FutureLearn

Making Babies in the 21st Century (FutureLearn)

Offered by University College London,
Making Babies in the 21st Century (FutureLearn)

Discover the opportunities provided by reproductive technologies and fertility treatments – and the ethical challenges they pose. Explore how assisted reproduction is impacting baby-making in the 21st century. Following the journey of someone making use of technology to conceive, this course will take you through six different areas of assisted reproduction, as well as the science behind them and its impact.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

As you explore human reproduction in the age of technology, you’ll explore the social, ethical, and legal challenges of powerful new genetic techniques creating new opportunities in the field of reproduction.
Learning with experts at UCL’s Institute for Women’s Health, you’ll explore how technology is changing the way babies are made and family life is constructed, appreciate the key ethical dilemmas that these new technologies bring, and gain awareness of the social aspects of the relevant ethical challenges.

Syllabus

Week 1: Seeking fertility
Week 2: Freezing eggs
Week 3: Using gametes
Week 4: Crossing borders
Week 5: Genetic testing
Week 6: Genome editing

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Following the course, learners will be able to synthesise information from a number of different fields.
  • Critically assess the accuracy and value of information about assisted fertility that is provided in the public domain (i.e., on the internet).
  • Be able to confidently contribute to the vital societal conversation around the use of reproductive and genetic technologies.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the science and ethics-legal aspects of assisted fertility.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which fertility medicine is changing the way babies are born and the way families are constructed.
  • Be able to explain how each of the technologies covered in the course are changing the way people think about fertility and families.
  • Be able to reflect critically on the advantages and disadvantages of the new reproductive technologies.

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about reproductive technology, including medical and healthcare students, clinicians and nurses working in women’s health, scientists and biotechnologists involved in reproductive technology and medicine, and couples and individuals seeking advice and information about assisted reproduction.
Healthcare professionals might find the Certificate of Achievement for this course useful for providing evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), or commitment to their career.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Ethics, Technology and Engineering (Coursera) Coursera
Eindhoven University of Technology

Ethics, Technology and Engineering (Coursera)

Engineering Science

There is an increasing attention to ethics in engineering practice. Engineers are supposed not only to carry out their work competently and skilfully, but also to be aware of the broader ethical and social implications of engineering and to be able to reflect on these. According to the Engineering Criteria 2000 of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in the US, engineers must have “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility” and should "understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.”

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Ethics Technology Engineering
Details
Military Ethics: An Introduction (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
UNSW Sydney - University of New South Wales

Military Ethics: An Introduction (FutureLearn)

Social Sciences

We explore the ethical responsibilities that weigh on military professionals, who are ‘managers of violence’. Military professionals are unusual in having the use of lethal force as a central, defining feature of their role, and unique in the level of force that they are authorized to use. This fact places a considerable ethical weight on military practitioners as well as the civilian decision-makers who authorize military missions.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Ethics War Military Ethics
Details
De-Mystifying Mindfulness (Coursera) Coursera
Leiden University

De-Mystifying Mindfulness (Coursera)

Health & Society Personal and Professional Development

Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown exponentially in recent years. Rather than being seen as mystical practices from ancient Buddhism or esoteric philosophy, they are increasingly seen as technologies rooted in evidence from psychology and neuroscience. Mindfulness has become the basis for numerous therapeutic interventions, both as a treatment in healthcare and as a means of enhancing well-being and happiness. For millions around the world, mindfulness has become a life-style choice, enhancing and enriching everyday experience. Mindfulness is big business.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Psychology Ethics
Details
How to Become a Police Officer in England and Wales (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Law

How to Become a Police Officer in England and Wales (FutureLearn)

Law

Learn about the routes you can take into policing and the values and attributes developed by successful police officers. Develop your understanding of policing in the UK. Currently, policing is unrepresentative of the society it represents. To correct that, it’s vital that underrepresented and disadvantaged groups can learn about policing and consider their options for entering a career in policing.

Sep 6th 2021
3 Weeks
Ethics Inclusion Diversity
Details
Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Michigan

Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership Business

Get to grips with the processes behind effective business, personal and leadership decisions with this eight-week course. Learn how to make effective decisions using the strategy, law and ethics model. Effective decision making is based on the three key pillars of strategy, law, and ethics. This practical, framework-based course from the University of Michigan will show you how to combine these three pillars and ultimately make successful business, personal and leadership decisions.

Available Now
5-12 Weeks
Business Ethics Law
Details
Research Ethics and Vulnerability: Ethical Research in Adults with Impaired Decision-Making Capacity (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Malaya

Research Ethics and Vulnerability: Ethical Research in Adults with Impaired Decision-Making Capacity (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Business

Learn how to conduct ethical research with adults who have impaired decision-making capacity. Effectively protect research participants with impaired decision-making capacity. It is your responsibility to protect research participants. Those who have impaired decision-making capacity are incapable of giving informed consent. They may not be able to protect their own interests and merit special consideration by researchers and research ethics committees.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Ethics Decision Making Ethical Research
Details
How Artificial Intelligence Can Support Healthcare (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Copenhagen,University of Groningen,University of Tartu,University Medical Center Groningen - UMCG,University Hospital Cologne

How Artificial Intelligence Can Support Healthcare (FutureLearn)

Health & Society

Explore how AI can be used to improve patient care and build your understanding of how to implement AI in the health professions. Understand real-life AI healthcare applications and their impact on healthcare. The use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency is prevalent across almost every industry, none more so than the world of healthcare.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Ethics
Details
Corporate Lawyers: Ethics, Regulation and Purpose (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

Corporate Lawyers: Ethics, Regulation and Purpose (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership

Explore the role and purpose of corporate lawyers, examining how they are regulated and the ethical challenges they face. Imagine you are a lawyer advising a client wanting to take over a large company. From your discussions with the client, you think it likely that, after they buy the company, several thousand of the company’s employees will be made redundant by your client. Such redundancies will be perfectly legal.

No sessions available
3 Weeks
Ethics Regulation Corporate Lawyers
Details
Business Ethics: An Introduction to Ethics for Business Leaders (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Dublin City University

Business Ethics: An Introduction to Ethics for Business Leaders (FutureLearn)

Law Business

Identify the role that business ethics plays within a working environment with Dublin City University. Get an introduction to the study of business ethics within a working environment. This informative course will take you through the main themes and concepts of ethics within a business context. You’ll study business ethics according to four main topics: What is ethics? What are the main ethical approaches? What is the perspective of the individual within an organisation? And what is the role of the leader and the relationship between business and society?

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Business Ethics Leadership
Details
Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Leiden University

Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Personal and Professional Development

Discover the science of mindfulness, learn how it works and why, from a political, psychological, and philosophical perspective. Experience mindfulness for yourself, and learn whether it really works. Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown rapidly in recent years. These practises are increasingly being seen as scientifically and psychologically valid forms of therapy.

Jul 5th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Psychology Ethics
Details