Course manual 2024/2025
Course content
In this course you will develop tools for navigating the ethical issues one is confronted with during a career in science. You will gain basic insight into ethical reasoning, familiarity with core principles of scientific integrity, and will be able to deliberate critically about your ethical responsibilities as a scientist. Drawing on various ethical frameworks, perspectives, and values, we will build these skills through discussions of a wide range of concrete cases and dilemmas you may face (both in your professional capacity and more broadly as a concerned member of society).
Study materials
Other
Objectives
- Students can apply moral principles of scientific integrity across a range of cases and settings
- Students can identify and reason critically about moral questions, concerns, and dilemmas relevant to their field
- Students understand different ethical frameworks/perspectives and can use them to deliberate about how to conduct ethical scientific research
- Students can actively and respectfully discuss/debate controversial ethical issues
Teaching methods
- Seminar
- Self-study
- Presentation/symposium
The course consists of four seminars in which students are expected to play an active role (including partner and small group work, debates, etc.). Students will prepare short pre- and post-class assignments to reflect on each seminar's theme and contents. They will also prepare a small group presentation for the final seminar and turn in a short individual case analysis.
Learning activities
|
Activity
|
Hours
|
|
Seminars
|
8
|
|
Self study
- 8hrs pre-/post-class assignments
- 8hrs reading
- 8hrs group presentation prep
- 10hrs indiv. case analysis
|
34
|
|
Total
|
42
|
Attendance
Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):
- Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance is required. Because the course consists of four seminars, an absence will only be excused in serious
circumstances, in which case the student will need to consult with the coordinator to find alternative means of
participating. If a student misses more than one seminar (whatever the reason), they will have missed half of the contact
hours and will not be able to pass the course.
Assessment
| Item and weight
|
Details
|
|
| |
Pre-/Post-class assignments
| Must be ≥ pass |
|
| Must be ≥ pass |
|
| Must be ≥ pass |
- Pre-class assignments will be accepted after the deadline until class starts with a .5pt penalty, but after class starts will not be accepted.
- Post-class assignments will be accepted up to 24hrs after the deadline with a 1pt penalty, but after 24hrs will not be accepted (unless specifically arranged with the coordinator in advance).
- Pre-/Post-class assignments will be graded with 3pts (excellent), 2pts (satisfactory), or 1pt (needs improvement). For the 7 assignments students need 12 total points to pass.
- Unless specifically arranged with the coordinator at least 24hrs in advance of the deadline, the individual case analysis will not be accepted after the deadline.
- There are no extensions possible for the group presentation.
- If a student does not meet the requirements to pass the assignments, a resit opportunity will be conducted in the form of an oral examination, in order to assess all of the course learning objectives.
Assignments
- Pre-class Assignments: Before class each week (except for the first) students will submit a short (~250 word) pre-class reflection designed to prepare them for seminar discussion/activities. Specific prompts/tasks will be announced in class and posted to Canvas.
- Post-class Assignments: After class each week, students will submit a short (~250 word) post-class reflection (due by Weds. 17:00pm). Specific prompts/tasks will be announced in class and posted to Canvas.
- Individual Case Analysis: Students will select a morally challenging case/dilemma of their choice and prepare a short analysis of its central moral features and brief conclusion about what to do (or how it should be evaluated). More details will be provided on Canvas.
- Group Presentation: In groups of ~3-4 (depending on course numbers/interests), students will similarly select a challenging case/dilemma, analyze its central moral features, and come to a consensus position about what to do (or how it should be evaluated). More details will be provided on Canvas.
Fraud and plagiarism
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
Course structure
| Week |
Theme |
Assignments (for readings, see Canvas) |
| 1 (June 3) |
Introduction, Ethics Primer, and Code of Conduct |
- Post-class assignment (due Weds. 17:00)
|
| 2 (June 10) |
Research Integrity (cont.) & Science and Risk |
- Pre-class assignment (due 10:00 before class)
- Post-class assignment (due Weds. 17:00)
|
| 3 (June 17) |
Ethics and the Public Role of Science |
- Pre-class assignment (due 10:00 before class)
- Post-class assignment (due Weds. 17:00)
|
| 4 (June 24) |
Wrap-up and Group Presentations |
- Pre-class assignment (due 10:00 before class)
- Presentations (in class)
- Post-class assignment (due Weds. 17:00)
- Individual case analysis (due Fri. 17:00)
|
Coordinator