Applied communication in biomedicine 1 including philosophy of science and bioethics, 8 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree worth at least 180 credits in biomedicine, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, medicine or equivalent exam. English language skills equivalent to English B (with at least the grade Pass) are required.

Upon completion of the course, the student should:

Regarding knowledge and understanding

• be able to explain the central principles regarding scientific communication, philosophy of science and bioethics,
• know how to apply rhetorical tools, choose the most efficient arguments, and the vocabulary required to reach out to different audiences within and outside the research community,
• know how to use the structure and language style appropriate for a scientific article, especially the English used.

Regarding competence and skills

• be able to give a structured oral presentation and be able to handle a presentation computer programme,
• be able to summarise in writing, in the form of an abstract, scientific articles within the biomedical field,
• be able to produce a well-structured and well-designed poster,
• be able to analyse and present scientific theoretical issues or ethical problems, including global justice, related to the biomedical field.

Regarding judgement and approach

• be able to review and critically assess scientific presentations,
• show a professional, scientific and ethical attitude to presentations of experimental data and other acquired information.

The course is centred around basic applied communication within the biomedical field. During the course, philosophy of science and bioethics are also covered.

The teaching includes lectures, group tuition and project work on group- and individual level.

The course is examined through written and/or oral presentation of case studies related to biomedical ethics/philosophy of science, written task in scientific writing, exercises in oral presentation and oral presentation of group-produced poster. The grades for each assignment are Fail/ Pass. To obtain a grade of Pass for the course, the student must obtain the grade of Pass for all assignments.

Compulsory participation:
Group work on case examples in philosophy of science and biomedical ethics, scientific writing exercises and oral presentations. The course director assesses if, and in that case how, absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's results for the course will not be registered in LADOK.

Limited number of examinations or practical training sessions
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.

The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities,  the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

After each course occasion there will be at least six occasions for the examination within a 2-year period from the end of the course.

The course language is English.

The course will be evaluated in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education.

Oral evaluation of the course, in the form of course council meetings will be carried out during the course.