Summer 2008 closed

June 30 – August 9, 2008

Sponsored by the Departments of Philosophy and the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts & Humanities in the College of Arts & Letters, the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences in the College of Human Medicine, and the Program in Bioethics, Humanities, and Society

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

In the recent past, the United States has treated health care as a market commodity, while the United Kingdom has considered it a sacred element in its welfare state. This stark contrast dates from 1948, but roots of the different health care systems were evident almost 200 years ago.

Today, important elements of this contrast appear to be dissolving as both countries struggle to deliver equitable and affordable services that meet public expectations. Policy experts in the U.K. have looked to U.S. market principles as a basis for making substantial changes in the British National Health Service (NHS). At the same time, many in the U.S. believe we should draw on the philosophy of the NHS to help us reform health care in our country.

We will study how the NHS functions and how it came to be what it is today. We will compare the NHS with the U.S. health care system and examine ethical issues that arise when we assess their differences, particularly those concerning allocation of resources. We will also deal with ethical questions related to decision-making in genetics and reproductive health. Our course, then, is an interdisciplinary exploration of the history and philosophy of health and health care in the United Kingdom and the United States.

What can I study?

Our 2008 program will focus on five general issues:

We address these questions through an integrated seven-credit semester course. Graduate and undergraduate students are required to enroll for three credits of HST 487 (Seminar in Comparative History) and four credits of PHL 491 (Special Topics in Philosophy). Undergraduates may substitute IAH 231B (Themes and Issues: Moral Issues and the Arts and Humanities) for either HST 487 or PHL 491. Medical students are required to enroll for seven credits of HM 591 (Special Problems in Human Medicine). ( 800-level graduate credits may be available under special circumstances, with the approval of the instructors and relevant department.) Credits earned in this program may be used to satisfy requirements for the undergraduate specialization in Bioethics, Humanities, and Society (BHS).

Our program is affiliated with the University College of London (UCL) via the Centre for Primary Care and Population Sciences (PCPS) which is part of the Royal Free and University College Medical School. The strategic aim of PCPS is to deliver high quality teaching in community-based primary care and public health and to undertake a program of internationally competitive multidisciplinary research addressing the management and prevention of disease in individuals and populations in areas of priority to the health of the public.

Regular course lectures are supplemented by a range of guest speakers – physicians, nurses, and administrators – who are intimately involved in providing health services. The class often breaks into small groups to discuss theoretical problems and clinical cases. Outside the classroom, we visit a number of hospitals, museums, and institutes to take best advantage of London’s resources. In addition, each student spends one morning individually observing the work of a general practitioner in a clinic and a second morning with a health provider in the community. This year we will also explore opportunities for community dialogue with British citizens and health professionals on rationing and resource allocations issues.

Full participation in all course activities both inside and outside of the classroom is expected. In addition to their seminar participation and a final paper, students in the program are evaluated on the basis of several short writing assignments.

What are the requirements?

There are no course prerequisites for participation in this program, and students from all disciplines are invited to apply. Preference will be given to students who are of at least sophomore standing.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in one of the residence halls on the campus of the University of London. All rooms will be single accommodations and will include breakfast.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Len Fleck
Professor of Philosophy and Medical Ethics
202 E. Fee Hall
Phone: (517) 355-7552
E-mail: fleck@msu.edu

Len Fleck, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy and Medical Ethics in the Philosophy Department and in The Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences at Michigan State University. Currently, Dr. Fleck's main areas of teaching and research are medical ethics, health care policy, social and political philosophy. He has published over seventy articles, either as book chapters or in various professional journals of philosophy and medical ethics.

Jessica Reinisch, Ph.D.
School of History, Classics and Archeology
Birkbeck College, University of London
Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX
United Kingdom
E-mail: j.reinisch@bbk.ac.uk

Jessica Reinisch, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the School of History, Classics, and Archeology at Birkbeck College, University of London. She has taught courses on the history of medicine and science at Imperial College London while holding a Wellcome Trust Doctoral Research Fellowship. Her broad areas of academic interest are in Contemporary History and Politics with special emphasis on Germany and the UK. She has published a number of articles in her areas of academic specialization. She was a recipient of the Wellcome Trust Dissertation prize in 2000.

Libby Bogdan-Lovis
Center for Ethics and Humanities
C-221 E. Fee Hall
Phone: (517) 432-5185
E-mail: bogdanlo@msu.edu

Libby Bogdan-Lovis , M.A., is the Assistant Director of the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences at MSU. She has extensive experience with arrangements for the London courses and has studied and published on British and American midwifery and childbirth practices.

You can also find photos of past program activities and locations at http://www.bioethics.msu.edu/pages/intnat/abroad.html

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $4,560 and includes the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

While the application deadline is March 1st for summer programs, this popular program typically fills long before that deadline. We strongly recommend that students apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline. See selection process for more information at http://www.bioethics.msu.edu/study_abroad.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.