The Medical College of Wisconsin Master of Arts in Bioethics program provides students an opportunity for on-campus study and research of current and emerging issues through a combination of didactic, clinical, and research activities.

Program Description

The bioethics Master's program has three main components, all of which are required in order to earn the MA degree:

1. Core Curriculum

The core curriculum consists of three required courses (nine credits) in philosophical bioethics, clinical topics in bioethics, and issues in law and bioethics.

2. Clinical Bioethics Experience

The clinical bioethics experience requirement can be satisfied either through proven professional experience in clinical ethics committees and consultation or through taking a one-credit course on clinical ethics committees and consultation.

3. Thesis or Final Paper

Students can choose either to write the Master's Thesis (six credits) or can opt to complete an additional six credits of course work and write a final paper of publishable quality.

The first year of the program is devoted to the completion of the required and elective courses. Once the core curriculum has been completed, each student will complete a written Comprehensive Examination. When all of the course credit requirements have been met, and the final paper or thesis project submitted, the program will be completed by means of an oral defense of the paper or thesis.