Master of Arts in Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin

The MA program requires that students attend at least one summer intensive on the campus of the Medical College of Wisconsin. All other program requirements can be completed from a distance.

Year One

Fall
Philosophical Bioethics (3 credits)
Clinical Topics in Bioethics (3 credits)

Spring
Law and Bioethics (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Bioethics Consultation and Committees (1 credit; if necessary)

Summer
Electives (summer intensive; 6 credits)

Year Two

Fall
Elective (3 credits)
Master's Thesis or Elective (3 credits)
Comprehensive Exam

Spring
Elective (3 credits)
Master's Thesis (3 credits) or Elective (3 credits) and Final Paper

The core curriculum of the MA program is designed to establish a general level of knowledge in all areas of bioethics, with the student then deepening exposure to a wide variety of other areas through the selection of elective courses and the thesis or final paper topic. The purpose of the areas of emphasis is to allow students to pursue an area of bioethics that is of particular personal interest or professional importance. The areas of emphasis described below serve as examples. Students are welcome to pursue other areas of emphasis with the guidance of the Director of Graduate Studies.

A clinical bioethics emphasis focuses on the academic background and clinical training necessary to develop skills in clinical ethics, both at the bedside and within institutional ethics committees. This area is likely to be of interest to health care professionals, although other interested individuals with sufficient medical background may also choose to pursue it.

A legal bioethics emphasis focuses on the issues of intersection between the law and bioethics. In addition to grounding in the fundamental concepts of bioethics, students in this area examine what U.S. law has done and can do in the area of bioethics. This area is viewed as appealing primarily to attorneys and others involved in the study or practice of law, but also may be of interest to legislators, legislative staff, policy analysts, and other policy-oriented professionals.

A humanities emphasis focuses on the relationship between theory and practice. Students interested in this area study the major innovations that contemporary bioethicists have made in ethical theory. Students who focus in this area often pursue further study in philosophy, literature, medical humanities, or cultural studies and take an academic career path.

Clinical Topics in Bioethics, Bioethics 10209 (3 credits)
This is a survey course covering various contemporary topics in bioethics, focusing on issues encountered in clinical practice. Areas to be studied include end-of-life decision making, the family in medical decision making, issues in clinical research, euthanasia, and pediatric issues.

Philosophical Bioethics, Bioethics 10210 (3 credits)
This course provides the critical basis for the ethical analysis of biomedical issues. It consists of lectures, seminar presentations, and class discussion of the foundations of moral philosophy, including the concept of morality, moral relativism, classical ethical theories, contemporary methods in bioethics, rights, justice, and the justification of moral beliefs.

Law and Bioethics, Bioethics 10223 (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to legal principles and legal precedent relevant to issues in bioethics, aimed at providing the foundation for understanding relevant law concerning these issues.

If necessary:

Bioethics Consultation and Committees, Bioethics 10231 (1 credit)
Through attendance at ethics committee meetings and ethics consultations, this course will familiarize students with both the theoretical and practical aspects of institutional and consultative ethics.

 Elective Courses

Justice and Healthcare, Bioethics 10203 (3 credits)
This course addresses some of the critical issues of bioethics as the principle and concept of justice relates to them. Topics include the concept of justice as it relates to health and health care, rationing, the form and substance of a national health policy, and managed care. The format of the course will consist of seminar presentations and class discussion.

Introduction to Research Ethics 10207 (3 credits)
This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the ethical issues involved in scientific, animal, and human subjects research. After a brief look back at the history of research ethics, students will spend time considering issues that impact research in both the laboratory setting and in the clinical setting. This course provides the necessary research ethics instruction required to satisfy the United States Public Health Service Policy on Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research for institutions receiving research funds from the Department of Health and Human Services (issued December 1, 2000).

 Ethics Beyond the Acute Care Setting, Bioethics 10211 (3 credits)
The course examines ethical issues in rehabilitation care, psychiatric care, hospice, long-term care, dental care and other settings. The focus is on developing a framework and language in which to discuss and analyze moral problems in these settings. The relevance of the four-principles approach and the adequacy of the doctrine of informed for these venues is explored. Care settings to be covered can vary with student interests.

 Critical Approaches to Bioethics, Bioethics 10220 (3 credits)
This course builds upon the first semester course, Philosophical Bioethics. Various alternative approaches in ethics and biomedical ethics will be explored in order to provide a broad understanding of the range of critical social and philosophical thought on biomedical issues.

Religion and Bioethics, Bioethics 10225 (3 credits)
This course will examine the diverse range of religious resources that are pertinent to the field of bioethics. Students will explore topics in bioethics, such as euthanasia, abortion and informed consent, from the perspective of religious traditions.

Regulatory Issues in Human Subject Research Protections – Bioethics 10226 (3 credits)
There is no question that the fruits of research have fueled medical progress. Yet, the history of research involving human subjects is not unblemished. Federal regulations, based on ethical principles set forth in the Belmont Report, now govern much of the research undertaken in the United States. In this course, we will explore the history and substance of research regulations in the United States, the application of the regulations to specific research issues, and situations where the regulations do not provide clear guidance. Prerequisites: Bioethics 10207 or sufficient practical experience in research ethics as determined by the course instructor.

Current Topics in Research Ethics – Bioethics 10228 (3 credits)
Rapidly evolving scientific and technologic capabilities in medicine combined with an ever-increasing demand to translate these scientific developments to the bedside presents new challenges to regulating human subjects research. This course seeks to keep pace with many of these new and emerging challenges, providing students an opportunity to critically examine the ethical and legal implications of these topics. Specific topics for analysis will be drawn from the current medical literature, popular press, and evolving policy guidance. Prerequisites: Bioethics 10207 or sufficient practical experience in research ethics as determined by the course instructor.

Issues in Pediatric Ethics, Bioethics 10233 (3 credits)
This course is an advanced elective in pediatric ethics. The course will discuss the question of children's rights, the social value of children and cross-cultural issues of childhood. The objective of the course is to examine our individual assumptions about childhood and parenting that form the basis of approaches to pediatric ethics.

Ethics and Human Reproduction, Bioethics 10234 (3 credits)
This course will provide an opportunity for students to explore some of the ethical issues related to human reproduction, including assisted reproductive technologies, cryopreservation, genetics, and cloning. Students will also examine the various religious and philosophical arguments, as well as international perspectives, surrounding issues of human reproduction.

History and Meaning of Ethics and Professionalism in Medicine, Bioethics 10240 (3 credits)
Medical ethics and professionalism have meant many things to many people for literally thousands of years. This course explores in depth the history and meanings of medical ethics and medical professionalism from ancient times through contemporary challenges.

Special Topics in Bioethics, Bioethics 10275 (3 credits)
This course focuses on topics of special interest in bioethics. Examples of topics include organ donation and transplantation, autonomy and coercion, mental health care, and political issues in bioethics.

Reading and Research, Bioethics 10295 (1-3 credits)
This independent study course is available for all Master's degree-seeking students, and awards credit for pursuing background reading and new research in areas of particular student interest.

Masters Consultation, Bioethics 10297 (1 credit Summer, 2 credits Fall, Spring)
This course will familiarize and train students in the theoretical and practical aspects of ethics consultation through a seminar, supervised practical experience in doing ethics consultations, and writing summaries and reporting these consultations at monthly ethics committee meetings. The goal of this course is to prepare the student to meet the evolving national certification qualifications for clinical ethics consultation.

Bioethics Journal Club, Bioethics 10298 (1 credit)
The journal club is a student and faculty forum for the discussion of a variety of current and emerging issues in bioethics. The informal setting allows for open discussion and debate.

Master's Thesis, Bioethics 10299 (6 credits total)
All degree-seeking students are required to undertake and complete a project culminating in a Master's Thesis. This project is directed by a member of the program faculty. Scholarly, qualitative, quantitative, and pedagogical projects are acceptable, with the approval of each student's faculty advisor and thesis committee.

Areas of Emphasis

The core curriculum of the MA program is designed to establish a general level of knowledge in all areas of bioethics, with the student then deepening exposure to a wide variety of other areas through the selection of elective courses and the thesis or final paper topic. The purpose of the areas of emphasis is to allow students to pursue an area of bioethics that is of particular personal interest or professional importance. The areas of emphasis described below serve as examples. Students are welcome to pursue other areas of emphasis with the guidance of the Director of Graduate Studies.

 A clinical bioethics emphasis focuses on the academic background and clinical training necessary to develop skills in clinical ethics, both at the bedside and within institutional ethics committees. This area is likely to be of interest to health care professionals, although other interested individuals with sufficient medical background may also choose to pursue it.

 A legal bioethics emphasis focuses on the issues of intersection between the law and bioethics. In addition to grounding in the fundamental concepts of bioethics, students in this area examine what U.S. law has done and can do in the area of bioethics. This area is viewed as appealing primarily to attorneys and others involved in the study or practice of law, but also may be of interest to legislators, legislative staff, policy analysts, and other policy-oriented professionals.

 A humanities emphasis focuses on the relationship between theory and practice. Students interested in this area study the major innovations that contemporary bioethicists have made in ethical theory. Students who focus in this area often pursue further study in philosophy, literature, medical humanities, or cultural studies and take an academic career path.

 

Justice and Healthcare, Bioethics 10203 (3 credits)
This course addresses some of the critical issues of bioethics as the principle and concept of justice relates to them. Topics include the concept of justice as it relates to health and health care, rationing, the form and substance of a national health policy, and managed care. The format of the course will consist of seminar presentations and class discussion.

Introduction to Research Ethics 10207 (3 credits)
This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the ethical issues involved in scientific, animal, and human subjects research. After a brief look back at the history of research ethics, students will spend time considering issues that impact research in both the laboratory setting and in the clinical setting. This course provides the necessary research ethics instruction required to satisfy the United States Public Health Service Policy on Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research for institutions receiving research funds from the Department of Health and Human Services (issued December 1, 2000).

Ethics Beyond the Acute Care Setting, Bioethics 10211 (3 credits)
The course examines ethical issues in rehabilitation care, psychiatric care, hospice, long-term care, dental care and other settings. The focus is on developing a framework and language in which to discuss and analyze moral problems in these settings. The relevance of the four-principles approach and the adequacy of the doctrine of informed for these venues is explored. Care settings to be covered can vary with student interests.

Critical Approaches to Bioethics, Bioethics 10220 (3 credits)
This course builds upon the first semester course, Philosophical Bioethics. Various alternative approaches in ethics and biomedical ethics will be explored in order to provide a broad understanding of the range of critical social and philosophical thought on biomedical issues.

Religion and Bioethics, Bioethics 10225 (3 credits)
This course will examine the diverse range of religious resources that are pertinent to the field of bioethics. Students will explore topics in bioethics, such as euthanasia, abortion and informed consent, from the perspective of religious traditions.

Regulatory Issues in Human Subject Research Protections – Bioethics 10226 (3 credits)
There is no question that the fruits of research have fueled medical progress. Yet, the history of research involving human subjects is not unblemished. Federal regulations, based on ethical principles set forth in the Belmont Report, now govern much of the research undertaken in the United States. In this course, we will explore the history and substance of research regulations in the United States, the application of the regulations to specific research issues, and situations where the regulations do not provide clear guidance. Prerequisites: Bioethics 10207 or sufficient practical experience in research ethics as determined by the course instructor.

Current Topics in Research Ethics – Bioethics 10228 (3 credits)
Rapidly evolving scientific and technologic capabilities in medicine combined with an ever-increasing demand to translate these scientific developments to the bedside presents new challenges to regulating human subjects research. This course seeks to keep pace with many of these new and emerging challenges, providing students an opportunity to critically examine the ethical and legal implications of these topics. Specific topics for analysis will be drawn from the current medical literature, popular press, and evolving policy guidance. Prerequisites: Bioethics 10207 or sufficient practical experience in research ethics as determined by the course instructor.

Issues in Pediatric Ethics, Bioethics 10233 (3 credits)
This course is an advanced elective in pediatric ethics. The course will discuss the question of children's rights, the social value of children and cross-cultural issues of childhood. The objective of the course is to examine our individual assumptions about childhood and parenting that form the basis of approaches to pediatric ethics.

Ethics and Human Reproduction, Bioethics 10234 (3 credits)
This course will provide an opportunity for students to explore some of the ethical issues related to human reproduction, including assisted reproductive technologies, cryopreservation, genetics, and cloning. Students will also examine the various religious and philosophical arguments, as well as international perspectives, surrounding issues of human reproduction.

History and Meaning of Ethics and Professionalism in Medicine, Bioethics 10240 (3 credits)
Medical ethics and professionalism have meant many things to many people for literally thousands of years. This course explores in depth the history and meanings of medical ethics and medical professionalism from ancient times through contemporary challenges.

Special Topics in Bioethics, Bioethics 10275 (3 credits)
This course focuses on topics of special interest in bioethics. Examples of topics include organ donation and transplantation, autonomy and coercion, mental health care, and political issues in bioethics.

Reading and Research, Bioethics 10295 (1-3 credits)
This independent study course is available for all Master's degree-seeking students, and awards credit for pursuing background reading and new research in areas of particular student interest

Masters Consultation, Bioethics 10297 (1 credit Summer, 2 credits Fall, Spring)
This course will familiarize and train students in the theoretical and practical aspects of ethics consultation through a seminar, supervised practical experience in doing ethics consultations, and writing summaries and reporting these consultations at monthly ethics committee meetings. The goal of this course is to prepare the student to meet the evolving national certification qualifications for clinical ethics consultation.

Bioethics Journal Club, Bioethics 10298 (1 credit)
The journal club is a student and faculty forum for the discussion of a variety of current and emerging issues in bioethics. The informal setting allows for open discussion and debate.

Master's Thesis, Bioethics 10299 (6 credits total)
All degree-seeking students are required to undertake and complete a project culminating in a Master's Thesis. This project is directed by a member of the program faculty. Scholarly, qualitative, quantitative, and pedagogical projects are acceptable, with the approval of each student's faculty advisor and thesis committee.

 

The program is designed to enhance the clinical practice of health care professionals and/or to provide a foundation for further study of bioethics for professionals and students in any discipline. Individuals with an advanced degree (e.g. MD, JD, PhD) or who plan to obtain an advanced degree are best suited for enrollment.

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.

The Graduate School admission requirements do include submission of official GRE test scores. While GRE scores are preferred, LSAT or MCAT scores may be submitted in lieu of GRE scores.

Applicants with a PhD, MD, or JD degree from an accredited institution may request a waiver of the test score requirement at the time of application.

The MA program can be completed in as little time as two years. The Graduate School requires that the program be completed in a maximum of four calendar years.

Yes! Students can enroll part time, as long as they complete the degree program within the required maximum of four calendar years. How fast or slowly students move through the program is up to the individual student.

The program may allow for the transfer of up to 10 credits into the MA program, as long as the credits have not been previously applied to a degree. Transfer of credits is dependent upon the course content, the number of credits received, and the grade earned by the student. Transfer of credit will be determined only after admission to the program has been awarded.

No. Online class discussions are conducted in non-real time so students can participate at their convenience each week. Students are paced on a week to week schedule through the semester, just as they would be in a traditional on-campus course.