Bioethics

Overview

The coursework to earn your degree is a combination of classes, seminars, and clinical and teaching practicums. Additionally, you will complete a project – applied or theoretical in nature – conducted under the supervision of a faculty member and overseen by a thesis committee. Our program was the first Bioethics program of its kind, providing flexible convenience for both working and distance learners.

The Bioethics program of Medical College of Wisconsin provides advanced training for professionals, academics, and other interested individuals in health care, law, the humanities, and public policy who wish to become prepared for teaching, research, policy development, and clinical consultation work related to bioethics. The program provides students an opportunity for the study and research of current and emerging issues through a combination of didactic, clinical, and research activities. 

The core curriculum of the program provides a solid foundation in the language and literature of bioethics and develops related critical thinking skills. Students can explore an area of particular interest in bioethics through independent research and the thesis/final paper topic. The program allows for full-time or part-time study in order to accommodate the needs of working professionals. The program offers an engaging online curriculum that makes advanced education in bioethics available to individuals in almost any location throughout the world. The curriculum requires participation in a minimum of one summer intensive session, which includes one week on campus. The remaining credits of the program are all offered online.

What are My Career Options with a Master's Degree in Bioethics?

The best answer to this question is it depends. We see the MA in Bioethics primarily as a "value-added" degree, which means it is a wonderful opportunity for those who already possess an advanced degree (or who plan to obtain one) to broaden their career options. While some graduates of our program have had great career success after obtaining a Master's degree in Bioethics, we do not recommend that a student view a Master's degree in Bioethics as a "stand-alone" degree. The recent trend in most employment arenas for bioethics has been decidedly favorable for those with another degree or degrees in addition to the MA. So, what you can do with an MA in bioethics depends largely on you.

Some of our graduates serve on ethics committees and/or institutional review boards at their home institutions, provided ethics or research ethics consultation or ethics-related education activities, either as independent contractors or in their respective institutions, have pursued academic careers...the list goes on. Please feel free to contact us regarding your personal interests as related to career options.