Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Healthcare Ethics (MA)
Academic Plan Code(s): IS_ _MA_BMH, IS_ _MA_BMA
Program Information
The Healthcare Ethics concentration is a special track within the University of Louisville interdisciplinary master's program. It is overseen by the Department of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies (Graduate School).
Healthcare ethics is an inherently interdisciplinary field, located principally at the intersection of philosophy, the law, and the healthcare professions, such as clinical medicine and nursing, but drawing as well from social science disciplines as diverse as sociology, clinical psychology, and social work. The program's aim is to provide students with the skills necessary to work in their chosen field from an enriched ethical knowledge base. Students will be exposed to the philosophical underpinnings of healthcare ethics as well as real-time clinical moral decision-making. This program examines concepts of race, gender, and culture as well to incorporate an ethically sound appreciation of difference and diversity.
The master's degree concentration in Healthcare Ethics provides professional enhancement and resources for the following groups of students:
- Current healthcare and bioscience practitioners or faculty
- Current or future members of ethics committees
- Seminary faculty or students with an interest in healthcare chaplaincy
- Dual-Degree students who wish to distinguish themselves with expertise in healthcare ethics for their future professional, educational, and scholarly pursuits in medicine, dentistry, law, nursing, social work, or other fields
- Post-baccalaureate students during their transition from undergraduate to professional or PhD programs
Note: Prior to 2019-2020, this concentration was titled "Bioethics and Medical Humanities."
Admission Requirements
- Completed online graduate application
- Application fee
- Transcripts from all previous academic work
- Standardized test scores: GRE, MCAT or LSAT preferred. Other scores may be accepted with prior approval. Applicants who have completed master's-level or doctoral-level degrees are exempt from this requirement.
- Two recent letters of recommendation. The letters should come from those familiar with the applicant's academic work or life long learning and speak to your ability to complete graduate level education. Discursive letters preferred.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
- Personal statement
- Your personal statement should address the question: "Why have you decided to pursue a concentration in Healthcare Ethics?" and should be between 2–4 double-spaced pages (500-1000 words).
Additionally, we reserve the right to request additional materials as required. For example, current employees of the university are expected to provide a letter of support from their direct supervisor.
Individuals who can't use the online application or need to send supplemental materials can email Graduate Admissions or mail materials (marked with applicant name, date of birth and your university issued ID number) to:
Program Requirements
The Healthcare Ethics concentration is a 33 credit hour MA program, consisting of seven required core courses and four electives. The core courses provide essential grounding in ethical theory and the foundations of bioethics, current controversies in healthcare ethics, and the social and political context of healthcare decision-making. Participation in hospital rounds emphasizes the practical realities of clinical ethics. A capstone seminar enables students to engage in self-directed research integrating their coursework with their particular experience and expertise. Electives from the Schools of Law, Medicine, Public Health, and Social Work, as well as from the Arts and Sciences departments of History, Pan-African Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Sociology, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies diversify and allow customization of the program.
For more details about courses or electives please refer to the posted curriculum at louisville.edu/healthcareethics/curriculum.
Coursework
The degree requires 21 credit hours (seven classes) of core courses and 12 credit hours (four classes) of electives:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
BETH 621 | Ethical Theory | 3 |
BETH 680 | Foundations of Bioethics | 3 |
BETH 681 | Current Controversies in Health Care Ethics | 3 |
BETH 682 | Health and Social Justice | 3 |
BETH 683 | Health Care, Justice, and Community | 3 |
BETH 684 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
BETH 685 | Health Care Ethics Internship | 3 |
or BETH 601 | Independent Study in Bioethics | |
Electives (see lists below) | 12 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 33 |
Elective Courses
In addition to the core classes, 12 credit hours of electives (typically, four classes) are required for the MA. Courses must be at the 500 or 600 level. Of these four electives, one must address Social Context, one Healthcare Policy and Law and the remaining two must be relevant to the degree but are not otherwise restricted. Students are encouraged to browse the entire university catalog for elective courses relevant to the degree and their interests.
All electives with prerequisites require permission of instructor to enroll. Other courses may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to find interesting electives and submit the class information for approval.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Social Context Approved Electives | ||
ANTH 608 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 |
ECPY 663 | Multicultural and Diversity Issues | 3 |
HIST 589/WGST 532 | History of American Sexualities - WR | 3 |
LAW 826 | Family Law | 2-3 |
LAW 905 | Women and the Law | 2-3 |
LAW 906 | Race and the Law | 2-3 |
LAW 922 | Legal Problems of the Poor | 2-3 |
LAW 924 | Sexuality and the Law | 2-3 |
LAW 944 | Poverty, Health and the Law | 2-3 |
LAW 978 | Disability Law | 2-3 |
LAW 923 | Elder Law | 2-3 |
PAS 615 | Theories of Race and Racism | 3 |
PHIL 616 | African-American Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 619 | Topics in Philosophy of Race and Racism | 3 |
PHIL 690 | Fundamentals of Diversity | 3 |
PHPB 630 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
POLS 668 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
SOC 612 | Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare | 3 |
SOC 685 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
SOC 675 | Social Inequality & Stratification | 3 |
SW 603 | Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice Practice | 3 |
SW 633 | Social Work and Human Sexuality | 3 |
SW 684 | Spirituality and Social Work | 3 |
Health Care Policy and Law Approved Electives | ||
LAW 946 | Introductions to Health Law | 2-3 |
LAW 947 | PSY, MENTAL HLTH, & LAW | 2-3 |
LAW 958 | Entrepreneurship Clinic | 3 |
LAW 959 | Genetics and the Law | 2-3 |
LAW 980 | MEDICINE, BIOETHICS-LAW | 2-3 |
NURS 606 | Healthcare Systems | 3 |
NURS 608 | Health Care Systems and Microsystem Analysis | 3 |
NURS 613 | Introduction to Health Care Policy | 3 |
PSYC 656 | Legal, Professional, and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
SW 602 | Social Welfare Policy I | 3 |
SW 615 | Mental Health | 3 |
SW 622 | Social Welfare Policy II | 3 |
SW 697 | Advanced Topical Seminar | 3-4 |
SOC 740 | Social Policy | 3 |
SOC 750 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
Other Approved Electives | ||
LAW 977 | Animal Law | 2-3 |
PHPB 612 | Health Communications Campaigns: Theory and Practice | 3 |
POLS 668 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
SW 626 | Research Methodology and Design | 3 |
SW 636 | Death & Grief | 3 |
Other courses may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. We encourage our students to find interesting electives and submit the class information for approval.
Most students will complete the degree requirements after two years of full-time coursework, though motivated students are welcome to complete the hours in four consecutive semesters instead. Additionally, the program has the flexibility to allow for part-time students to take up to six years to complete the degree.
For sample schedules, please refer to our curriculum plans at louisville.edu/healthcareethics/curriculum/copy_of_sample-curriculum-plans
Two-Year Schedule
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
BETH 680 | Foundations of Bioethics | 3 |
BETH 621 or BETH 682 |
Ethical Theory or Health and Social Justice |
3 |
Approved Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 9 | |
Spring | ||
BETH 681 | Current Controversies in Health Care Ethics | 3 |
BETH 683 | Health Care, Justice, and Community | 3 |
Approved Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 9 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
Clinical Ethics | ||
BETH 621 or BETH 682 |
Ethical Theory or Health and Social Justice |
3 |
Approved Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 6 | |
Spring | ||
BETH 684 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
BETH 601 | Independent Study in Bioethics | 1-3 |
Approved Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 7-9 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 31-33 |