This convenient, online course examines, evaluates, and applies four codes of ethics—those of the American Nurses Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers. 

We will explore the structure of each code, examining the specific provisions, principles and interpretive entries of each.  We examine such issues at the status and authority of the codes, their action-guiding potential, their level of abstraction and generality, and possible conflicting statements within them. 

This course also includes a commentary on codes in general by a widely respected bioethicist, Dr. Edmund Pellegrino.  Based on his point of view, we explore common criticisms of codes, their use in moral reasoning, and the ways in which the authority of a code may be established or rejected. 

The third section of the course involves interviews with educators and practitioners, about their use of these codes in their own educational and professional lives.  The final section of the course involves a case study.  Using video and audio support, several practitioners will comment on the situation, providing another opportunity to explore the effectiveness of codes. 

This is an asynchronous online course.  To participate you need to have average web skills, internet access, a CD ROM drive, and provide your email address.  All other directions will be provided.  After you register, a CD will be sent to you with necessary files.  You will need to log into the course website at least once for each of the six modules.  For further information, contact Dr. Vida Lock at (216) 687-4843. 

• Instructor:  Joseph DeMarco, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, has been involved with issues related to bio-ethics for many years.  Widely published, Dr. DeMarco regularly teaches online courses which are highly regarded by practicing professionals.
• Dates:  ONLINE at times convenient for you. You must begin the course within the first two weeks of published dates and are given a one week grace period by which to complete all work.
• Tuition:  $ 149  (U.S. Dollars only).  This includes a CD which will be mailed to you, online support and weekly feedback/interaction with instructor.
• Course Number: HCHS 458401
• Contact Hours*:  Awarded to RNs & LPNs  (10.0), Psychologists (10.0), Social Workers (10.0), and Counselors (10.0).    Meets the ETHICS requirement.  Open to all interested individuals.
• CEUs:  1.0

* Cleveland State University (OH-012/4-1-12) is an approved provider of  continuing nursing education by the Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
 
 You must attend a minimum of 80% of the program and complete an evaluation form to receive contact hours. A notation appears in the “Contact Hour” line of course descriptions indicating courses designed for RNs and/or LPNs. Unless noted specifically after a presenter's name, no presenters  have real or perceived conflicts of interest that relate to their presentations.

You must log in for all lessons, participate in online discussion and  complete an evaluation form to receive contact hours.  Cleveland State University Division of Continuing Education is approved as a provider of  continuing education for psychologists by the Ohio Psychological Association Office of Mandatory Continuing Education (OPA-MCE).  Our Approved Provider # is 02PO-340966056. Cleveland State University has achieved Approved Provider status through the State of Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board to sponsor Continuing Professional Education for Social Workers.  Our Approved Provider number is RSX059011 for Social Workers and RCX090399 for Counselors.