The Institute of Catholic Bioethics at SJU

Programs of Study:

Peter Clark, S.J., Ph.D.

Ethics of Healthcare

The purpose of this course is to give a critical examination of the central ethical issues in the healthcare field. Issues to be treated include euthanasia, life-prolonging medical technologies, abortion, screening for genetic defects, stem cells/cloning, reproductive technologies, experimentation and informed consent, distribution of scarce medical resources, the right to healthcare, and its implications for the healthcare delivery system. Necessary background in moral philosophy and moral theology will be provided.

Christian Medical Ethics

          This course will study selected Catholic and Protestant authors who have made lasting contributions to this field of study. In addition, this course will focus on several concrete issues: Abortion, Reproductive Technologies/Cloning/Stem Cell Research, Treatment Decisions for Handicapped Newborns, Active and Passive Euthanasia, Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS.

            This course will focus on four levels of investigation. The first level concerns the distinctively theological where the various views of God, divine providence, and human responsibility impact the concrete issues in biomedical ethics. The second level concerns the normative ethical theories that have been used by theologians and their churches to determine the rightness and wrongness of actions. Third, philosophical principles, e.g., autonomy, justice, beneficence and nonmaleficence, will be studied as they apply to the topics. The final level is concerned with arguments that are adduced by theologians to support their positions.

            The principle objective of the course is to help the students to develop the theological and ethical skills that will enable them both to perform independent research in the area of fundamental Christian Bioethics and to articulate their own informed positions.

Study Tours: Dominican Republic Study Tour

Click here to download the application!

Just Health Care in Developing Nations

A Faith-Justice Academic Immersion Experience Study Tour

Theology 2461/IHS 2791 – STR

Socially induced needs are a result of a historical development of material and social conditions coupled with a social consensus that some things are necessary for happiness, social life, or some other goal. In American society certain needs are considered a necessity. However, many societies lack the wealth and infrastructure to supply these goods to the majority of their people. Adequate health care is not only a need of every person, it is a fundamental right that all persons deserve.

During the Spring semester, information sessions offer an opportunity to learn more about the course and immersion as well as meet former students and current faculty teaching the course. Selected students will participate in a Fall semester course (enrolled as either IHS or THE) culminating in a 10 day immersion to the Dominican Republic over January break. While in the Dominican Republic, students will visit public and private health care hospitals, clinics and centers. Students will experience health care in the developing first hand through 2 direct service opportunities with Haitian refugee communities and Fe y Alegria school and child development center.For further information, please contact Ann Marie Jursca at 610-660-1337 or email

ajursca@sju.edu or Fr. Peter Clark, SJ at 610-660-1867 or by email at pclark@sju.edu.

Mark Aita, S.J., M.D.

Introduction to Clinical Medicine

This course introduces the student to clinical medicine. It will survey the human body by organ system (respiratory, circulatory, neurologic, digestive, endocrine & metabolic, skeletal & muscular) and will encompass health & disease, diagnosis & treatment. It will weave clinical applications into a discussion of basic anatomy and physiology. Students will learn selected clinical syndromes in greater depth and be introduced to basic concepts of differential diagnosis and disease management as they apply to these disease states.

Aging in America (Graduate Course)

Areas of study include theories of aging, bio-psychological/spiritual characteristics of older people, family systems and non-systems, resources, policy, legislation, and activism.