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NCC Disability Statement :

STATEMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

CSD | If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may have an impact on your ability to carry out the assigned coursework, I urge you to contact the staff at the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), Building U, (516) 572-7241, TTY (516) 572-7617.  The counselors at CSD will review your concerns and determine to what reasonable accommodations you are entitled as covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  All information and documentation pertaining to personal disabilities will be kept confidential. 

THE NEST| If you are having a difficult time affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day or if you lack the basic necessities and believe this may affect your performance in the course, I urge you to contact The NEST @ NCC Food Pantry. The NEST provides free groceries and personal care items to all NCC students and their families and can assist you in accessing other necessary resources. Please visit the NEST’s website for further information: http://nestncc.weebly.com or email us at foodinthenest@gmail.com.  

THE GREENHOUSE | The Children's Greenhouse, on the NCC campus, offers high-quality, low-cost childcare for the children of NCC students, faculty, and staff, ages 8 weeks to 7 years old on a flexible schedule. Children are enrolled at the Greenhouse regardless of special needs and every effort is made to accommodate them. All NCC students enrolled in online, remote, and face to face classes are welcome to contact Janet Walsh at janet.walsh@ncc.edu or (516) 572-7614 for availability.

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Contact Information    

Office Phone:  718-281-5038  but not for use in the summer sessions  If you have personal problems or trouble with your grades then email me and I will respond the next business day.

email: Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu

Some things to address in Private by telephone or email might include:

• A contact about late assignments.

• A discussion about a grade.

• A discussion about how the course is going for you.

• A topic that you're wondering about but despite it's personal nature, you'd feel better about

• discussing here.

• Feedback about the course.

• A concern about another student.

Email is for private communications.

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Course Objectives 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.       HUMANITIES |Students will describe and critically evaluate the philosophical dimensions of contemporary issues and traditional ethical theories in bioethics using the conventions and methods particular to philosophy. Students will recognize and analyze the nuance and complexity of philosophical content through critical reflection on philosophical writings pertaining to bioethics and traditional ethical theories.

2.       COMMUNICATIONS | Students will compose argumentative research essays on contemporary issues in bioethics in which students will organize and synthesize supporting details from various sources.  Students will develop arguments – both canonical and original – that seek to inform and persuade their audiences.  Students will evaluate the substance of influential philosophical theories related to bioethics, seeking out bias and intended effect.  Students will demonstrate, through the writing process, the ability to revise and improve their essays. Students will demonstrate, through in-class discussions, the ability to revise and improve their oral communication skills.   

3.       CRITICAL THINKING | Students will clearly articulate various ethical issues that arise in the practice of medicine and medical research. Students will identify, describe and discuss the ethical theories of influential philosophers in bioethics as they occur in their own and others’ work. Students will develop well-reasoned arguments that acknowledge and incorporate the limitations, such as perspective and bias, of the ethical theories used in bioethics. Students will evaluate historical and contemporary issues pertaining to the ethical issues that arise in the practice of medicine and medical research. Students will use well-reasoned arguments to form judgments on the above issues (i.e., on the ethical issues that arise in the practice of medicine and medical research.)

 4.       DIVERSITY |Students will describe the social factors (e.g., race, gender, class and sexuality), both historical and contemporary, that have impacted health care delivery.  Students will critically analyze the role that such factors play in creating, maintaining, and perpetuating discrimination in healthcare on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity, and sexuality. Students will apply competing philosophical theories of ethics and justice to historical and contemporary issues concerning equitable access to healthcare and a right to equitable care.

To enable a student to:

• Identify and comprehend traditional and current issues in Biomedical Ethics;

• Define the main areas of ethical discourse;

• Discuss theories of ethics: teleological and deontological

• Develop skills of critical ethical analysis of contemporary moral problems in medicine and health care.

• Analyze and respond to the comments of other students regarding philosophical issues.

• Identify some of the basic content in the field of BIOMEDICAL ETHICS, traditional and current Issues in Biomedical Ethics,

a. vocabulary

b. concepts

c. theories

• Communicate your awareness of and understanding of Biomedical Ethics.

• Demonstrate familiarity with the main areas of philosophic discourse related to these dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics ,

• Develop skills of critical analysis and dialectical thinking used in (a) analyzing cases and dilemmas , (b) in forming and defending positions, (c)analyzing and responding to the comments of other students regarding Biomedical issues.

Each module in this course will have its own set of learning objectives.

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How to do well in this class

OK , here is my very best advice concerning how to approach this course and do well. Read all the introductory materials.  Explore this site.  Take notes.

Read over the requirements for this course very well.

Get prepared somehow to put in 9-12 hours per week on the course at the computer and reading in the Fall and Spring sessions.  18-24 hours per week in the 7 week SUMMER SESSION.   36-48hrs/week in the 4 week Summer Session!!!

Time would be spent reading and writing and lots of thinking , thinking , thinking in between.

• Attend class.

• Ask questions of the instructor concerning assignments.

• Ask questions of the instructor concerning the main points in each module.

• Ask questions of the instructor concerning  the key ideas.

• Get your written assignments in on time. 

• If allowed to revise the written assignments to raise your grade, plan to do so. 

Take all topics and questions seriously, but not that seriously.  That is to say , you should realize that they are important; important enough to have changed the course of events in the lives of real persons and helped to shape our current social world of health care.  But they should not cause you to become overly concerned or worried sick over this. 

Have fun!  Philosophy is something I must do because it is in my nature to ask questions and attempt to look at things in different ways.  It would be very boring if Philosophy was just the same old stuffy and dry questions and ideas.  I hope to show you that it is far from that. Philosophy springs from that place deep inside our minds that gets disturbed by uncertainty, contradictions and inconsistencies, paradoxes, ironies, metaphors, sufferings and great joy and magnificent beauty. 

So, be prepared to work but prepare to explore and to be challenged and to be entertained a bit as well. In my estimation the hardest part of this course is finding the time. So this is a key factor in determining what a student will be able to do and that in turn has direct bearing on how well someone will do in this course.

If you have trouble then email me at: Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu   Use this subject line: 

Name NCC PHIL110 HA FA 23 HELP or QUESTION   I will respond as soon as possible.

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MY EXPECTATIONS:

This is a college course, so you will be busy! You have about 15 weeks to complete many chapters and submit the written assignments or "papers". (Only 7 weeks in the Summer session!!!) I suggest that you print out the Course Schedule and hang it by your computer.  Assignments frequently have a due date that falls on a Sunday. (in Summer they come every 3 or 4 days !!!)  Pace your on-line and off-line activity with this in mind.

If you don't keep up, you can't catch up!

In this college level class I expect a commitment to time and quality. This class is student-centered rather than teacher centered. This means that you are responsible for your own learning and success. If you are highly motivated participate in each module, and produce a high quality paper - you will be successful. However, if you participate minimally, or submit poor work - you will not. Higher education is aimed at independent learners. If you require the structure of a classroom then take advantage of it, attend class and get the assistance and support you may need and do well.

We will complete the entire 14 modules! If you do not read the text in advance of the class discussions, your lack of knowledge will be obvious to me and to the other students. It is not uncommon for students to provide criticism of other students who "waste their time" with ill-informed classroom comments.

I expect the successful student will spend an average of about 9-12 hours per week on this course. Although that may seem like a lot - remember this: A traditional classroom-based course requires 45 hours of "seat time" plus 2-3 hours outside of class for each hour in class.

Now of course there is no way that you can be or will be monitored to insure that you are keeping apace of the course. You are able to skip a day or two. However, should you fail to complete your written assignments on time and fall behind you will be placing yourself in a very unfavorable situation. You will loose points on the assignment, you will be barred from earning points for a discussion and you will fall behind on the material. The course WILL MOVE ON.

So, PLEASE set up a schedule for doing your work: a time each day or, at the very least, every other day to log on the computer to participate in class and a time for doing your reading in the textbooks a time for writing your papers.

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YOUR TEN STEPS TO START THIS SEMESTER

STEP (1) If you have not done so already send me an email at : Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu

SUBJECT LINE:  Your name NCC PHIL110 HA FA23 Hello

STEP (2) Be sure to read everything in this Course Outline!!!!!

STEP (3) Send me an email with your statement on the most important things I should know about you as a (a)person and as (b) student and as (c) a student in this course.

STEP (4) Send me an email with your pledge of Academic Integrity.  Affirm that you ahve read and understood and will comply with the NCC policy.  See it above just click>> here 

STEP (5)  Send me an email   to prove that you have read all of this and understand the basic course requirements by copy and pasting what is below into an email and sending it to me at Philip.Pecorino@ncc.edu   Subject line: Your Name NCC PHI110 HA FA23 Basics

=================COPY START HERE:==============================

I understand that these are the basic course requirements for Biomedical Ethics taught by Professor Philip Pecorino:

The basic course activities and requirements:

All class information including the assignments are available at the class site/syllabus/outline

How much work is involved in this class to do well?

9-12hrs/week of work each week in Fall and Spring Semesters that run 14 to 15 weeks 

18-24 hrs/week in SUMMER semesters that run 7 or 8 weeks !!! 

What is the work?

 Four things!

(1)READINGS: reading the FREE online textbook and the required readings marked by "READ" but supplied through internet links.

(2)ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT 

In a regular class attendance is taken directly. There will be attendance sheets for each class for students to fill in with their names and questions and submit at the end of class.

The following are the minimums for attendance:

Being in class for the entire class period= 1 point

Speaking in class on a topic or question related to the current module = 1 point
Asking a question by speaking or writing on a topic related to the current module  = 1 point

(3) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Submit the written assignments at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

(4) CASE STUDIES

These are required ONLY in modules 7 to 14. Submit these case studies at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

GRADES:  are based on the student’s work attending class, interacting in the discussions and submitting the written assignments and case studies

   ================END COPY HERE=============================

STEP(6)  Textbook   Check out the online Textbook for the course located at two (2) sites (DUPLICATES !!):

FIRST SITE  PRIMARY LOCATION Click on this link for window to open with the textbook.

or in the event that the first copy cannot be accessed there is another copy at the second:

SECOND SITE BACKUP click on this link to open with the textbook

If for some reason you can not get access to the online textbook at one site you should know that the online textbook is available on two sites as well.  There is no reason why you can not proceed with all work with this course should one course site not be available.  Remember DO NOT PANIC  !!!   You will not be penalized for the failures of the university's internet system.

STEP (7) Your Values.  What are they?  You will have reason to think about this throughout the semester.  You should reflect on your life and realize what you hold as most important to you in your life.  What are the values you hope to embody or exemplify and to use to arrive at which ethical principle(s) are in keeping with those values and will serve as the basis or justification for the moral judgments you will make in your life and in this course with the case studies and situations posed that involve moral dilemmas or questions.

STEP(8)  A Case to Ponder:  Think about receiving a wrong amount of change at a cash register.  For example you want to but something at a Walgreens or Rite Aid that costs $4.85 with the tax and you hand the cashier a $5 bill. The cashier thinks you handed in a $20 bill and gives you the change of $15.15   What is it that you will do?  Why?  Why do you think that is the correct or right thing to do?  What makes it the right thing to do?  This is an important mental exercise that will assist you in understanding ethical principles and moral judgments in decisions that lead to actions.

 STEP (9).  RELAX It looks like it is a lot but it is no more than any other class only just made more accessible and convenient and more is explained in actual text in the syllabus at the start of the semester.

Oh and what it comes down to is this:  The following learning activities apply to each module:

1. Read the assigned textbook material.

2. Attending Class and participating in the Learning Community with classmates--This means that you respond to questions by the instructor and your classmates.

3. Submit the written assignment for each module by the due date by 11:59pm.

Have a great semester and your efforts will be rewarded with a well earned good grade.

STEP (10). REMEMBER above all >>>SPECIAL NOTE:   DO NOT PANIC !!!!!  If you can simply schedule your time to work on the reading and assignments you should do very well in this class and acquire a better sense of what your values are and improve on your ability for careful and critical thinking about moral judgments that you need to make.

HAVE A PRODUCTIVE SEMESTER

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