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Master of Laws (LL.M.) Law (Thesis): Bioethics (45 credits)

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Note: This is the 2019–2020 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .

Offered by: Law     Degree: Master of Laws

Program Requirements

The 45-credit LL.M. program, thesis option, in Bioethics is a research-intensive, interdisciplinary, graduate program focused on developing research interests into a thesis project under the supervision of a faculty member. Graduate-level courses on theoretical and methodological approaches to legal writing complement the research work and thesis completion process, and courses in specific areas of knowledge related to the candidate's research interests complete the program's credit requirements.

Students following the Bioethics option come from the Faculties of Law, Medicine, Religious Studies, or the Department of Philosophy. Entering students pursuing an LL.M., Bioethics are bound by the requirements of the Faculty of Law's LL.M. program (thesis option). For further information regarding this program, please refer to the Bioethics section. See /biomedicalethicsunit/.

Candidates must remain in residence for three terms for which full-time fees will be charged. The third term, usually devoted to thesis research, may be taken the Summer of the first year. If the thesis is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.

Thesis Courses (24 credits)

The Master's Thesis programs consist of a coursework component and a thesis of approximately 100 pages. As part of the thesis requirement, a candidate must provide a protocol to his or her supervisor setting out details as to the thesis topic, the deadlines for the completion of the various thesis courses and the schedule of meetings with the thesis supervisor. Modifications to the protocol must be made in writing and submitted to the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).

Required Courses (12 credits)

  • BIOE 680 Bioethical Theory (3 credits)

    Offered by: Social Studies of Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Bio-Ethics : A survey of some of the main problem areas and common argument forms used in current bioethics. Problem areas include consent, decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment, allocation of scarce resources, research with human subjects and confidentiality. Argument forms include those drawn from diverse ethical theories and traditions.

    Terms: Fall 2019

    Instructors: Friesen, Phoebe (Fall)

  • BIOE 681 Bioethics Practicum (3 credits)

    Offered by: Social Studies of Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Bio-Ethics : Four hours per week supervised placement within health care settings (e.g., intensive care, family practice, clinical ethics committees). In addition, students shall be assigned for the last month of the term to a single intensive placement. Participation in rounds, case discussions, and a weekly seminar.

    Terms: Winter 2020

    Instructors: Ells, Carolyn (Winter)

  • CMPL 641 Theoretical Approaches to Law (3 credits)

    Offered by: Comparative Law (Faculty of Law)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Comparative Law : Introduction to a variety of theoretical approaches to legal scholarship.

    Terms: Fall 2019

    Instructors: Provost, Rene; Anker, Kirsten (Fall)

  • LAWG 601 Communication 1 (1.5 credits)

    Offered by: Law (Faculty of Law)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.

    Terms: Fall 2019

    Instructors: Hung, Yvonne; Smith, Sonia; Abram, Zachary (Fall)

  • LAWG 602 Communication 2 (1.5 credits)

    Offered by: Law (Faculty of Law)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.

    Terms: Winter 2020

    Instructors: Hung, Yvonne; Smith, Sonia; Abram, Zachary (Winter)

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

3 credits from the following

  • BIOE 682 Medical Basis of Bioethics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Social Studies of Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Bio-Ethics : The seminar examines the medical basis of timely ethical dilemmas in health care. Content includes: clinical concepts of pathogenesis, disease, screening, diagnosis, therapeutic interventions and prognosis; decision-making in clinical care and institutional policy development; organization of health care systems including socialized medicine, public health and institutions providing health care; medical research.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2019-2020 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • CMPL 642 Law and Health Care (3 credits)

    Offered by: Comparative Law (Faculty of Law)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Comparative Law : The study of legal and ethical issues raised in medicine and healthcare with a particular focus upon the relationship between patient and healthcare professionals.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2019-2020 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • PHIL 643 Seminar: Medical Ethics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Philosophy : An advanced course devoted to a particular philosophical problem as it arises in the context of medical practice or the application of medical technology.

    Terms: Winter 2020

    Instructors: Kimmelman, Jonathan (Winter)

    • Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken PHIL 543.

  • RELG 571 Ethics, Medicine and Religion (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : The seminar will discuss a variety of topics related to medicine and religion from the point of view of ethics, such as the pact of care between a patient and a physician, the Hippocratic oath, the notions of autonomy and vulnerability, the definitions of personhood and human dignity, the question of rights for people with cognitive disabilities, the debate about the role of religion in bioethics.

    Terms: Winter 2020

    Instructors: Fiasse, Gaelle (Winter)

6 credits at the 500 level or above of Faculty of Law courses or Bioethics courses.

Faculty of Law—2019-2020 (last updated Mar. 25, 2020) (disclaimer)
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