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Breeding Better Humans? A History (HPSC20025)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Online
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Online |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
For at least two hundred years science has explored ways to breed better humans; to make Homo sapiens stronger and healthier. On the face of it, this looks like a Good Thing. Who wouldn’t wish everyone to be the best they can—fit, healthy, and free from disease? And, if you could wipe out hereditary conditions, wouldn’t you do it? But the seemingly noble aim of improving the human species has often resulted in malign political programmes targeting vulnerable groups including people with disabilities, people suffering from mental ill-health, and LGBTQI+ people. At its most extreme—the Nazi death camps and settler-colonial dispossession of first nations’ peoples—the desire to “improve” the species has led to genocide. We will explore this disturbing history right up to the present day, unpacking the relationship between science and politics whenever the idea of breeding better humans has been mooted. This subject is entirely online, and is focused upon developing research and communication skills, whilst enhancing your ethical understanding of the world. It will be of interest to students across a wide range of disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Identify the relationship between biological theory and its application to the politics of human reproduction (including birth control and eugenics)
- Analyse, synthesise and use relevant arguments about the relationship between biological science and biopolitics
- Develop and present effective arguments, backed up by convincing evidence, to experts and interested non-experts, about the social and cultural mpact of the politics of human reproduction
- Demonstrate ethical integrity in written work and classroom activities, including a deep ethical engagement with the politics of human reproduction.
Generic skills
- Critical and analytical thinking
- Research skills including the use of digital tools
- Creative thinking
- Presentation and communication
- Collaboration
- Active citizenship
- Ethical awareness and alignment of cultural values
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Report
| Week 5 | 17.5% |
Conversation-style Analytical Piece
| Week 7 | 7.5% |
Conversation-style analytical piece
| Week 9 | 25% |
Podcast or YouTube video (script and/or voice/vision)
| During the examination period | 50% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2 - Online
Principal coordinator James Bradley Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 30 hours: 12 online lecture modules (equivalent to 1 hour lecture), 12 x 1 hour tutorials, 4 x 90 minutes webinars with a particular focus upon assessments (Week 1, Week 3, Week 8, Week 10) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be made available via Canvas
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Arts Course Graduate Diploma in Arts Course Graduate Certificate in Arts Specialisation (formal) History and Philosophy of Science Major History and Philosophy of Science Specialisation (formal) History and Philosophy of Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024