Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Field of Study: Bioethics

Program Overview

The goal of the Bioethics PhD program is to train scholars in the conceptualization, design, and conduct of interdisciplinary research on issues in bioethics, medical humanities, and related areas.  Candidates may enter the program from any discipline. All doctoral students will become fluent in the ways in which bioethics and medical humanities scholarship employ concepts and methods from the humanities, social sciences, clinical research, jurisprudence, and health policy. The Department of Bioethics is a multi-disciplinary learning environment, with faculty representing the fields of philosophy, anthropology, psychology, history, literature, public health, law, medicine, and nursing. The doctoral program’s curriculum is organized around core areas which include: normative and social science theory and methods; research ethics; clinical ethics; public health ethics; and medical humanities.  Concentrations are available to students interested in 1) problems in genetics and genomics; 2) stem cell research and regenerative medicine; 3) research ethics and public health ethics; 4) clinical ethics; and 5) medicine, society and culture (medical humanities and social medicine).

PhD Policies

For PhD policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 69 credit hours is required for the PhD in Bioethics. This total includes 33 credit hours of specific required courses, 6 credit hours of discipline-specific theory courses (chosen by the student) outside the Bioethics Department, 12 credit hours of other electives, and 18 credit hours of dissertation research credit. If a student is planning empirical research for their dissertation, the 12 credit hours of other electives must include advanced methodological coursework. Courses designated at the 300-level or below are not considered graduate courses. Students who hold a master’s degree that includes courses in bioethics can receive up to 9 waived credit hours in bioethics courses toward this requirement.

Sample Plan of Study

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Taken outside of the Bioethics Department.