Program Statistics
Visit Master's Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Degree Types: MA, Dual MA/MD, Dual MA/MS, Certificate
The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics program provides a rigorous exploration of medicine and its ethical implications through the perspectives of anthropology, literature, philosophy, history, and law. Students acquire the interdisciplinary tools to develop a broader, richer understanding of medicine in society and to engage in complex ethical analysis. Graduates can apply their knowledge and skills to clinical practice, consulting, policy debates, and academic scholarship.
This interdisciplinary degree is designed for current and future professionals in medicine and a wide array of healthcare-related fields. It can be pursued independently or as a dual-degree with an MD or MS in Genetic Counseling. Combining the MA with a JD or PhD may also be possible on a case-by-case basis.
The program consists of two years of course work (which can be compressed into one year) and a capstone project.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Bryan Morrison
Program Coordinator
312-503-1927
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics program exposes students to the key conceptual approaches and methodological tools that each of the field's core disciplines contributes to addressing problems in medicine. These core disciplines include: Bioethics/Philosophy, Law, History, Literature, and the Social Sciences, and our required coursework covers each of these fields in turn in its engagement with medicine.
This interdisciplinary training in Medical Humanities and Bioethics is particularly beneficial to students interested in building upon a primary area of expertise such as medicine, law, genetic counseling, and other related fields. For such students, the MA program both provides and marks an additional area of expertise that can enhance and expand their primary professional work. The MA offers training relevant to a variety of clinical, academic, and industry career paths, preparing students to take on roles such as serving on hospital ethics committees and institutional review boards, as well as engaging in education, scholarship, and policy work on medicine and ethics.
Master of Arts
Total Units Required: 10
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| MHB 401-0 | Foundations of Bioethics |
| MHB 402-0 | Medicine & Law |
| MHB 403-0 | The History of Medicine and Bioethics |
| MHB 404-0 | Literature, Medicine, and Bioethics |
| MHB 405-0 | Social Science and Medicine |
| MHB 406-0 | The Practice of MH&B |
| MHB 410-1 | Special Topics in Medical Humanities and Bioethics (taken over 6 quarters for 2 units total) |
| MHB 499-0 | Independent Study (Tutorials in Medical Humanities & Bioethics) |
| MHB Capstone Project | |