Beginning and End of Life
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Fully online MOOC course, in Spanish, available immediately.
The course was created through the collaboration between Apra and Anáhuac Online, and it can be followed by the student at their own learning pace, according to their availability.
All teaching materials will be accessible for three months from the date of enrollment. During this time, students will have unlimited access to video lessons, video transcripts, summary presentations, and tests designed to assess learning.
Course Information
Content:
This course is the result of collaboration between Apra and Anáhuac Online. Three professors from the Faculty of Bioethics at APRA will guide you in exploring some of the most important questions of personal human existence. Life is the primary right of every human being, but it is also a powerful subject that opens space for debate and reflection: What is a human being? What constitutes a dignified life? Is it always worth fighting for?
It’s not enough to make decisions based solely on emotions or personal values. That’s why, in this course, you will learn about life from multiple perspectives—along with their corresponding arguments. Keep an open mind!
Learning Objectives
In this course, you will be able to: Recognize the stages of embryonic development, and understand key concepts and general knowledge about the phenomenon of emerging life, including pro-life and pro-choice perspectives. Learn the main principles of euthanasia and assisted suicide, as well as the primary arguments for and against each. Identify the principle of procreative beneficence, consider its relevance in light of the dignity of vulnerable life, and explore the idea of technological immortality and how technological enhancements can benefit human life.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: Understand the life cycle, distinguish language nuances, admire the mystery of life, and appreciate the beauty of new life. Identify different schools of thought, distinguish ideologies, weigh reasons, judge alternatives, seek solutions, and strengthen your convictions. Reflect on the drama of abortion, recognize prenatal vulnerability, and value the importance of care.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: Explain the ethical principle of therapeutic proportionality and its application in end-of-life scenarios. Properly understand the current meanings of the terms "euthanasia" (including its historical evolution) and "assisted suicide", recognizing them as life-ending actions. Understand the arguments for and against the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide, and recognize how opposing positions effectively respond to the favorable ones.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: Analyze the principle of procreative beneficence, considering its positive and negative aspects in relation to the dignity of vulnerable life. Explore the human desire for technological immortality and assess the feasibility, promises, and limitations of proposed methods. Consider other forms of physical, cognitive, and emotional enhancement, and explore how technological advances can support a virtue-driven daily life.
FAQ
How long is the course?
The duration depends on your pace of learning. On average, the course requires approximately 25-30 hours of total study time to complete all units with learning materials and pass the final quiz.
What do I get by completing the course?
At the end of the course, you will receive an official certificate of completion, valid for 1 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit, after passing the final quiz.
How do the assessment quizzes work?
Each lesson includes a formative assessment quiz to help you check your understanding of the content; these quizzes do not count towards your final course grade. At the end of the course, there is a quiz that determines the grade for the award of the certificate.
What tools are needed to follow the course?
All you need is a device with Internet access (computer, tablet or smartphone) and an up-to-date browser. You can download the Canvas App for easier access from your mobile phone or tablet.
In which language is the course held?
The course is in Italian, with materials and content organised for easy and engaging comprehension.
Can I access the content even after completing the course?
Yes, you will have access to the course materials even after you have completed the course, for review or further study.
Is it possible to receive support during the course?
Yes, you can contact the distance learning department for technical support questions for platform-related problems or concerns about the learning content.
How do I register for the course?
You can register directly from the link on our webpage. You will find a registration button on the course page and, once registered, you can immediately access the content.
Will I get a certificate at the end of the course?
Of course, at the end of the third unit you will have to take a final quiz on all three units, after which you will be able to download your certificate of participation in the course and recognition of 1 ECTS at the institutes and faculties of our university.
What is the format of the course?
The course is completely online and can be followed independently. There are no synchronous lessons. It is structured in modules that include video lectures, formative assessment quizzes and in-depth materials.
Can I meet the teacher?
Meetings with the lecturer are not planned, however, via the canvas platform, it is possible to send emails with questions and comments that will be answered as soon as possible.
Course Instructors
Prof. Alberto García Gómez
Ph.D. in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid. He is currently Dean and Professor of Philosophy of Law and International Law at the Faculty of Bioethics of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome.
He is also a researcher at the Human Rights Institute of the Complutense University. He served for five years as a member of the Steering Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe and received the National Award of the Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain in Legal and Social Sciences in 2005.
Fr. Michael Baggot, LC
Currently Assistant Professor of Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He is also a Research Scholar at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights in Rome.
From 2018 to 2022, he served as Adjunct Professor of Theology at Christendom College’s Rome program.
His writings have been published in First Things, Studia Bioethica, The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, and Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. He is editor and author of the book Enhancement Fit for Humanity: Perspectives on Emerging Technologies (Routledge, 2022).
Fr. Gonzalo Miranda, LC
Holds degrees in Philosophy and Theology, and a doctorate in Theology. He served as Executive Secretary of the Bioethics Center of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome from 1993 to 2001.
He was Dean of the Faculty of Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2014. He currently teaches in the Faculty of Bioethics and also in the Faculty of Theology at the same university.
He has published 9 books and over 100 articles on bioethics and moral theology. He has given more than 400 lectures in over 300 cities across various countries: Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, San Marino, USA, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
Further Information
- Academic Value: The course requires an estimated 24 hours of study time, divided across the 3 units. Students have 3 months from enrollment to complete the course.
- Certification: At the end of the course, students can download a digital certificate issued by Anáhuac Online.
- Cost: €100, with a 20% discount offered during the first two weeks as part of the launch promotion.
Course Registration
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