Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate

Return to: Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Overview of the Certificate Program:

The undergraduate program in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine is designed to offer a group of related courses in the areas of medical ethics, the nature of explanation and evidence in the biomedical sciences, and social problems such as assessments of alternative forms of health care delivery. The program is likely to be of particular interest to pre-medical and pre-professional health care students, but is intended to appeal to all students interested in social and philosophical problems in the biomedical sciences.

Students interested in obtaining the the undergraduate certificate should apply as early in their course work as possible. Normally, satisfactory completion of one course in the two-term core sequence, History and Philosophy of Science HPS 0612  or HPS 0613 , is required for admission into the certificate program. Applications can be secured from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.

Application Information:

You can download the application form and return it to the department via campus mail or in person at the office (1017 Cathedral of Learning). Download Printable Application form in:

• Microsoft Word Format (.doc)
• Adobe Acrobat Format (.pdf)

Requirements:

• The two introductory core courses (HPS 0612  and HPS 0613 ) in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine.
• A two-term college-level course in biology.
• Two additional courses in a variety of departments dealing with social and conceptual issues in the biomedical sciences. The two elective courses must be in different departments.
• Students must achieve at least a C grade in each of the required courses, and at least a C+ average in the overall certificate requirements.

Core Courses from the History and Philosophy of Science Department:

• HPS 0612 - MIND AND MEDICINE  

This course focuses on questions of the aims of medicine, its scientific status and its relation to the natural sciences. These questions are pursued in the context of psychiatry, neurology, genetics, and the process of physical diagnosis.

• HPS 0613 - MORALITY AND MEDICINE  

This course is an introduction to the ethical, legal, and social problems which are part of the modern practice of medicine. It begins with a brief introduction to various types of moral theories (e.g., Kantian, Utilitarian, Naturalistic) followed by discussions of truth-telling in medicine, informed consent, euthanasia, abortion, and the relation between political systems and health care. The focus throughout will be on the role of moral values in medical treatment.

Important Certificate Information:

• All required courses must be completed with a “C” average or better. Pass/fail grades do not count.
• IMPORTANT: Your two upper-level elective courses MUST be from two different departments.
• The department will furnish a list of courses which satisfy the requirements in the “Other” or “Upper Level” category. It will be available online at the beginning of each registration period or by stopping in the office or phoning the department at 412-624-5896.
• If you require academic advising with respect to the required courses, please make an appointment to see Professor James G. Lennox, 1017 Cathedral of Learning, e-mail: jglennox@pitt.edu.
• Use #170042 as the Secondary Academic Program Code number on your registration form to ensure proper credit on your final transcript.
• During the first few weeks of your final term of your senior year fill out an additional application in the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office (140 Thackeray Hall). This will ensure the processing of the certificate information onto your transcript. If this process is not completed in a timely manner, a processing fee will be assessed by the Registrar.
• It is your responsibility to bring a copy of your final transcript to the HPS Department for coursework/GPA verification of the six courses taken. If everything is correct we will then issue a certificate in your name to the permanent address listed on your original application.

Alternative Elective Courses to Satisfy the Conceptual Foundations Requirement

If you believe that there is a course that deals with the social and conceptual issues in the biomedical sciences, and that it should satisfy the elective requirement for the certification, you must:

• Obtain the description of the course;
• Write a very short explanation of why the course ought to count toward satisfaction of the elective requirement, by showing how it deals with social or conceptual issues in the biomedical sciences; and
• Submit both to the Undergraduate Advisor for approval.

The list of elective courses is not fixed, and so other courses well may be approved. However, they must have a major component that deals with social and conceptual issues of biomedicine. You must see Professor James G. Lennox for permission to use other courses.