Bioethics, PhD
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.
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
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| BETH 410 | Foundations of Medicine, Society and Culture | 3 |
| BETH 507 | Research Design in Bioethics I | 3 |
| BETH 512 | Clinical Ethics Rotation - Ph.D. | 1.5 |
| BETH 520 | Foundations in Bioethics I - Ph.D. | 3 |
| BETH 514 | Pedagogy in Bioethics and Medical Humanities | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BETH 505 | Philosophical Bioethics | 3 |
| BETH 508 | Research Design in Bioethics II | 3 |
| BETH 512 | Clinical Ethics Rotation - Ph.D. | 1.5 |
| BETH 521 | Foundations in Bioethics II - Ph.D. | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13.5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BETH 503 | Research Ethics and Regulation | 3 |
| BETH 511 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| Elective | 4.5 | |
| Theory course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| BETH 504 | Critical Readings in Bioethics | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Theory course a | 3 | |
| Statistics course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BETH 701 | Dissertation Ph.D. | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| BETH 701 | Dissertation Ph.D. | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BETH 701 | Dissertation Ph.D. | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BETH 701 | Dissertation Ph.D. | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 69 | |
- a
Taken outside of the Bioethics Department.