University of Pittsburgh
Undergraduate

Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine

Overview of the Certificate Program:

The Certificate Program in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine is offered through the HPS department. The undergraduate certificate program 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-med students and others interested in health-related professions, but is intended to appeal to all students interested in social and philosophical problems in the biomedical sciences.

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:


Requirements:

  • The two introductory core courses (HPS 0612 and 0613) in conceptual foundations of medicine.
  • A two-term college-level course in biology.
  • Two additional upper-level courses in two different departments dealing with social and conceptual issues in the biomedical sciences.
  • At least a C grade in each of the required courses and at least a C+ average overall in the certificate requirements.

Core Courses from the History and Philosophy of Science Department:

  • HPS #0612
  • Mind and Medicine
  • 3 Credits

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
  • 3 Credits

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.

Approved Electives for Fall Term, 2012 (2131)

AFRCNA 1710 [12166]: African American Health Issues

ANTH 0620 [11168]: Bio-cultural Anthropology

ANTH 1737 [23854]: Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology

ECON 0220 [24785]: Introduction to Health Economics

HIST 1090 [10937] / SOC 1488 [10938]: History of Medicine and Health Care (UHC)

HIST 1695 [21331]: Environmental Politics

NROSCI 0081 [11262 & 12089]: Drugs and Behavior

PHIL 0350 [21283]: Philosophy and Public Issues

PHIL 1360 [24515]: Biomedical Ethics

PS 1261 [24686]: American Public Policy

PS 1542 [12114]: Global Environmental Politics

PSY 1057 [23747 & 24808]: Topics in Biological & Health Psychology

PSY 1110 [12109 & 13136]: Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality

PSY 1112 [12250]: Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality

PSY 1210 [11826 & 19035 & 22955]: Introduction to Clinical Psychology

PSY 1215 [12030]: Health Psychology

PSY 1225 [24828]: Psychology of Emotion

PSY 1230 [21107]: Psychology of Death and Dying

PSY 1312 [23011]: Child Development & Social Policy

SOC 0477 [21278]: Medical Sociology

SOC 1324 [22632]: Social Problems & Moral Crusades

SOC 1450 [24441]: Health and Illness

Approved Electives for Summer Term, 2012 (2127)

ANTH 0538 [10935]: The Archeologist Looks at Death (6WK-1)

ANTH 0768 [10936]: Human Sexuality in Cross Culture (12WK)

ANTH 1761 [17952]: Patients and Healers: Medical Anthropology 1 (6WK-1)

ANTH 1787 [10795]: Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology (ST)

NROSCI 0081 [10634]: Drugs and Behavior (6WK-1)

PSY 1210 [10825]: Introduction to Clinical Psychology(6WK-2)

PSY 1230 [10939]: Psychology of Death and Dying (6WK-1)

Approved Electives for Spring Term, 2012 (2124)

ANTH 0538 [11210]: The Archeologist Looks at Death

ANTH 0768 [25380]: Human Sexuality in Cross Culture

ANTH 1761 [24360]: Patients and Healers: Medical Anthropology 1

ECON 0220 [22787]: Introduction to Health Economics

HIST 1695 [21097]: Environmental Politics

NROSCI 0081 [11553]: Drugs and Behavior

PS 1542 [11779]: Global Environmental Politics

PSY 1057 [25025]: Topics in Biological & Health Psychology

PSY 1110 [12113 & 12180]: Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality

PSY 1210 [11642]: Introduction to Clinical Psychology

PSY 1215 [11971 & 21714 & 25027]: Health Psychology

PSY 1225 [21119]: Psychology of Emotion

PSY 1230 [19788 & 25028]: Psychology of Death and Dying

PSY 1235 [22969]: Alcohol Use and Abuse

SOC 0446 [10288]: Sociology of Gender

SOC 0477 [12403 & 24895]: Medical Sociology

SOC 1450 [25511]: Health and Illness

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.

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 Peter Machamer, 1017 Cathedral of Learning, e-mail: pkmach@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.