Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Healthcare Ethics (MA)

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:

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.

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