Religion/Ethical Studies (RELE) < Loma Linda University

Courses

RELE 106. Introduction to Health-Care Ethics. 1 Unit.

Introduces the foundations, norms, and patterns of personal integrity as well as professional and social responsibility.

RELE 155. Introduction to Christian Bioethics. 3 Units.

Introduces students to ethical issues in health care from the perspective of Christian tradition.

RELE 257. Health Care Ethics. 2 Units.

Introduces practical ethics for health-care professionals. Draws on the Bible and other religious and philosophical writings.

RELE 455. Christian Understanding of Sexuality. 2 Units.

Interpretations of human sexuality in ancient, medieval, and modern Christian thought, with emphasis on contemporary issues such as marriage, divorce, homosexuality, and artificial human procreation.

RELE 456. Personal and Professional Ethics. 3 Units.

The foundations, norms, and patterns of personal integrity and professional responsibility.

RELE 457. Christian Ethics and Health Care. 2 Units.

Ethical issues in modern medicine and related fields from the perspective of Christian thought and practice.

RELE 499. Directed Study. 1-3 Units.

Individual arrangements for students to study under the guidance of a faculty member. May include readings, literature reviews, written papers, or other special projects. Minimum of thirty hours required for each unit of credit.

RELE 500. Current Issues in Religion and Society. 3,4 Units.

Lecture series addresses a particular topic in bioethics from a variety of theological and religious perspectives. Focuses on current controversial topics in society and health-care settings. May be repeated, depending on topic.

RELE 505. Clinical Ethics. 3 Units.

Case-based analysis of bioethics, with emphasis on clinical applications. Conceptual and historical readings in bioethics.

RELE 515. Faith and Flourishing. 3 Units.

Focuses on major Christian perspectives that have been offered and debated, ranging from models of cultural withdrawal to cultural engagement and transformation. Gives attention to contemporary articulations of various positions and their philosophical and theological assumptions, beginning with a critical examination of the typology made popular by H. Richard Niebuhr in his classic study, Christ and Culture.
Cross-listing: RELT 515.

RELE 522. Bioethical Issues in Social Work. 3 Units.

Theoretical and practical dilemmas in bioethics. Contributions of social workers to these issues.

RELE 524. Bioethics and Society. 3 Units.

Explores—from Christian and philosophical perspectives—issues confronting both society and patients. Uses case studies to illustrate such themes as health disparities, AIDS policy, end-of-life care, and organ transplantation.

RELE 525. Ethics for Scientists. 3 Units.

Ethical aspects of scientific research, with emphasis on Christian contributions.

RELE 534. Ethical Issues in Public Health. 3 Units.

Explores the ethical issues relevant to the diverse professions involved in advancing the public's health. Topics of inquiry include: community-based research, professional practices and responsibilities, cultural and socioeconomic issues, distributive justice, vulnerable populations, local and international mission, development, and research projects.

RELE 535. Ethical Issues in Health-Care Management. 3 Units.

Considers business ethics within health-care institutions. Seeks to find ways that business professionals and health-care professionals can work well together for the benefit of the patients. Topics of inquiry include: corporate culture and self-interest, health-care culture and altruism, unique setting of American health care as industry, and how Christian virtues can encourage moral leadership.

RELE 540. Shame, Guilt, and Pride. 3 Units.

Delves into self-assessing emotions—shame, guilt, and pride—examining their nature, triggers, and ethical implications across disciplines such as philosophy, theology, sociology, and psychology.

RELE 542. Bioethics Integration I. 1 Unit.

Aids dual degree bioethics students to 1) conceptualize required paper that demonstrates their integrated perspective on a specific professional course and bioethics, and 2) articulate integrative ideas in a coherent manner.

RELE 543. Bioethics Integration II. 1 Unit.

RELE 544. Bioethics Integration III. 1 Unit.

Aids dual degree bioethics students to 1) conceptualize required paper that demonstrates integrated perspective on a specific professional course and bioethics, and 2) articulate integrative ideas in a coherent manner.

RELE 545. Bioethics Case Conference I. 1 Unit.

Engages students in discussion of real-life cases in bioethics.

RELE 546. Bioethics Case Conference II. 1 Unit.

Engages students in discussion of real-life cases in bioethics.

RELE 547. Bioethics Case Conference III. 1 Unit.

Engages students in discussion of real-life cases in bioethics.

RELE 548. Christian Social Ethics. 3 Units.

Relationships between Christian beliefs and social theory and practice.

RELE 554. Clinical Ethics Practicum I. 3 Units.

First in a series of three graduate-level seminars in the master’s degree program in bioethics..Theories and applications of ethics in the clinical setting. Introduces students to key concerns in clinical ethics. Provides for practical reasoning skills needed to solve the dilemmas and communication problems in and develop leadership skills in high-quality ethical health care.
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the master's program in bioethics.

RELE 555. Clinical Ethics Practicum II. 3 Units.

The second in a series of three clinical ethics graduate-level seminars in the master's degree program in bioethics. Theories and applications of ethics in the clinical setting. Introduces students to key concerns in clinical ethics, and provides for practical reasoning skills needed to solve the dilemmas and communication problems in clinical settings and develop leadership skills in high-quality ethical health care.
Prerequisite: RELE 554.

RELE 556. Clinical Practicum III. 3 Units.

The third in a series of three clinical ethics graduate-level seminars in the master's degree program in bioethics. Advanced theories and applications of ethics in the clinical setting. Introduces students to key concerns in clinical ethics, and provides practical reasoning skills needed to solve the dilemmas and communication problems in clinical settings and develop leadership skills in high-quality, ethical health care.
Prerequisite: RELE 554.

RELE 564. Ethics and Health Disparities. 3 Units.

Focuses on causes of health disparities and responses to reduce these causes. Gives attention to key health disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Provides a context for analyzing and understanding health disparities and for ethically evaluating inequalities in health status and responses to them.

RELE 565. Aesthetics and Ethics. 3 Units.

Explores health, illness, and the human body through the mediums of art, photography, personal drawings, sculpture, and visual medical tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and other scans. Uses visual representations of the body, exploring various views of health and illness as they relate to concepts of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

RELE 566. History of Health-Care Ethics. 3 Units.

Focuses on the lives of noteworthy figures in the health-care professions. Uses biographies, diaries, literature, and film to identify and analyze the moral virtues and vision of heroic physicians, nurses, and public health advocates from the ancient to the present.

RELE 567. World Religions and Bioethics. 3 Units.

Asks questions pertaining to the relationship between beliefs and ethical decisions, with the aim of clarifying ethical principles that guide decision making within the context of religious diversity. Explores ethical issues related to sickness, health, birth, and death among various religions of the world, such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, and Islam.

RELE 568. Bioethics and the Law. 3 Units.

Introduces legal and regulatory issues relevant to the heavily regulated field of health care. Explores the relationship between health care and basic bioethical principles. Topics include negligence, malpractice, child/elder abuse, HIPAA, forced treatment, and professional license/discipline. Discusses classic cases and current biolaw events. Utilizes mock depositions, presentations by visiting lecturers, and visits to selected live hearings.

RELE 577. Theological Ethics. 3 Units.

Ethical implications of the primary theological legacies of Western culture.

RELE 588. Philosophical Ethics. 3 Units.

Critically assesses various theoretical approaches to ethics in Western culture. Applies theoretical constructs to cases illustrating poverty and health, health-care justice, and informed consent.

RELE 589. Biblical Ethics. 3 Units.

Explores ways—old and new—that the Bible and theology inform moral thought and action. Uses contemporary cases to illustrate the assigned reading and class discussion.

RELE 598. Master's Seminar I. 3 Units.

Integrates theological/philosophical presuppositions, ethical themes, and accepted ethical principles. Student demonstrates mastery of a comprehensive knowledge of the field through an examination to be assessed by ethics faculty. Restricted to bioethics graduate students who have completed 36 units of their program.

RELE 599. Master's Seminar II. 2 Units.

Requires refinement of a previously submitted class paper for submission to a peer-review journal. Student demonstrates the ability to identify an issue, analyze it, appropriately use literature, and creatively conceptualize or even advance the discussion. Involves effective oral presentation of research results. Restricted to bioethics graduate students who have completed 36 units of their program.

RELE 624. Seminar in Christian Ethics. 3 Units.

Advanced study of selected topics in Christian ethics.

RELE 699. Directed Study. 1-6 Units.

RELE 705. Ethics in Pharmacy Practice. 3 Units.

Ethical issues and principles in the contemporary practice of pharmacy. Christian resources and professional expectations for the ethical decisions of pharmacists.

RELE 706. Advanced Ethics in Pharmacy Practice. 2 Units.

Creates an atmosphere of in-depth analysis and discussion of ethics in pharmacy practice. Students bring their own cases to discuss, in addition to course readings, guest lectures, and moral decision-making models.

RELE 707. Ethics for Allied Health Professionals. 2,3 Units.

Ethical issues, cases, and principles in the contemporary practice of allied health professionals. Christian and philosophical resources for ethical decision making.

RELE 708. Medicine and Ethics. 2 Units.

Introduces the study of Christian medical ethics, emphasizing the personal integrity of the physician, the process of moral decision-making, and ethical problems facing contemporary medicine. Provides historical overview of developments in bioethics in the last century relating to topics such as abortion and euthanasia.

RELE 714. Advanced Medical Ethics. 2 Units.

Advanced study of issues and cases in contemporary medical ethics.

RELE 734. Christian Ethics for Dentists. 2 Units.

Ethical issues in contemporary dentistry. Christian resources for ethical decision making.