Degree: Master of Arts (MA)
Field of Study: Bioethics and Medical Humanities
The Department's highly successful Master of Arts program in Bioethics and Medical Humanities emphasizes the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Since 1995, it has provided advanced training in bioethics for students and professionals who will encounter bioethical issues in the course of their primary careers. In 2017, we formally incorporated medical humanities into the program.
Bioethics and Medical Humanities Master of Arts students have the opportunity to work closely with department faculty in their specialty areas while completing the Master of Arts degree in less than one year (full-time).
Graduate Policies
For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
The 30 credit hour degree can be earned full-time in one year or part-time in up to three years. Core courses are taught by department faculty and are scheduled so that part-time students can continue their professional responsibilities while completing the degree.
The Master of Arts program provides students with a firm understanding of the intellectual content of the study of bioethics, bioethical literature, medical humanities, and the underlying philosophical arguments and empirical assumptions that inform these areas. Students are taught to understand the institutions, structures, and contexts of health care and the ethical issues that arise in medical practice. They are trained to identify and analyze a range of clinical ethics issues and the psycho-social and cultural contexts in which such issues arise.
All students pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Bioethics and Medical Humanities are required to complete the interdisciplinary core of 12 credit hours (the equivalent of four courses) in the first two semesters of their first year of study.
Concentration Requirements
Bioethics and Medical Humanities MA students have a number of options. One option is to complete the traditional MA program without a specific area of concentration. Students who opt for the traditional program are eligible to select from approved electives offered throughout the University. Another option is to do the MA program with an area of concentration - Research Ethics or Medicine, Society and Culture . Each area of concentration has its own requirements and elective choices.
