exercises
Written Assignments: Research paper
Type of Exam: None
Basis for Grading Student Performance: Paper, participation, and presentation
Other Comments: An interesting course with practical teaching on advanced directives, capacity, and other issues that recur frequently in real law practice.