End of Life Healthcare Ethics MSc

Course details

The MSc in End-of-Life Healthcare Ethics is a unique ground-breaking multidisciplinary course that will enable you to identify, research and critically evaluate the ethical, professional, legal and philosophical underpinnings of end-of-life decisions and care in hospital and healthcare settings. It will normally be undertaken part-time over a two-year period. The course is primarily intended for health professionals (e.g. registered nurses, doctors, consultants, directors of nursing, pharmacists, speech therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists); allied professionals (e.g. hospital and nursing home administrators, social workers, chaplains, psychologists, members of clinical and research ethics committees); solicitors; theologians, counsellors; journalists and members of the general public with a keen interest in the subject area.  

Course Details

You will complete modules to the value of 90 credits in total; 45 credits in Part 1 and 45 credits in Part 2.

PART 1 (Year 1)

Modules:

• Introduction to End-of-Life Decision-making (5 credits)
• The Ethics of Cure and Care (10 credits)
• End-of-Life Decision-making and the Role of Legal Rights (10 credits)
• The Philosophy of Death and Dying (10 credits)Ethical Controversies in End-of-Life Care (10 Credits)

PART 2 (Year 2)

Modules:

•  Ethical Governance (5 Credits)
• Dissertation (30 Credits)
• Philosophical and Empirical Research Methodologies (10 credits)

Detailed Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 

(a) Candidates for the MSc (End-of-Life Healthcare Ethics) must satisfy the following:

• normally hold an Honours primary degree (minimum of a Second Class Honours Grade I) in a relevant subject (e.g. nursing, medicine, pharmacy, clinical therapies, philosophy, law, theology, social sciences) OR in any discipline and either possess a postgraduate qualification in a relevant field or show evidence of at least two years' work experience in a relevant field. 
• applicants with a Second Class Honours Grade 2 will also be considered on a case by case basis.

(b) Applicants will be judged on academic credentials, previous experience and their personal statement.

Course Practicalities

• In Part 1, you are expected to attend college for lectures, tutorials and seminars for the last Monday and Tuesday of each month 
• In Part 2, you are expected to attend college for the last Monday and Tuesday of each month  On successful completion of a dissertation, to be submitted in July 2016, you will be awarded an MSc in End-of-Life Healthcare Ethics.

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, group discussions, seminars, and workshops. You will also identify and critically discuss challenging cases drawn from clinical practice, engage in debates and participate in simulated court proceedings. You are required to have internet access for online learning and discussion boards where appropriate.